Algiers Drive-In Theatre

Info Updates:

2/17/2021 - Leah

Hello, I was born and raised in Garden City MI close to the Algiers, I remember we went to the drive in just about every weekend even in the winter months. My mom and dad would stay in the car and watch the movies while I was either at the playground our in the concession stand playing arcade games, Uncle Dave would give us kids free popcorn and credits for the games. I made lots of friends there and even worked there for a short time before the close of the Algiers drive in sometime in the early 80s. I remember a few people on this list below including Bud and his brother Gary, hope you are all doing well and keep the memories alive, thanks!!!

12/2/2017 - Phil Holmes

Hello, my name is Philip Holmes Jr. AKA Jr. Dude Friend of Dave LaCasper who was the projectionist from the mid 1970's until its closing in 1984. My father Phil Holmes Sr. and Dave LaCasper were best friends until my fathers death in December 2015 Ill never forget all the free popcorn and video games from Uncle Dave and playing on the playground or running around during the movies having fun. I met my first girlfriend there, we chased what we thought was a cat but turned out to be a skunk, we both were sprayed and had to ride home that night smelling to high heaven of skunk. Uncle dave AKA Dave LaCasper is sick now with dementia, Id like anyone who remembers him to make a post with memories they had of the good times we all had at the Algiers drive in. Anyone who would like to contact me can email me at philipfury@msn. com.

11/23/2014 - Gary

We lived at the Joy rd & Farmington area. When the Algiers would set off fireworks on the 4th of July, we could see them from our back window. I saw 4 Clint Eastwood westerns from dusk to dawn there. Pretty sure I dozed off a few times. Also remember getting the fire engine rides out to where the future Quo Vadis would be.

7/14/2014 - Walt

The close date on the Algiers theater was 1985, the week of April 13th, to be exact. In one of the pictures below. the marquee advertises final features that showed at the theater: Theater 1: Police Academy II and Purple Rain and Theater 2: The Last Dragon and Beverly Hills Cop.

9/8/2013 - trish blevins

Was a child when this drive in was opened. The name of the man who owned it I believe was Mr. Shaffer who also either owned or worked at the State Wayne theater in Wayne Mi. That theater is still open after many closing and reopening So many memories miss a drive in theater.

3/27/2011 - Carl

I grew up pretty poor so only saw one or two drive-in movies, but I do remember seeing ' Herbie the Love Bug' way back when Whenever we would drive by the theatres I remember the Marquee always saying 'Electric In Car Heaters' in big black letters. I was pretty young but I remember thinking that must be a really popular movie to be playing all the time like that I stumbled across this site after reading info about the Quo Vadis next door being demolished this week. They don't build 'em like that anymore - it looks like you could park a tank or two on the roof, no problem. Good memories and hello to all of you with fond recollections of by-gone days.

7/26/2010 - Aggie Richards

My first job was to work in the snack bar of this drive in. 1964.

4/18/2010 - Scott Brooks

I just found a speaker from this drive-in theater. It was underneath one of our cottages in Manitou Springs, Colorado. We own a motel named Town-N-Country Cottages and when I was doing some wiring I found the speaker. Thought I would see if there was any info about it on the web and low and behold!

3/13/2010 - Karen Yates

I an remember working at the Algiers from 68 to 70. Hardest working job working in the snack bar but the most fun I ever had. Do you remember Sandy and Andy?

10/18/2009 - Ron Thompson

Wow what memories..My family moved into Nankin Township in 1960 an my mom used to load the car up with the 5 kids and go to the Algiers quite often. I remember the chemical smoke for mosquitoes in the summer where they would smoke the whole theater. As a teenager it became a date haven for me and my friends..I worked at the Quo Vadis in the penthouse as an usher and got to know the people at the Algiers. Good times was had by all..

8/19/2009 - Denise G.

We moved into Westland in ''64 and immediately started going to the drive-in about once a week in Spring and Summer. Since my dad worked nights, my mom took myself and my two sisters, along with a big paper bag of popcorn (I notice someone else did the same thing.) Back then we rarely drank pop, so usually we had Kool-Ade and we always played on the playground. As we got older, my sisters and I would run around the place before and during movies. There were always tons of people there, many of them schoolmates and we''d often sit on the benches near the snack bar to chat and watch movies at the same time. I kissed a few boys there, too!

