HomeDrive-In TheatersAuto Theatre - Constantine, MI

Auto Theatre - Constantine MI

Address: 17038 Centreville-Constantine Rd
City: Constantine
State: MI
Zip: 49042
County: St. Joseph
Open: 1948 (7-28-48?)
Closed: N/A
Capacity: 228
Owner History: Hal Lego
Number of visits to this page: 14267
General Information:

Source: MichiganDriveIns.com

The Constantine Auto Theatre is listed as open in the 1948-49 and 1950-51 editions of the Theatre Catalog The 1948-49 edition lists the Constantine as being on Route 131, having 125 car capacity and the owner is Hal Lego. It operates 7 months per year, seven nights a week, plays single and double features and changes its features three times a week.

The 1952 edition lists the Constantine as being closed, and there is no listing in the 1953-54 or subsequent editions. Update 2: The actual location of the Constantine Auto Theatre, which was owned by Hal Lego, was found in the 1955 and 1961 St. Joseph Co. Farm Plat Books. The drive-in was located at the Northeast corner of Lutz Rd. and Centerville-Constantine Rd. The site is shown, highlighted in yellow, in the aerial photograph below. As there is no Topo image of the Auto site available, we created one a Photoshop rendering (Image 3) to illustrate one possible placement of the drive-in "footprint" on this piece of property.

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Info Updates:
11/6/2022 - Sarah B.
Now has cinema treasures page http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/67894
11/6/2022 - Sarah B
Hal Lego died in 1963 and it never reopened ever again. It was later torn down by 1966.
12/12/2003 - Andrew Wilson AKA The Librarian
Auto Theatre to Open July 3 Constantine Advertiser-Record - Wednesday June 30, 1948 - Page 1 Constantine and surrounding territory this week will have an auto drive-in theatre, the new motion picture fad now going across the country. Hal Lego, builder and owner of the Constantine Auto Theatre, this week announced that the new project will open to the public beginning July 3. The shows will start at 8:30 each night. The Constantine Auto Theatre is located three miles east of Constantine on old US-131, at the intersection of that highway and the Centreville - Constantine road. A large screen and projection house have been erected, and the workmen are busy getting the final work done before Saturdays opening date.
12/12/2003 - Andrew Wilson AKA The Librarian
The C A T opened on July 3rd 1948 and apparently closed on September 1, 1949. (I dont have my notes with me as I type, but the 9/1/49 date may be the day the last ad appeared). No ads or articles appear in the Constantine Advertiser-Record beyond 1949. Another mystery SOLVED!
 Photos:7
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

Auto Theatre - Old Photo From Ron Gross
Old Photo From Ron Gross
Auto Theatre - Rear Of Lot
Rear Of Lot
Auto Theatre - Now A House
Now A House
Auto Theatre - Corner Of Lot
Corner Of Lot
Auto Theatre - Auto Theatre Site Highlighted From 1961 Plat Book 4-17-05
Auto Theatre Site Highlighted From 1961 Plat Book 4-17-05
Auto Theatre - Auto Theatre Annotated Aerial 4-17-05
Auto Theatre Annotated Aerial 4-17-05
Auto Theatre - 1955 Aerial
1955 Aerial
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