#Drive in movie theaters coldwater movie#
#Drive in movie theaters coldwater install#
#Drive in movie theaters coldwater upgrade#
#Drive in movie theaters coldwater tv#

Put yourself in the backyard of your favorite friend’s house, and you’ll have an idea of the homey atmosphere of the Sunset Drive-In Theater in Hartford.

#Drive in movie theaters coldwater movie#

Complete with playground, volleyball net, vintage movie memorabilia, 50’s style putt-putt golf, home run derby and popcorn popped fresh in their original 1953 popcorn popper, a trip to the Cherry Bowl is like stepping back in time to simpler summer nights. The Cherry Bowl Drive-In has provided fine films, food and family entertainment since 1954. More drive-in theaters in Michigan courtesy of Pure Michigan (2018): 2. So, please, come on down and take in a great outdoor show at The Capri Drive-In. We want you to know what the Drive-In experience should be also. This family (Tom and Sue Magocs) really knows what a drive-in experience should be. In the article written by Drive-In author and aficionado Don Sanders, the Capri was called “what a drive-in experience should be.” The whole text run said “The original family runs the theater, which has great food and the original neon sign. In the summer of 2001, The Capri Drive-In earned its highest honors, named One of Ten Drive-In’s Worth a Detour by both the USA Today and The New York Times. You can Watch the show in its entirety here. Classic video footage was found and shown for the show. Sue talked about the Drive-In’s past, the present and its future. “Historically Speaking” conducted a 20 minute interview with Sue Magocs of The Capri.

#Drive in movie theaters coldwater tv#

Not only do we see regular customers from local counties like Branch and Calhoun, but regular weekly visitors from Kalamazoo, Lansing, Angola, Fort Wayne, Jackson, Defiance, and even semi-regulars from as far away as Detroit, Chicago and Toledo.ĭuring the Summer of 2000, a local Coldwater TV program featured the Coldwater Drive-In. The Capri Drive-In has continued to thrive, with an ever growing and widening audience. The Coldwater Indoor Cinema opened and many predicted the demise of the Capri Drive-In. The Addition of a Red Dye Cye Analog filter (which was replacing Silver Nitrate on new films) allowed the Capri able to show current first run films. FM radio transmission of the sound, following by FM Stereo brought indoor theater sound quality to the Outdoor show.

passed away in his Naples, Florida home.Ĭoncession 1997 through 2000 saw The Capri Drive-In continually increase their technology and film exhibition capabilities. In 1996, sadly, the original “showman”, John Magocs Sr. It was at this time that 5 remaining rows of speakers were also removed. Screen One’s car capacity was decreased to 550 cars, with Screen Two parking 300 more. Screen Two was added on the back side of theatre. The Capri Drive-In’s concession now consistently rates as one of the best Drive-In concessions in operation.

#Drive in movie theaters coldwater upgrade#

For those of you who remember back 20 years, this was a major UPGRADE for the concession stand. Between 19 the snack bar had been run separately. In 1982, Susan Magocs (Tom’s beautiful wife) assumed operation of the Snack Bar. This was cutting edge technology at the time in the Drive-In industry.

#Drive in movie theaters coldwater install#

One of their first decisions was to install AM radio transmission of the movie sound. were 5 and 9 years old when John and Mary opened the theatre.Īfter 16 years of learning the ropes, the boys took over. In 1977, the operation of the Capri Drive-In was leased to William Clarke of Coldwater while the Magocs resided in Florida.

The number of open Drive-In’s remained constant over the next 20 years, with 103 Drive-In’s still open in Michigan in 1977. In Michigan, there were 87 open Drive-In’s in 1954, growing to a peak of 110 in 1958. The 50’s, 60’s and 70’s were boom times for Drive-in’s. and Tom, spent many a night making sure the show went off each night.įrom 1964 through 1977, The Capri served the residents of Branch and Calhoun counties. Operating a Drive-In for the Magocs was a family affair. The snack bar at the time was leased to Auto City Candy Company of Detroit. That name was submitted by… Mary Magocs (and yes, she kept the sewing machine 🙂Īdmission in 1964 was $1.00 and a cheeseburger was 45¢. The 1000 Car, single screen Drive-In opened on August 21st, 1964 by owner-operators John and Mary Magocs.Ī contest was held at the Drive-In shortly after it opens to decide on a name… the winner received a brand new sewing machine. It opened on this day in 1964 and has remained in the Magocs family ever since. 12, which began as the Great Saulk Trail in American Indian days and once was the main road between Detroit and Chicago. The Capri Drive-in in Coldwater is not only an emblem of a fading Michigan icon (the state once had 100 drive-ins) but a major surviving attraction along U.S.