5/9/2009 - Ruthie

I think the data at the top of the screen is inaccurate (as in the close date). If I recall right, my girlfriend and her boyfriend went to see The Breakfast Club here in 1985 when the movie came out and since it was rated R (they went to the Algiers to see it since she wasn''t 17 or with her guardian, haha). I am not sure if that helps, but being a Brat Pack junkie back in the day...I know for a fact that movie was released in 1985 (my mom took me on my 15th birthday) and am nearly positive they went to the Algiers to see it.

2/13/2009 - Mykal Banta

What a memory blast! Sneaking in with a friends with one of them stuffed in the truck with beer, or going in Crhis''s Jeep under the open air. Or taking Mary in my .68 Chevy Bel Air and steaming up the windows. Man, I loved that place. What a lose that it''s gone.

10/13/2008 - Bud

We lived at 34647 Cowan Road (right next to the church that is still there) from 1968-1970, and went to the Algiers and Quo Vadis all the time as kids. Cowan Road was still gravel back then. I remember the convenience store across the street, and the barbershop next to it. We used to watch movies at the Algiers from our back fence.

I was in the area about 8 years ago, and picked up a couple of the small tiles that had fallen from the Quo Vadis sign to keep as mementos.

Does anyone remember the traveling circus that used to set up in the southwest parking lot of the mall? Or the puppet show that played inside the mall?

Too many memories.

9/27/2008 - Don

It makes me sad... The Westland landscape has changed so much. If it were not for the presence of the Quo Vadis in some of those photographs, I would not recognize the area at all. Its hard to believe where the Algiers once stood, there stands a McDonalds (with another one about 2.5 miles away, of course), a ChickenShack/LittleCaesers (with another LC about 2.5 miles away as well), a Toys ''R Us (which I admittedly enjoyed when I was a child in the 90''s) and a strip mall. I think I can even remember the construction of the strip mall (or maybe the construction/remodeling of the Toys ''R Us) when I was real young. Westland should be ashamed of itself.

Now that the Showcase cinema located down the road has closed for good (on March 2nd or 3rd, I believe) we have no more cinemas in Westland. I have to go to the cinemas in either Livonia or Canton now.

Something needs to be done. Seriously.

9/2/2008 - Patricia Varley

I also remember the Algiers.. I have a question...I am wondering if anyone might have any info about the "comercials" so to speak, that were played during intermission.. A friend of mine was in one advertising food at the Merrimen Drive Inn on merrimen& warren rds...Which is still there today it featured the restraunt and some of the girls that worked there as car hops. I was told that the film might still be in someones possesion. would love to get a look, or copy. Merrimen Drive Inns owner asked me to look into this . They are hoping to use it for a "Anniversary Reunion" If anyone has any info please respond.. Thanks ... Patti Pietrowski

8/26/2008 - Sheryl (Mona)

My Mom used to take us seven kids to the Algiers when I was younger. They had a fire truck. I was assistant manager of the concession stand in the late 1960''s. I too remember Tony D. and Charlie and Mr. Ryan and the breakroom. I met my husband of 37 years, Mike, who was an usher, there. It was a great place for families and a lot of fun.

4/20/2008 - Maryann Lincoln

As a young child, my dad would take my little sister and I and as many neighbor kids as he could fit into his old station wagon to Algiers drive in. Since we were under 12, all us kids would get in free and my dad would bring a cooler full of beverages and snacks. Once in a blue moon he''d splurge and allow us to hit the snack bar. We''d play on the playground before the movie. We had a blast!

I grew up in Westland not far from the drive in, I now live up north and when I am back in Westland visiting, I just can''t get over how different that corner of Wayne & Warren looks, so built up now with many stores. I agree with someone with an earlier entry that if the drive in was still there, thatit would be a BOOMING business now.

