Virtually “Own” a Drive-In Theater: Hi-Way Drive In Invites Guests to Host Their Own Movie Night

Michigan’s Oldest Drive-In Theater Unveils Exciting Upgrades and New Event Options

CARSONVILLE, MI - Highway Drive-In, Michigan's oldest drive-in theater, located at the Black River Fairgrounds between Sandusky and Port Sanilac, is launching into a new era with numerous upgrades and new opportunities for movie lovers and event organizers. Known for its nostalgic charm and commitment to community entertainment, the drive-in is poised to provide a higher quality viewing experience and a wider range of events in the coming seasons.

In a recent announcement, Highway Drive-In revealed that it has enhanced its projection system to deliver higher quality screenings, promising a clearer and more vibrant picture experience for patrons. In tandem with these technical upgrades, the concession stand will also be more powerful and will have more menu items to accommodate diverse tastes and preferences.

"We are excited to bring these upgrades to our loyal patrons and new visitors alike," Highway Drive-In's management said in a statement on social media. "Our goal is to enhance the overall experience, from the quality of our movies to the variety of snacks."

But the upgrades don't stop there. The drive-in's digital presence will also be revamped, with an overhauled website to provide up-to-date information and a more straightforward booking process. To keep the community informed, the theater will continue to share updates on movie schedules, special events, and more on its social media channels.

A New Way to Enjoy the Drive-In Experience

Perhaps the most exciting change for fans is the new option to host private or public screenings. In a stark departure from its traditional programming, Hi-Way Drive In now allows guests to reserve the theater for a personal event. This new feature allows fans to select and screen their favorite movie within the guidelines set by the production company and enjoy a customized movie night under the stars.

"We invite the community to get creative and use our space in new ways," management said. "Whether it's a private movie night, a wedding, a concert, or a family gathering, we're here to help you realize your vision."

To support such diverse events, the theater offers a variety of resources, including staff support, partnership opportunities, stage equipment for performances, multiple stage options, and custom decorative arrangements. However, availability is limited, so we recommend you make your reservation early to secure your preferred date.

End-of-Season Events and a Glimpse of What’s to Come

Before the season ends, Hi-Way Drive-In (2778 E Sanilac Rd, Carsonville, MI, United States, Michigan) has some special events for all ages. On Friday, October 25th, they will have a Horror Movie Night, perfect for those who like spooky movies. The following night, on Saturday, October 26th, they will have a Trunk-or-Treat event with a screening of Hocus Pocus 2. Admission to both events is just $10 per car, making it an affordable family outing.

They encourage the community to "Celebrate the season with treats, costumes and classic movies."

While looking forward to the new changes, Hi-Way Drive-In continues to show its gratitude for the support of the community over the years. "Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to bringing you new changes next season.

For drive-in event reservations or general inquiries, please contact hiwaydriveintheater@gmail. com. As the Highway Drive-In prepares for its next chapter, it remains a beloved landmark in the Crosswell community and surrounding areas, offering a unique blend of nostalgia and modern entertainment possibilities.

The Last of Michigan’s Drive-In Theaters

1. Capri Drive-In, Coldwater - Established in 1964, Capri Drive-In is a beloved Coldwater landmark. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and state-of-the-art digital screenings.
2. US23 Drive-In, Flint - Open since 1952, Flint's US23 Drive-In has been a favorite of Michiganders for generations. With multiple screens, it shows new releases and classics, and hosts special events and theme nights.
3. Cherry Ball Drive-In, Honor - Located near Lake Michigan, Cherry Ball Drive-In opened in 1953 and is a beloved Coldwater landmark. It's been entertaining movie buffs since 1990, and its vintage charm, including an original play area and a snack bar serving fresh popcorn and burgers, offers a nostalgic trip back in time.
4. Sunset Drive-In (Hartford) - A Southwest Michigan staple, the Sunset Drive-In opened in 1948 and offers double features, a diverse concession menu and a welcoming atmosphere for the local community.
5. Highway Drive-In, Carsonville - Known as Michigan's oldest drive-in, the Highway Drive-In near Croswell is being recognized for its historic charm and recent upgrades, including improved projection quality and new event hosting options.

More than just a place to watch a movie, drive-in theaters like this one have become cultural touchstones that connect generations through the shared joy of outdoor cinema. As these establishments adapt and evolve, they continue to offer a slice of Americana that is becoming increasingly rare in Michigan, but deeply beloved.

