Where the Sturgeon River Road veers off US-41 east of Chassell... I spotted a formation on the satellite view of Google Maps. Wondering if it was an old industrial artifact, I zoomed in to the street view to find the old sign out front.

It's Hiawatha Drive-In, 1952-1986, where up to 400 cars could congregate for movie-goers back in the day.

T'was posted on time for me (10:46PM, (MST) Charlie! (And ditto for half the country, Mountain and Pacific time zones.)

Been there, done that — saw movies there, that is!

From the link it looks like there's some confusion about who owns the property.

According to the latest (4/15/2013) entry, "charles azvoda [sic] son of albert gazvoda" appears to claim ownership.

If that's the case, what was all that about the Chassell Township and Chassell Township School District's plans (mentioned in the 2007 & 2009 entries) to change the zoning of 17 acres adjacent to the school and owned by the school district from industrial to residential" and to "develop the land, part of which was formerly the Chassell Drive-In movie theater"?

I have to wonder who's paying the taxes on that property; that should be a large tax bill.

A part of the landscape that has gone way to soon. I am surprised there are almost 400 still operating nationwide. They have been defunct in the UP for quite some time now.

It's y understanding there isn't a single drive-in theater in the U.P., anymore. Sad.

I remember going there with cousins back in the day.

Yes, Charlie, it was bound to happen one day. You have a busy
schedule. I was wondering, did you get your furnace situation
resolved? Bless you and Edie.

Yes, our thanks to RC Mechanical for getting us warm and cozy again. Just in time, too, because it's almost zero here this morning.

Edie is still recovering from the loss of her leg a year ago. The most recent complications affect sleep for both of us. Sunday had some unexpected changes in schedule, and thus pushed the Pasty Cam into another time zone.

Better late than never. Better never late.

I sort of remember the Hiawatha Drive-In when I was younger, but can't recall if I ever saw a movie there. I'm surprised that we still have the Showboat Drive-In just north of us, but from what I hear it is very popular with a packed lot for the weekend showings. I also hear it is quite a hit when the local car clubs attend.

And yes Charlie, it was bound to happen eventually, but I don't believe anyone is going to begrudge you for it.....

Yes, I loved the Hiawatha. Loved the Lake Linden
one also. Out here there's one about 30 miles
from us. We've never been there because I can't
stay awake that late, lol. But it's so sad that
none remain standing in the Copper Country. They
were great!!

And it's okay, Charlie. It's amazing that you've
gone this long. Happy to hear your furnace is
back on track. It's awfully cold here, too.
Didn't get above zero yesterday. Supposed to get
all the way up to 5 today.

Love the moon picture in the review!!

Hi Charlie,

I enjoy your daily postings at any time. They're always nice to check in on regardless of when they get posted.

Thanks for all the time you give us.

Deb S., do you recall the name of the drive-in theater in Lake Linden? I recall seeing the Steve McQueen movie "Bullitt" there circa 1970 or 1971. It's a shame so many of those theaters are now just history.

I'm not sure, George, but I think it was just
called the Lakes Drive-In.

It was the Lakes Drive-In. Below is a little blurb I found about it:

Lakes Drive-In

Thanks Deb, and Capt Paul for that link. Sure brought back some great memories of the drive-in.

Saw many a movie at both the Hiawatha Drive in and the Lakes in Lake Linden. One thing that I always remember about the Hiawatha was that on a warm summer night when you had to keep your car windows open was the mosquitoes were terrible; must be a lot of wet and swampy area near there.

Worked at the Hiawatha drive-in, 52 & 53. Fun times for a kid just out of high school. Driving the jeep with a fogger on the back before the movie. Part time projectionist. Some time behind the snack-bar. What more could a 17 year old want!

I like the sign "you dood it again". Well of course they dood. :-)

Hiawatha always had "Buck Night" on Monday. A car as full as you could get it was a buck to get in. Big crowds of young people on Monday's. Lakes later went to X-Rated films for a while to try and get a crowd. Ultimately, not enough numbers to support anymore. The ones left today are basically throwbacks. And, yes there were a lot of mosquito's near Hiawatha due to the Sturgeon River and its wetlands surrounding it.

Pretty sure Lakes had buck night also. Sometimes,
as kids, I remember some riding in the trunk to
get in free. Oh the things kids do. I think the
last movie I saw there was "Star Wars". Slept
through most of it. But then, that's what I did
when movies ran too late.

John Marino (Puckjam):
"Hiawatha always had "Buck Night" on Monday. A car as full as you could get it was a buck to get in. …"

"Buck Night" on Monday; just during deer season, of course. (You must have your buck lashed to your vehicle!)

Only in da UP! 😉

Way cool FJL (Langoman)! Sounds like a great job! (And nice that they TRIED to control the skeeters!)

Charlie, we know how much your record meant to you, but it is amazing you kept it rolling with all you have been thru, especially the last year or so. So glad to get the news that the home front is now toasty again!

Saw some flicks at the Lakes back in the day too, but never went "down south" to the Hiawatha. Last one I saw at the Lakes was "Wild In The Streets" Now that's going back!

Charlie, I second what Jbuck said, about your record etc. Late or not, you keep keeping on. Best to you and Edie.
Thank you!

I used to work at the Lakes Drive-In theater when I was in High School. The Hamels were awesome to work for. They also owned and operated the Totem Pole Restaurant on the curve of the Calumet/Lake Linden Hill. Good memories and some bizarre stories that aren't really family friendly, too. ;-)

Mary Drew at Pasty Central (Mdrew):
"… some bizarre stories that aren't really family friendly, too. ;-):

Some "not family friendly"? I can't imagine that. (And maybe I don't want to! 😉)

FRNash/PHX, AZ (Frnash)
Some "not family friendly"? I can't imagine that. (And maybe I don't want to! 😉)

It has to do with being embarrassed about what we could hear going on in the movies, over the loud speaker in the concession stand. Thank goodness we couldn't see the screen from there. 😉
We certainly received a bit of an education that we didn't expect to, working there.

There is still a drive -in operating in Muskegon,
Michigan. The Getty Drive-In, but it is updated so
there is no speaker in the window. You tune the
car radio into the soundtrack.