Mary in Beulah, Michigan

PS~
We have a tiny drive in up here in Honor called the Cherry Bowl, I simply love taking my family there now.

3/24/2008 - Jeannette

I can remember my mom and dad taking me to the Algiers Drive In. The year was 72-73 and I loved riding on the electric train that was part of the playground. i can remember my dad pushing me on the swings!! I can also remember my mom spreading a blanket on the roof of the car so that I could have an arial view of the screen. What great memories :)

3/14/2008 - Dennis Prestia

My parents bought a house in 1957 in the sub called Indian Village we lived on Arrowhead Trail one block south of Warren Rd. We could see the screen from our backyard and on a calm night you could just barley hear the sound if you kept quite. My older brother Ralph and I would walk to Joe''s Party store(right across the street from the drive-in) to get some RC Cola and Twinkies and there was a spot of sand about 10 or 15 feet long on the path to Joe''s that when we got to the sand we would drop down on our bellies and crawl through the sand pretending we were dying of thirst and we called it the Sands Of Algiers we were 10 and 13 years old then and that''s what little boys did. A good friend of mine growing up was Ed (Zurak?) sorry about the spelling Eddie, he worked at the Algiers when we got old enough to get a job. He used to sell tickets at the gate and when my other buddies and I would drive up he would wave us through.

I hope Mr. Shafer does not see this I''d hate to have to pay for all the free movies we saw in the late 60''s and early 70''s. Sometimes if the wind was coming from the right direction the bug spray that they sprayed would come in our backyard, we would all run for cover until it went away. I know Ray Gagnon and his wife Jackie and I knew his Dad and Mom and brother Mickey also. Ray and Jackie are very nice people and though his Dad and Mom and Mickey have since passed on I still have fond memories of them all. I sure miss those times and wish we could have stayed that way for a little longer than we did but time goes on and all you have left are the memories. Don''t ever forget Ralph we couldn''t have grown up in a better time.

8/29/2007 - Doug Bell

I just had to chime in on this landmark that brings back such fond memories! I lived just 2 blocks east of Wayne Rd. on Warren. I could see the screen at night from my backyard. I couldn''t begin to tell you how many times my friends and I would ride our bikes to the DI and watch the movie form outside the fence. You could even hear the sound very well. The sign out in front was magnificent!

6/6/2007 - LANCE ARP

I JUST HAD TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT I WORKED AT THE ALGIERS DI WAY BACK IN 1967 AND 1968 AND WAS MAKING $1.10 AND HOUR AT THE TIME THE RIOTS BROKE OUT IN DETROIT AND WE WON THE WORLD SERIES.I REMEMBER RIDING THE FIRE TRUCK WHICH WOULD TAKE KIDS AROUND BACK IN THE UNUSED LOT OF THE OUI VADIS AND UP THE EXIT AREA AND BACK. I WAS EVEN WORKING WHEN THE TRUCK TURNED OVER BECAUSE THE DRIVER MADE TOO SHARP OF A TURN. THANK GOD NOBODY GOT HURT OR THE SCHAFER BROTHERS WOULD HAVE LOST EVERYTHING THEY WORKED SO HARD FOR. I REMEMBER IN 1967 THAT BONNIE AND CLYDE WAS THE FEATURE MOVIE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE RIOTS HAD STARTED IN DETROIT AND OUR PARENTS WOULD HAVE TO COME AND GET US BEFORE WE COULD LEAVE THE BREAK ROOM IN THE BACK 0F THE SNACK BAR.I WAS 17 AT THE TIME AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE COMING OUT TO THE WESTLAND AREA TO BURN US DOWN.I''V HAD GREAT MEMORIES OF HELPING TO BREAKUP FIGHTS, SELL TICKETS, CHASE SNEAK INS OUT OF THE SHOW. AND FIGHT BUGS WITH THOSE FOGGERS THAT ALWAYS CAUGHT FIRE ON THE BACK OF THE PICKUP TRUCK WE USED.I DO REMEMBER MR. RYAN ,TONY DEFLICE WHO WAS MY BEST FRIEND IN SCHOOL (BENTLEY HIGH ,1969) AND THE ASSISTANT MANAGER THERE. GREAT TIMES!!!!!! LANCE ARP

3/25/2007 - Brian

Yes many memories from the 60''s and 70''s. 6the 60''s Bag of burgers for a buck from the Garden City grill. Mom and Dad in the Front Kids in P J''s in the back. Pop Corn every Where. Then the 70''s 2 in the front 4 in the trunk Beer in the cooler. The neon palm trees are still alive and well. A local man Dave C. saved them and they were last seen resized and glowing in his living room.

