News Article: Remodeling Is Underway On 4 Ashmun Drive-Ins - Caro, Mich. - R.D. Ashmun of Ashmun Theatres has announced a renovation program in which four of the circuit's Michigan drive-ins are being outfitted with self-service concession equipment and three of the theatres are being converted to year-round operation. The theatres involved are the Northside Drive-In at Lansing, Starlite and Tuscola drive-ins at Bay City, and the Auto Drive-In at Saginaw. The installation of 600 1,000-watt heaters has already been completed at the Northside. Remodeling of the concession building and conversion to a self-service operation has also been completed. The paving of all ramps, entrance and exit ways is planned for the spring of 1969. The Starlite is being enlarged to accomodate 900 cars and will also be paved. Its concession building was recently remodeled and converted to self-service bt the L&L Concession Co. of Detroit. A new all-steel screen tower will be installed at the Tuscola and this theatre will also go to an all-year operation with the installation of 1,000-watt heaters. Its concession building is slated for self-service and a new marquee will be installed. Paving is also in the works. The Auto Drive-In has just completed the remodeling of its concession building to self-service. Heaters will be installed soon and the ramps, entrances and exit way will be paved. (Boxoffice Magazine 11/4/68)

Status: The marquee sign and concession building of the Tuscola Drive-In on M-13 in Bay City are all that remains of that theater. (Larry Lewis Jr. 3/30/01)

Update: The Tuscola Drive-In south of Bay City on M-15 I believe is about 3 or 3 1/2 miles south of the city. The Tuscola may have been able to have stayed in business had they had better owners. During it's last years of operations the Tuscola was turned into an XXX-rated drive-in theater. This so incensed the neighboring residents that they got the drive-in shutdown, I believe it was around 1984 or 1985. The marquee sign and concession building of the Tuscola is all that remains of that theater. It was last used in early 1990's as an auction business. (Larry Lewis Jr. 3/31/01)

Update: I grew up in Michigan, I read the Tuscola drive-in was closed. Family and friends would go there all the time, we went to others in Mich also. So it is good to hear that people are saving the drive-in's in Mich. Hope to hear more good news. (Scott Yancer 1/25/05)

Update: In the 1980s, many teenage boys from Munger would ride their bikes to the back of the Tuscola Drive-In, and learn about the "birds and bees" by peeping through gaps in the perimeter fence. (Jeff Kerkau 02/09/07)