With more than 14,000 Facebook likes, The Capri Drive-In movie theater in Coldwater will open tomorrow for its 51st opening weekend.
“We’re back! We’re looking forward to seeing you again!” the drive-in’s official Facebook page posted on March 18.
The box office opens at 7:30 p.m. and the shows begin at dusk every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the season. This weekend, two shows will air: “Home” — a PG animation featuring Jim Parsons, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna — and “Night at the Museum 3: Secret of the Tomb,” starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, and Owen Wilson.
Admission costs $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 5 to 11, and is free for children ages four and younger. Tickets can be purchased only with cash and cover the cost of both movies that will be playing.
The sound for the movie is broadcasted over a FM radio frequency. Visitors who want to sit outside can rent a portable radio for $2. The frequency for this weekend’s shows will be 89.7 FM.
The Capri Drive-In was built in 1964 by John Magocs, and it was based on the design of a Holiday Drive-In in Trenton, Michigan. The Magocs family held a competition to decide the best name for the new business. John’s wife, Mary Magocs, submitted the winning name, “The Capri.” She won a new sewing machine.
Since then, The Capri has added a large snack bar space with beverages, snacks, sandwiches, and “Capri Swag” — T-shirts, sweatshirts, Frisbees, and popcorn buckets. In 1986, a second screen was added. Around 2000, the addition of FM stereo technology made the sound quality at the drive-in comparable to an indoor movie theater.
In 2001, The Capri Drive-In was named “One of Ten Drive-In’s Worth A Detour” by USA Today and The New York Times according to capridrive-in.com.
Visitors can call the box office with questions at 517-278-5628 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. The drive-in is located at 119 West Chicago Road.
