Not quite shoebox memory yet, but close. I wonder how many of you in the UP who pass this fairly frequently, or those of us who are displaced Yoopers pass it on the way to our summer vacations remember the movies at this drive-in theater in south Chassell (or others scattered around the UP). Couldn't believe the standards for the microphones were still there. Does anyone remember the name of the theater? Chippewa comes to my mind, but if I remember drive-ins, maybe my mind is not what it once was! Dad wouldn't let us use the Rambler to go there!

It was the Hiawatha Drive-in. Saw many a movie and had many a good time here!

The drive-in was where I saw Gone With The Wind for the first time in the summer of '68. I was the youngest at 11. There were 8 of us kids, (cousins and neighbors), with the oldest being 17 who was the driver of a big International Scout. Boys on top, girls inside swatting mosquitoes on the windshield. I just returned to Florida this past Sunday after 4 great weeks in God's country. Passed the ol' drive-in many times on the way to Houghton. It's impossible for me to forget the good time we had. By the way, we can we skip the 100 degree heat when I come up again next year....thanks

I think it was in the mid-'50s when I was there.
My step dad, mom, brother and sister and myself in Joe's '51 Kaiser. :o)

Nancy from WI the poles were called speaker poles.
In the 50's almost every young man with a car cut the cords and made rear seat radio speakers from them.
Drive-ins were also called "pasion pits".
I have been by that old drive-in several times,on my trips to the UP.
Here in Florida we had one of the first all cement screens in the nation at Vero Beach,it even had the office,and storage space inside.
the front of the screen we had a large kids play ground,even had a few tailgaters.My guess is tv killed them off.

Ken, that brought back memories. We took a trip to the UP from Detroit in my uncle's Frazer, '48 or '49 if the car fits the years. The F was missing off the front emblem, so we called the car Uncle Armas' Razer!

Could this be the sign, in operation?

Boy does that bring back the memories. I spent the summer of 1977 in the ticket booth staffing tourist information for the Chamber of Commerce and swatting mosquitos. Unfortunately, it was not well signed and only a few people stopped in all summer. That was the lonliest summer of my life.

What memories! The first movie I saw there was either in the late 60's or early 70's. It was Bonnie & Clyde. My mom and sisters brought popcorn and sodas from home because she said they were too expensive at the refreshment stand. I sure had a lot of good times there in high school in the 70's. There's an outdoor theater still in operation just south of Austin in Wimberley, Texas that has seating, rather than being a drive in, but it always reminds me of the Hiawatha every time I drive by it.

I was part owner of the Airport Drive-In in Negaunee and what hurt us was the fact that when Michigan went to daylight savings time, it doesn't get dark until 1030.

I worked in Michigammee during the summers of the early 60's, and drove down to the Airport Drive-In a couple of times. Especially remember seeing "Raintree County" there.

I remember, back in the late 60's, when my Uncle Frank would pile my 3 brothers, my sister and I into the back of his VW Bug and go to the "drive-in in da woods" every summer when we would visit on vacation. What a wonderful time we would have.

Hey! My cousins owned and operated this drive-in. They still live right next door.

there is still a drive in that stays open all summer in manistique,mi.has all the new movies playing.

remeber buck nite? WOW!!!!

I remember the great news when we heard that there was going to be a drive in theatre in Chassell. That was in the early 50's. Al & Jim Gasvoda were the owners. We lived in Chassell and spent many a night there. One of the favorite ways to get in was on one paid admission with 3 or 4 of us in the trunk of the car. My father (Joeseph Diedrick) was the projectionist for many years. At first he made many mistakes. That always called for the patrons to blow the car horn as a signal that something was wrong.
All gone now but not forgotten.

if you are in benzie county, michigan, you can go to the Cherry bowl. on u.s. 31

Larry fom Howell - Albert was a GaZvoda and I believe Jim was the GaSvoda. Some of the family members years ago changed the Z to S to americanise the name. In Slovenia it is spelled with a Z. It's interesting how family names were changed.

Liz GaZvoda

I just moved from Chassell, Mi down to Phoenix, AZ

Boy have I taken the U.P. for granted. You don't know what you got 'till it's gone. The old Drive-Inn in Chassell is my old stomping grounds! Well, all of the U.P. is my stomping grounds, but Chassell is where my roots are. I'm comin' home soon, I'm just down here to "make my millions."

Been there done that.

What about the Airport Drive in Negaunee? Doesn't any one have a picture of the abandoned snack bar that sits there today but I live in the LP not the UP.

Does any one know where the Ken Mar Drive In in Escanaba Really Was If you know E-mail me at Gary@GaryRitz.com

Where is Chassell?
Noticed names Gazvoda and Gasvoda on this site. Looking for any all family information. Send to Tom Gazvoda 1969 State Road 980 Canonsburg, PA 15317. Grandparents are Joseph and Mary (Drop) Gazvoda of Southwest Pennsylvania. Parents are Frank and Helen (Vavrek) Gazvoda from Canonsburg (Cecil Township), Pennsylvania.

The drive-in in Chassell. Saw many movies there while spending time at my grandparents home in Chassell. Remember those coil mosquito things.
Hmm..

I remember a trip to the drive-in was a treat offered by my Aunt Marie. (She would also threaten to NOT take us if we didn't do our chores). I have memories of playing on the playground (it was just in front of the screen) just before the movie began. Carla, I think those coil mosquito thingies were called "pics". (I remember fighting w/ Carla from Mich at the movies too...lol). Does anyone remember the snack bar and the awful food?