8/19/2006 - Walt

Boy the memories I have of this place! The Algiers was THE drive in for those of us in the Livonia/Westland area. And if we didnt go to the Algiers we went to the Wayne, Dearborn or Grand River drive ins. Or if we were really adventurous wed head out to the Jolly Roger or Galaxy. Sometimes the Miracle Mile in the other direction... What a blast we had back then, piling a bunch of us into the car and just hanging out all evening watching movies and drinking and whatever...and staying till the wee hours because it didnt get dark till almost 10 PM and wed stay for a double feature. It was a cheap night out since we usually brought our own food and drink. As mentioned elsewhere here, the strip mall standing there now has almost always had a lot of vacancies and seems like they wasted the space. I bet if the Algiers was still standing it wouldnt do a bad amount of business; there is a certain amount of nostalgia for drive ins these days. Wish we had more around. I know they have a drive in at the Compuware arena site in Plymouth, but that probably isnt quite the same thing. I havent been there yet so I dont know, but it probably couldnt replace the memories of a real drive in. I can remember going in the dead of winter with the window heater hooked onto your windows, etc. etc. And since it was right next door to the Quo Vadis, I think if you went to the restaurant/lounge at Quo Vadis you could see the movie at the drive in and could listen to it as well while you had dinner or drinks. I think it was called the "21" Club or something similar. Ill have to check the Quo Vadis entry here to see if its mentioned.

7/6/2006 - Shannon

I have to agree with Chris about the shopping centre that now occupies the site. It has a lot of vacancies and just isnt needed in Westland, which has just about every store or restaurant you can think of just minutes away. The ironic thing is, I think that if the Algiers could have made it through the years, it would probably do really well now. A lot of people are nostalgic and longing for things of the past like drive-ins. I miss the Quo Vadis and the Algiers. Most of the time my family brought our snacks, but on the occasions when we went to the snack bar - wow! I will never forget the hot dogs, egg rolls, and those dill pickles! The dill pickles were the best!

7/2/2006 - Chris Hurley

I have memories of the seeing the Algiers from my childhood, every other Friday going out that way to go to dinner with my family (every other Friday was payday for my parents back then), and looking with anticipation at what was listed on that very cool marquee. I only visited the drive in a couple of times, I recall seeing the movie "Grease" there back in 1978, a Three Stooges short was also played before "Grease" came on. A shame it had to close, as the shopping centre that replaced it constantly has lots of empty spaces, and looks terrible in my personal opinion. And now with the Quo Vadis Theatre next door closed too, a sad state of affairs at the northeast corner of Wayne and Warren Roads in Westland.

6/12/2006 - Fredrick George Ryan

My father, William Ryan who was the manager of the Algiers from 1961 until it closed in 1985 passed away June 10th at the age of 75.

10/16/2003 - MichiganDriveIns.com

The Algiers DI was NOT the first drive in built by Wayne Amusement. That honor goes to the Wayne DI which opened in 1949. At that time the Wayne Amusement Co. consisted of the Wayne Theater, State Wayne, Shafer Garden City (later the La Parisien)and the new Wayne DI. Also, it is possible that the second screen from the Algiers may be at the Ford Wyoming, it is not possible for the original screen to be in use. The original screen had its supports cut and was pulled down by a bulldozer. One of the local newspapers ran photos of the screen coming down.

1/6/2003 - MichiganDriveIns.com

Gone, site is now shopping center, toys r us, & mcdonalds, the screens are now in use at The Ford-Wyoming Drive-In (Whit Whitworth Dec 98)