Night-Sky Drive-In Theatre

Info Updates:

7/27/2016 - Aaron Wissner

From the 1955 satellite image, it looks to me like the Night-Sky was located on the west of US-31 where Amerigas now stands. Look at the satellite image, and you'll see the tell-tale curved rows moving back away from US-31. You can also see that the rows are smaller in the front, and get larger away from the screen, but are limited by the size of the property. Behind that now is a campground, which seems like it makes sense, being behind the site of a closed drive-in. The property number is: Property Number: 02-103-032-00.

3/2/2014 - corlis smeltzer mccormack

I remember the Night Sky. I was very young, but it stood empty for awhile. The corner of M-115 and US31 was called DogPatch and if you go North approx. a quarter mile it would have been on the West side of the hwy. Past the Shell station Past the Quaker State Oil. Small houses on the left it would have been there. Thank you for the memories. The arial pic is of the B&L Bar and old race track.

11/21/2004 - MichiganDriveIns.com

The mystery of exactly where the Night Sky Drive-In stood has apparently been solved by MichiganDriveIns. An October 2004 roadtrip, spurned by Jasons recent posts, to Benzonia to look for evidence of this long forgotten theatre has yielded some new information. When questioned, many local residents knew nothing of the Night Sky and assumed we were looking for the nearby Cherry Bowl Drive-In, fortunately we were armed with copies of the Night Skys grand opening ad and newspaper articles. One long time Benzonia resident however, remembered the Night Sky very well. We spoke with Louie, the owner of Beulah Auto Parts salvage yard and the B&L Bar, he told us the Night Sky Drive-In DID NOT occupy the B&L property. He has owned the property since 1949 and built the bar there in 1964 and it was never a drive-in. He indicated the drive-in was located at the northeast corner of US-31 and Hoadley road, directly behind the Wesco gas station that occupies that corner. There are now a couple of pole barns on the site where the drive-in once stood. A concrete slab found directly behind the gas station was assumed to be the snack bar foundation, but it turned out to be the site of another pole barn that had been removed.

12/12/2003 - Andrew Wilson AKA The Librarian

Drive-In Theatre Opens Thursday Benzie Banner - Thursday June 10, 1954 - Page 1 After an intensive renovation program carried on the past two weeks, the Night-Sky Drive-In Theatre south of Benzonia on US-31 will open for the summer season Thursday Evening (tonight) Arnold Cohn and Duke Kaufman of Miami will manage the drive-in this year for the United Theatre Corporation.

12/12/2003 - Andrew Wilson AKA The Librarian

Benzie Banner - Thursday May 21, 1953 - Page 1 Captions to Photographs (2 Photos) No article. FIRST BENZIE DRIVE-IN OPENS -- This 32 foot tower at the Night Sky Drive-in Theatre, which opened last Saturday night will be raised 8 feet according to the owners. A faulty sound amplifier was replaced the next day. Mr. and Mrs. Fernette were well pleased with the reception their new received. LAST MINUTE PREPERATION -- Eugene Fernette is shown completing the wiring of the speaker stands last Saturday prior to their opening that night. Dorothy Fernette (inset, right) was busy getting the snack bar in shape.

12/12/2003 - Andrew Wilson AKA The Librarian

New Drive-in Theatre To Open Saturday Night Benzie Banner - Thursday May 14, 1953 - Page 1, 14 At dusk on Saturday evening the first motion pictures will be thrown on a giant 32-foot outdoor screen at the new Night Sky Drive-In theatre on US-31, south of Benzonia. Under construction since January, the new enterprise is still not fully completed, but has been rushed to a early opening to provide residents of the area with this new-type of outdoor entertainment. Two gigantic Holmes motion picture machines, equipped with powerful, high intensity lighting will provide clear, sharp pictures and sound reproduction of remarkable clarity. The projectors are equipped to show new third dimension movies, when they are ready. Eugene Fernette, the owner and who has had 14 years experience in the motion picture business, said that he tailored his enterprise to fit the community and that it would be expanded in size as the need was shown. To start off with, 200 in-car speakers have been provided. Lighted speaker stands will provide illumination for each parking space and eliminate confusion. The speakers themselves are of cast aluminum and have a volume control. A 8-foot cord permits the speaker to be placed anywhere inside the car. Three pieces of playground equipment have been ordered, but there is little possibility that they will arrive by the opening date. In commenting on his policy, Fernette stressed that "the primary attraction of outdoor theatres is that they cater to children. My wife Jean and I both like kids and were going to do everything possible to see that their visits here are pleasant and entertaining." Rest rooms have been provided in the rear of the projection booth. A snack bar will sell ice cream bars, pop corn, soft drinks, coffee and candy. Congratulatory messages, the opening program, admission prices and other information are all contained on a full page advertisement on page three of this issue of the Benzie Record-Banner.

12/12/2003 - Andrew Wilson AKA The Librarian

The Night Sky opened on May 16 1953 and apparently closed on August 25, 1954 (The last ad I could find was in the August 19th issue of the Benzie Banner). The Cherry Bowl opened six weeks later, which might have had something to to with the demise of the Night Sky.

11/24/2003 - MichiganDriveIns.com

The NIGHT-SKY Drive-In did indeed exist, as proven with newly found 1954 newspaper ads. The June 24th 1954 issue of the Benzie Co. paper lists its location as "SOUTH JUNCTION M-115 and US-31", which is in Joyfield Township. Its exact location it yet to be found, as it doesnt show up on a topo map of this intersection

10/16/2003 - MichiganDriveIns.com

Whether or not this drive-in ever actually existed seems to be in doubt. The only solid evidence so far is the 1953-54 Theatre Catalog. It lists two drive-in theatres located in Beulah, MI. The first is the Cherry Bowl, which is actually closer to Honor. The owner is listed as L.O. Griffin, and it shows a 300-car capacity. It also notes the Cherry Bowl is under construction. The second Beulah drive-in listed is the Nite Sky. The owner is E.H. Fernette, it is on the Waxman Circuit, and the capacity is 170 cars. The location of the Nite Sky remains a mystery, as it does not appear on any of the topo maps, or aerial images of the area.

HomeDrive-In TheatersNight-Sky Drive-In Theatre - Beulah, MI

Night-Sky Drive-In Theatre