Michael Hardy

Michael Hardy is the owner of Thumbwind Publications LLC. Michael was born in Michigan and grew up near Caseville. In 2009, he launched this fun site covering Upper Thumb, Michigan. Since then, he has written a ton of content and established a loyal base of 60, 000 monthly visitors.

Sure Looks Like Michigan’s GOP Leader Gambled $73,000 in One Month

In September 2019, Michigan Rep. Matt Hall's then-girlfriend called 911. According to police records, Hall (currently the Republican Minority Leader of the State House of Representatives) had lost track of his gambling funds and was rushing across the Indiana border to place a bet (the funds were later found in his car).

According to a police report previously reported by The Daily Beast, Hall was "speeding and scaring (his girlfriend). She was upset and asked him to stop driving like that and to take a night off gambling. Hall refused, the couple got into an argument, and she called the police.

At the time, sports betting was still illegal in Michigan. A bill to legalize sports betting had been introduced earlier that month, and Hall, who has said that legalizing sports betting was "one of the reasons I ran for office," was one of the bill's staunch supporters.

Records reviewed by Rolling Stone suggest Hall was making some bold bets around that time. According to screenshots of Hall's account provided by a Democratic source, an account associated with the senator's personal email appears to have placed approximately $73, 000 in online sports bets in just 33 days last year. Rolling Stone verified Hall's account through data leaked from a sports betting app.

Online sports betting had not yet been legal in Michigan at the time those bets were made, eight months before Hall was elected. In a statement, a spokesperson for Hall called the information "blatantly false," without explaining the transactions or denying that they were made by Hall.

In the car that night in September 2019, the woman seemed to blame Hall's actions on her desire to gamble. "Maybe you shouldn't gamble so much," she said in a recording of the incident that she later shared with police. (The recording was obtained through a public records request and published by the right-wing news site The Gateway Pundit.)

Editor’s picks

The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time

The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

25 Most Influential Creators of 2024

In response, Hall told his girlfriend to "shut up."

She asked him to give her a ride home. "I don't have time to give you a ride home," Hall said.

"Because gambling is more important to you?"

"Why?" Hall says.

"More important than me?"

"Yes," Hall replies, according to the audio.

Hall eventually gave the woman a ride home (he damaged her phone, the report said), but left before police arrived. The report said officers recommended charging Hall with domestic assault, aggravated criminal damage to property and interfering with a 911 call, but Hall was never arrested. The couple was still together when The Daily Beast reached out to the woman in question earlier this year. The woman who filed the report told me the negative reports about Hall were untrue and that she would never date him if he was like that, reporter Kate Braikle wrote.

The extent of Hall's gambling history was revealed by a data leak from a site he supposedly used to track his bets. Hall's personal email account appears in a leaked user database from the Action Network, a sports gambling news site. Hall's Action Network account appears to be linked to five separate sportsbooks.

Hall's emails also appear in leaked user data from Playbooksports. com, which describes itself as "a revolutionary social sports gaming portal dedicated to the art and science of sports handicapping."

A Democratic source provided Rolling Stone with screenshots of Hall's Action Network account taken before it was made private. The images show that Hall's account has bet roughly $73, 000, an average of more than $2, 200 a day. Hall's account showed a net loss of about $9, 000, most of which occurred within a month of him opening the account in January 2018.

Related

Chiefs vs. Bengals Livestream: How to Watch the Football Game Online

Bears vs. Texans Livestream: How to Watch the Football Game Online

How to Watch UFC 306: O'Malley vs Dvalishvili Online

The amount wagered in the first 33 days was more than the entire annual salary of a state legislator. At the time, the average annual salary of a Michigan legislator was $71, 685.

In a statement, Greg Manns, spokesman for the Michigan House Republican Campaign Committee, said, "These allegations, which began before Chairman Hall was a member of the House, are blatantly unfounded." Sadly, Rolling Stone has chosen to adopt tabloid tactics, act as liberal activists, and do as the dictates of the undignified House Democrats rather than practice journalistic integrity.... Michigan House Democrats, who fielded their weakest freshman class in decades, reek of desperation because if Chairman Hall becomes Speaker Hall in January 2025, they will no longer be able to hand out corporate welfare, raise taxes on working families, and lock low-income students into failing schools.

In Michigan, sports betting became legal when Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed the "Legal Sports Betting Act" in December 2019. Hall was the lead sponsor of a portion of the bill that would have amended Michigan's criminal code to exempt sports betting.

