Wisconsin
Here’s a guide to drive-in movie theaters in Wisconsin, and a look at the history of outdoor theaters here
Wisconsin was a bit late to the drive-in movie show social gathering. However we have by no means fully left.
The truth is, half of the drive-ins which might be nonetheless in operation within the state opened within the twenty first century.
Beneath is a information to the ten drive-in film theaters nonetheless working in Wisconsin. Most are open from round Memorial Day weekend by Labor Day weekend.
However first, a bit historical past of drive-in film theaters in Wisconsin, spurred by a reader’s query to What the Wisconsin — the place the place we tackle questions giant and small about our state, our communities and the folks in them.
The historical past of Wisconsin’s drive-in theaters, from increase to bust to temporary COVID-era resurgence
That story begins in Brookfield.
The state’s first drive-in theater, referred to as merely the Drive-In, opened on the location of a former canine observe on the south aspect of Blue Mound Street, west of Moorland Street in what was then the City of Brookfield, on June 18, 1940. Its debut was greater than seven years after the opening of the nation’s first drive-in, in Camden, New Jersey.
Later renamed the Bluemound Drive-In, the Brookfield out of doors theater was the Milwaukee space’s solely drive-in till 1948, when the 41 Twin Out of doors opened in Franklin.
Because it did in the remainder of the nation, the drive-in actually took off in Wisconsin within the Fifties. By 1954, in line with reviews within the Journal Sentinel archives, the Milwaukee space had as many as 20 out of doors theaters. Throughout Wisconsin, by 1955, there have been 54 drive-ins.
By the Sixties, a few of them had been busy sufficient to be open year-round — fairly a feat, contemplating Wisconsin climate. (Of their newspaper listings, drive-ins just like the Bluemound or the 59 Out of doors in Waukesha promised “in-car heaters.”)
However by the Nineteen Seventies, the rise of the multiplex and increasing industrial improvement helped make drive-in properties extra precious as actual property websites than movie show places.
The Bluemound Drive-In, the state’s first, closed in 1981 and was developed as workplace and industrial area a few years later. The 41 Twin, the Milwaukee space’s final conventional drive-in, closed after the 2001 season.
By March 2020, the variety of drive-in film theaters nationwide had sunk from round 4,000 in 1958 to 321, in line with the Nationwide Affiliation of Theater Homeowners.
A handful of drive-in theaters round Wisconsin held on. And, up to now couple of a long time, a few new ones, together with the Chilton Twilight Drive-In Theater and the Freeway 18 Out of doors Theatre in Jefferson, began up or revived older drive-in properties.
In the course of the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic — with social distancing a key security consideration — a number of pop-up drive-ins turned up across the state.
A few of these pop-ups had been arrange in parking tons outdoors current theaters, like at Marcus Theatres’ Majestic Cinema in Brookfield; others had been in tons outdoors different points of interest, just like the Duck Pond Drive-In arrange outdoors the house stadium for the the Madison Mallards, the collegiate summer season baseball league staff, and the Milky Method Drive-In, constructed within the car parking zone outdoors the Milwaukee Milkmen’s house ballpark in Franklin. Most of them shut down after 2020; the Milky Method continues with a schedule that runs into October.
Drive-in film theaters in southeastern Wisconsin
Milky Method Drive-In
The place: 7035 S. Ballpark Drive, Franklin (in Ballpark Commons)
Opened: 2020
What does it present?: Principally second-run and older films; double-features on Thursdays
What number of screens?: 1
When is it open?: When the Milwaukee Milkmen baseball staff isn’t taking part in in adjoining Franklin Subject (the drive-in is about up within the ballpark’s car parking zone), with films displaying into October
Information: milkywaydrivein.com
Freeway 18 Out of doors Theatre
The place: W6423 Freeway 18, Jefferson (at Highways 18 and 89)
Opened: 1953; reopened in 2000
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 1
When is it open?: Wednesday-Sunday
Information: highway18.com
Drive-in film theaters in northwestern Wisconsin
Stardust Drive-In Theater
The place: 995 twenty second St., Chetek (about two hours east of Minneapolis)
Opened: 2008
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 2
When is it open?: Thursday-Sunday
Information: stardustdriveinmovie.com
Drive-in film theaters in northeastern Wisconsin (together with Fox Valley and Door County)
Chilton Twilight Drive-In Theater
The place: 1255 E. Chestnut St. (Freeway 57), Chilton
Opened: 2011
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 1
When is it open?: Wednesday-Sunday
Information: getreelcinemas.com/chilton-drive-in
Subject of Scenes Out of doors Theater
The place: N3712 Freeway 55, Freedom
Opened: 2003
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 2
When is it open?: Thursday-Saturday
Information: fieldofscenes.biz
Skyway Drive-In
The place: 3475 Freeway 42, Fish Creek
Opened: 1950
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 1
When is it open?: Day by day
Information: doorcountydrivein.com
Moonlight Drive-In
The place: 1494 E. Inexperienced Bay St., Shawano
Opened: 2000
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 1
When is it open?: Open day by day
Information: shawanocinema.com/#outdoortheater
Drive-in film theaters in southwestern Wisconsin (together with Wisconsin Dells)
Massive Sky Drive-In Theatre
The place: N9199 Winnebago Street, Wisconsin Dells
Opened: 1950
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 2
When is it open?: Day by day
Information: bigskydrivein.com
Sky-Vu Drive-In
The place: N1936 Freeway 69, Monroe
Opened: 1954
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 1
When is it open?: Thursday-Sunday
Information: goetzskyvu.com/SKY-VU/SKY-VU_HOME.html
Starlite 14 Drive-In
The place: U.S. Freeway 14 East, Richland Heart
Opened: 1952
What does it present?: New releases
What number of screens?: 1
When is it open?: Friday-Saturday
Information: richlandmovies.com
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Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Observe him on Twitter at @cforan12.