Burnside Drive-In Theatre

Info Updates:

3/8/2021 - Andy Gray

A.S. Johnson Jr's (Bud's) list shows the Burnside Drive-In project without a date, but Al Johnson's seven project slides are dated January and June 1951. They show final construction of the tower and the drive-in on or about opening night in June 1951. One feature of the road side of the tower is a huge mural of a rising pheasant. The unincorporated Burnside community is at the intersection of M53 and M90, about eight miles north of Imlay City. The drive-in has since been demolished.

11/27/2019 - Jeff T

Does anyone know who owns this theatre. Does anything remain of this drive in?.

9/15/2013 - Jon C

I recently talked to the owner of the land the Burnside sat on. The concession stand, marque, and ticket booth are no more. The current owners run an archery/hunting business and part of the land is used as an archery range, particularly where the concession stand was.

9/23/2009 - T

9/22/09 I was wondering about the Burnside drive in so I made contact with the Realtor. Then I checked out the buildings. Bad news in the projector house. The roof is fallen in and the place is way beyond repair. the entire place is trashed. The two projector stands are totally rusty. This is now the only structure on the property now. The metal pheasant screen is found in a crumpled heap behind the trees. the driveway''s are barely visible. I am sorry to see it in this state. My fondest memory is seeing the movie E.T. there.

12/21/2004 - D Gould

I also went to Burnside Drive-In for many years as a kid. That was where I saw all the Disney movies. After it closed the property was used by a heating and cooling company. I can remember going there to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July during the 70s.

1/6/2003 - Drive-Ins.com

I used to go to the Burnside Drive In all the time as a kid in the 50s. It was small, like 250-300 cars, and had a beautiful mural of a pheasant rising out of a cornfield painted on the back of the wooden screen tower. The theatre is actually located at the intersection of Highway 53 and Burnside Road in Burnside, Michigan (unincorporated town that does not appear on the map) about 8 miles north of Imlay City, Michigan. The screen is gone but the projection/concession building still stands as does the foundation for the screen, the entrance road, and an exit sign. Lee Burgess

HomeDrive-In TheatersBurnside Drive-In Theatre - Burnside, MI

Burnside Drive-In Theatre