Beyond his role in pushing for sports betting legalization in Michigan in 2019, Hall has developed a reputation as a friend and advocate for the gaming industry. In 2020, he introduced a bill to repeal the ban on campaign contributions from casino officials. In 2021, he introduced a bill to legalize betting on horse racing "that has been or will be made in the future."

In 2020, Hall invited Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani to testify about his bogus election fraud conspiracy theory. In an infamous seven-hour hearing that was later parodied on SNL, Hall refused to take the former New York City mayor under oath.

Sports betting has exploded across the United States, but there is little regulation of how companies advertise it.

A new era of legalized betting is taking hold across America, poised to fundamentally change what it means to watch professional and college sports.

Sports betting ads are everywhere. Some worry gamblers will pay a steep price

For many fans, the days of annual Super Bowl office pools are a distant memory. In many parts of the country, watching sports is now as easy as tapping an app on your phone.

Sportsbooks (the companies that set the odds and place the bets) like DraftKings and FanDuel are churning out a torrent of advertising in an attempt to attract as many customers as possible. If you've driven by a billboard, turned on the TV or used the internet recently, you've likely seen an ad for sports betting.

Each state regulates how sportsbooks are operated, but gives a wide discretion that companies can state in ads. This is different from restrictions on other industries, which have the risk of addiction, such as tobacco. In addition, there is no advertising rule specializing in the sports betting industry at the Federal Level. Limited surveillance, including those who have a history of gambling addiction and the defenders who are worried about the potential risks of too young people to bet, have a sense of alerts to some people.

The spectators now bet tens of billions of dollars every year, even in a game that was once watched, or in a game that had been watching without any financial interests. Sportsbetting boom is due to the increase in inquiries about 270, 000 calls, emails, and cha t-related Helprine networks last year (up 45 % yea r-o n-year).

Vin Bikler is familiar with this statistics. Bikler, who has recovered from gambling addiction, is currently supporting the help line of the Gambling Administration Council, New Jersey.

Based on Mr. Bikler, from young people in their twenties to elderly people, people who are struggling in sports and online casinos without stopping the compulsive gambling. It will come.

"The advertisement is the same as the old beer and tobacco advertisements that have been on TV for years. The same situation," said Bikler. "People think it's gorgeous, think that they are going to win, and they are sucked. After all, they lose everything.

Until a while ago, Sportsbetting was banned throughout the United States, except for Nevada.

In 2018, the Supreme Supreme Court overturned the Professional Amusports Protection of the Professional Amasports, acknowledging that each state would decide whether to legalize sports betting.

A Supreme Court ruling helped launch the betting boom

Since the ruling, 35 states and Washington, D. C., have legalized sports betting, and according to the US Gaming Association, an industry group, many states may legalize sports betting.

It is not the only ruling that has evolved in the world of sports betting. The NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB's four major sports leagues and NCAA once opposed the legalization of the bet and worked to maintain the Supreme Court. < SPAN> Each state regulates how sportsbooks are operated, but the company has given a wide discretion of what can be described in ads. This is different from restrictions on other industries, which have the risk of addiction, such as tobacco. In addition, there is no advertising rule specializing in the sports betting industry at the Federal Level. Limited surveillance, including those who have a history of gambling addiction and the defenders who are worried about the potential risks of too young people to bet, have a sense of alerts to some people.

The spectators now bet tens of billions of dollars every year, even in a game that was once watched, or in a game that had been watching without any financial interests. Sportsbetting boom is due to the increase in inquiries about 270, 000 calls, emails, and cha t-related Helprine networks last year (up 45 % yea r-o n-year).

Vin Bikler is familiar with this statistics. Bikler, who has recovered from gambling addiction, is currently supporting the help line of the Gambling Administration Council, New Jersey.

Based on Mr. Bikler, from young people in their twenties to elderly people, people who are struggling in sports and online casinos without stopping the compulsive gambling. It will come.

"The advertisement is the same as the old beer and tobacco advertisements that have been on TV for years. The same situation," said Bikler. "People think it's gorgeous, think that they are going to win, and they are sucked. After all, they lose everything.

Until a while ago, Sportsbetting was banned throughout the United States, except for Nevada.

Companies have spent big on advertising, with little pushback

In 2018, the Supreme Supreme Court overturned the Professional Amusports Protection of the Professional Amasports, acknowledging that each state would decide whether to legalize sports betting.

Since the ruling, 35 states and Washington, D. C., have legalized sports betting, and according to the US Gaming Association, an industry group, many states may legalize sports betting.

