HomeDrive-In TheatersLakes Drive-In Theatre - Brighton, MI

Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Brighton MI 

Address: 10501 E Grand River Ave
City: Brighton
State: MI
Zip: 48116
County: Livingston
Open: 1951 (5-11-51)
Closed: 1989 (9-3-89)
Capacity: 700 cars
Owner History: Mutual Theaters
Number of visits to this page: 24746
General Information:

Source: David Anderson

It was my grandfather, Charles Arlington Anderson that ran this theater (as noted in the article) I believe he had a 25 yr lease for the property. He had also worked at the LaSalle theater as noted on his military registration form 'motion picture operator. ' He was proud of the fact to only show family oriented movies. I was awful young in the early 60's, and don't remember to much, since we lived in Chicago at this time, but I do remember seeing Mary Poppin's for the first time there. Great memories. He was able to retire to Florida and died in 1979 at the age of 79. Of course there are many stories of him, but one I remember is that during the depression he was able to get a job as an electrician after just reading a book on the subject!.

From WWW

Everything is gone, A street runs through the lot with new ice arena and ice cream store. The only drive-in ever built in Livingston County, it was once quite a hopping place. After the theater closed, I asked the realtor how much the land was selling for, the answer was over 1 million dollars. Clearly the former owners could not pass up that kind of return on their investment as it was probably purchased for a fraction of that back when this area was mostly rural.

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Info Updates:
3/24/2008 - B.J. McDevitt
For a time, The Lakes had two marquees. The one pictured here which was facing Grand River Ave., and a smaller one that faced I-96. The smaller one had fallen into disrepair, and was abandoned years before the drive-in closed.
10/22/2007 - Dan
As a high school teenager in the summer of 1954 I worked as an usher at the Lake's. I was one of several ushers who would, with flashlights, help direct and guide cars to a parking spot as it was lights out after you passed the ticket booth. I would work from dusk to the end of the movies, then help direct the cars out. For this I was paid$5.00 a night. Not really bad for a 17 year old in 1954. The work was easy and $5went a longer way back then.
5/5/2004 - Kirk Jarvinen
The Lakes Drive-in opened at 6:30 pm on Friday May 11, 1951 (not 53) playing JEEPERS CREEPERS (starring Weaver Bros.) -also- SADDLE TRAMP (with Joel McCrea). Capacity: "Speakers for 700 automobiles on the opening evening, and space for more." Info obtained from microfilm of The Livingston County Press Wednesday, May 9, 1951. Page Fifteen: News Article "New Theatre to Open Friday" Page Twenty-Four: Large Grand Opening ad.
 Photos:56
Disclaimer:

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Lakes Drive-In Theatre - 1980 Photo (newer photo)
1980 Photo (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Marquee Overgrown - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Marquee Overgrown - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Marquee Overgrown - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Marquee Overgrown - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Out Sign - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Out Sign - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Projection - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Projection - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Ticket Booth - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Ticket Booth - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Concession And Projection - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Concession And Projection - Photo From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Screen From Projection Booth From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Screen From Projection Booth From Water Winter Wonderland (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Old Photo (newer photo)
Old Photo (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Screen Wrecked From Michigandriveins (newer photo)
Screen Wrecked From Michigandriveins (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Screen And Concession (newer photo)
Screen And Concession (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - From Rear Of Lot (newer photo)
From Rear Of Lot (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Screen - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
Screen - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Restored 21 Neon Marquee From Ebay Auction Dec 2002 (newer photo)
Restored 21 Neon Marquee From Ebay Auction Dec 2002 (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Ebay Auction Image (newer photo)
Ebay Auction Image (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Rear Of Marquee Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Rear Of Marquee Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Inside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Inside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Inside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Inside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Speaker Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Speaker Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Start Times Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Start Times Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Inside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Inside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Inside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Inside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Inside Concession 1989 Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Inside Concession 1989 Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Projector Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Projector Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Restroom Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Restroom Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Inside Ticket Booth Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Inside Ticket Booth Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Outside Concession Darryl Burgess (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - The Ann Arbor News June 1999 (newer photo)
The Ann Arbor News June 1999 (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Historical Aerial (newer photo)
Historical Aerial (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Historical Aerial (newer photo)
Historical Aerial (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Historical Aerial (newer photo)
Historical Aerial (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Matchbook (newer photo)
Matchbook (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Apr 14 1999 Article (newer photo)
Apr 14 1999 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Oct 29 1997 Article (newer photo)
Oct 29 1997 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Opening Article 5-9-51 From Ron Gross (newer photo)
Opening Article 5-9-51 From Ron Gross (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Apr 16 1952 Article (newer photo)
Apr 16 1952 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Aug 20 1958 Article (newer photo)
Aug 20 1958 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Old Ad (newer photo)
Old Ad (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - 1974 Ad (newer photo)
1974 Ad (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - 1989 Ad From Brighton Argus (newer photo)
1989 Ad From Brighton Argus (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Jul 26 1998 Article (newer photo)
Jul 26 1998 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Jun 05 1957 Article (newer photo)
Jun 05 1957 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Victoria Advocate Fireworks Accident (newer photo)
Victoria Advocate Fireworks Accident (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Jun 20 1999 Article (newer photo)
Jun 20 1999 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - 29 Aug 1962 Article (newer photo)
29 Aug 1962 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Mar 15 1961 Article (newer photo)
Mar 15 1961 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - 09 Sep 1953 Article (newer photo)
09 Sep 1953 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Mar 17 1999 Article (newer photo)
Mar 17 1999 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - 29 Jun 1960 Article (newer photo)
29 Jun 1960 Article (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Help Wanted Ad 1960S (newer photo)
Help Wanted Ad 1960S (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - Brighton Yearbook Ad (newer photo)
Brighton Yearbook Ad (newer photo)
Lakes Drive-In Theatre - May 7 1952 Article (newer photo)
May 7 1952 Article (newer photo)
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