Capri Drive-In opens for 60th season this weekend on U.S. 12

Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter

COLDWATER TWP. - The snack bar is ready, and so is the Capri Drive-In theater, which will begin its 60th season Friday night just west of Coldwater on U.S. 12.

Vehicles line up along U.S. 12 to enter the Capri Drive-In theater.
Vehicles line up along U.S. 12 to enter the Capri Drive-In theater.

The weather forecast calls for 38 degrees and a 50% chance of snow.

"This is Michigan," said Susan Magocs, co-owner of Capri with husband Tom.

One Good Friday weekend, when the drive-in opened, there was three feet of snow.

"It doesn't matter. Once we open, I don't close until next fall, whether it rains or snows," Magocs said.

People still come to relive some of the nostalgia of days before streaming movies to television and handheld devices.

They get cozy inside their cars or pickup trucks to watch on the giant 150-foot-wide by 75-foot-tall Screen 1 or the 80-foot-wide by 40-foot-tall Screen 2 with sound on their FM radios.

Adult tickets are $12 each, kids ages five to 11 are $5, and children under five are free.

The business is cash only.

The weekend features new releases "Ghostbusters, Frozen Empire" and Marvel Comics "Madame Web" on Screen 1. On Screen 2 are "Wonka" and "Dune, Part 2," all first-run releases.

Magocs said there are events to draw in customers. "

We just have to get more creative about how we do things," she said.

Capri Drive-In special events

  • Saturday night Camp-Ins with four movies shown back-to-back for the same admission throughout the season.

  • There's an Easter Egg hunt on March 30, with 5,000 eggs for those who attend.

  • The 60th Anniversary party is on Aug. 20

  • Horror films show for all of October

  • Trunk or Treat is back on Oct. 19

  • Pictures with Santa are planned for Nov. 30 before the theater closes for the winter.

Historic designation

The State Historic Commission awarded the drive-in a local historical designation this year. The Magocs want to pursue a state historic designation for the mid-century landmark.

"This is still an authentic drive-in. All that same kind of really cool retro stuff that people just aren't able to see anywhere anymore. An authentic snack bar that looks the same," Magocs said. "They're fading fast on the landscape."

The Capri concession stands retains its original design
The Capri concession stands retains its original design

The Capri draws from over 150 miles for the experience. "Probably even farther now, because there aren't many drive-ins," Magocs said.

Magocs said the number of drive-in theaters in Michigan may be down to seven.

Capri Drive-In history

John and Mary Magocs built the theater in 1964. They moved to Florida and leased the drive-in for three years until the two sons decided to return to Coldwater and take over.

Susan Magocs said Tom's brother left after she met Tom 44 years ago. The couple kept Capri operating.

Now, their son Michael is the general manager, taking an interest in marketing and operations.

"He's good with the computer stuff," Susan Magocs said.

The digital projectors installed in 2013 "Are really big computers," she explained.

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For more information, visit www.capridrivein.com online.

-- Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Capri Drive-In opens this weekend for 60th season

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