Starlite Drive-In Theatre

Info Updates:

11/16/2014 - Son Ross

The site of the Starlite Drive-In is now a trucking company just now being built. The drive-in closed thirty years ago this year (2014). My uncle Louie used to live on Snow road beside the theater back in the 60's and my cousins and I would sit on the front yard and watch the movie couldn't hear it though.

9/12/2004 - Andrew Wilson AKA The Librarian

Starlite Park-In to Open at Millett Lansing State Journal - Thursday June 9, 1949 - Page 40 Starlite Park-In theater at Millett will open for the summer season Saturday night, featuring "Buck Privates Come Home" with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. The Starlite Park-In will operate on a Saturday night schedule only and it is planned to offer the best films available, according to the manager C. M. Miller, who is also secretary of the American Educational Film society. Arthur Eiman is assistant manager. Admission will be charged by the carload. The Starlite is able to accomodate 300 cars at one time. Drive-in Opening Set Lansing State Journal - Thursday May 21, 1953 - Page The new Starlite Drive-In theater on US-27, one-mile west of Waverly rd., will open Friday. The theater is owned and managed by J. W. Blackburn, proprietor of the Family Drive-In theater in St. Johns. This makes five drive-in theaters which have been built in the Lansing area in a period of five years. Work on the new building was started last November, and is now completed with the exception of a few minor details, Mr. Blackburn said. Five hundred cars can be accommodated at the theater at one time. The theater will open with a double bill "Invasion, U. S. A.," starring Gerald Mohr and Peggie Castle, and "The Pathfinder," with George Montgomery and Helen Carter. These two shows will be presented through Saturday, with a midnight show on Saturday, "Deadmans Eyes." The box office will open each night at 7 oclock, and shows will begin about 8:20 p. m., with a complete show of the double bill and a repeat of the main feature. The same policy of children under 12 years of age being admitted free, that is followed by other drive-in theaters, will be adhered to by the new theater, Mr. Blackwell said. Also marking the opening night as the Starlite will be a big display of fireworks after the show. In case of rain the display will be presented on Saturday night. There will be free popcorn, and balloons for the children. A concession stand also will operate at the theater. Pony rides and a playground for children will also be featured.

1/6/2003 - Drive-Ins.com

The Starlite Drive-In opened on May 22nd, 1953, and was featured in the "Review of Theatre Constuction" section of the 1954-55 Theatre Catalog. According to the Theatre Catalog feature, the Starlite was owned by J.W. Blackburn, had a 600-car capacity on its 17-acre lot, and cost $85,000 to build. The wood-frame screen tower was 60 by 60. The Starlite closed around 1985, and was demolished sometime shortly after that. I didnt get the chance to go to a drive-in until I was a teen, and for some reason never caught a show at the Starlite. Probably because the Northside Drive-In was much closer to home. But I do have vivid memories as a young child going by there at night, fascinated by seeing the movie playing on the big screen, as it was clearly visible when driving north on Lansing Rd. past the theater. So, The Starlite was sort-of my "first" drive-in. Currently the lot is used by "Starlite RV Storage". Ron Gross

1/6/2003 - WaterWinterWonderland

The site is mostly empty except for the driveways and the foundations of some of the structures. The sign still there was apparently for the RV storage lot that occupied the site up until recently.

HomeDrive-In TheatersStarlite Drive-In Theatre - Lansing, MI

Starlite Drive-In Theatre