It is not the only ruling that has evolved in the world of sports betting. The NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB's four major sports leagues and NCAA once opposed the legalization of the bet and worked to maintain the Supreme Court. Each state regulates how sportsbooks are operated, but gives a wide discretion that companies can state in ads. This is different from restrictions on other industries, which have the risk of addiction, such as tobacco. In addition, there is no advertising rule specializing in the sports betting industry at the Federal Level. Limited surveillance, including those who have a history of gambling addiction and the defenders who are worried about the potential risks of too young people to bet, have a sense of alerts to some people.

The spectators now bet tens of billions of dollars every year, even in a game that was once watched, or in a game that had been watching without any financial interests. Sportsbetting boom is due to the increase in inquiries about 270, 000 calls, emails, and cha t-related Helprine networks last year (up 45 % yea r-o n-year).

Vin Bikler is familiar with this statistics. Bikler, who has recovered from gambling addiction, is currently supporting the help line of the Gambling Administration Council, New Jersey.

Based on Mr. Bikler, from young people in their twenties to elderly people, people who are struggling in sports and online casinos without stopping the compulsive gambling. It will come.

"The advertisement is the same as the old beer and tobacco advertisements that have been on TV for years. The same situation," said Bikler. "People think it's gorgeous, think that they are going to win, and they are sucked. After all, they lose everything.

Until a while ago, Sportsbetting was banned throughout the United States, except for Nevada.

In 2018, the Supreme Supreme Court overturned the Professional Amusports Protection of the Professional Amasports, acknowledging that each state would decide whether to legalize sports betting.

Since the ruling, 35 states and Washington D. C. have legalized sports betting, and according to the US Gaming Association, an industry group, many states may legalize sports betting.

Can a wager be "risk-free"?

It is not the only ruling that has evolved in the world of sports betting. The NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB's four major sports leagues and NCAA once opposed the legalization of the bet and worked to maintain the Supreme Court.

But since the 2018 decision, the leagues have not only embraced sports betting, but have begun to support it. Four professional leagues have partnered with major sportsbook operators, and it's now common for TV broadcasts to display odds during games.

Last year, the sports betting industry exploded, taking in $57. 2 billion in handle (insider slang for bets), the AGA reported. That's $4. 29 billion in revenue from an industry that was largely banned across the U. S. four years ago.

On the other hand, some states have hit the jackpot. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which legalized sports betting in 2018, each took in more than $225 million in taxes, according to figures compiled by the website Sports Handle.

Seeing the potential for high revenue, sportsbooks are pouring money into advertising.

Each sportsbook is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising to attract new customers. For example, Caesars Entertainment once declared that it would spend $1 billion to sell a sports betting app.

The U.S. isn't regulating sports betting ads, but other countries do

Since then, there has been little regulation. Most states require sportsbooks to at least state the legal age for gambling in their ads and include information about how people with gambling problems can seek help, such as the phone number of a gambling addiction hotline.

Ross D. Franklin / AP

Actor and comedian JB Smoove, head of Caesars Entertainment, spoke at a press conference in Phoenix last summer as the Arizona Diamondbacks partnered with Caesars Entertainment to set up temporary betting windows at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks' home stadium. But in the absence of state or federal regulation, sportsbooks have little interference with the number and content of their ads. "Most states that have legalized and regulated sports gambling say they're regulating and taxing, but it's actually more like taxing than regulating," says Mark Edelman, a professor at Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business.

One regulatory gap, Edelman said, is that sportsbooks are not prohibited from airing commercials during times when many people are too young to gamble. The legal age to gamble is 21 in most states, but 18 in some.

"If gambling is not legal for the age of 21, it would probably not be meaningful to allow advertising targeting programs that account for a reasonable proportion of the age of 21," he said.

In addition, gambling people who are too young or gambling may not be able to see sports events on TV without listening to advertisements for sports betting or gambling. You can do it. Studies in other countries, which have been legalized by sports betting, have been found to be relevant between sportsbook ads and hig h-risk betting actions. Edelman suggested that the league provides a "clean" alternative broadcast that does not contain any gambling content.

The controversy in the marketing boom is the promotion to invite new gamblers.

A common promotion is that a sportsbook provides a $ 100 "ris k-free" bet, for example. This is usually a gambler who lost $ 100 and can be paid the same amount to the account and can bet again, but the sportsbook may not return the actual amount of the gambler first bet.

Several sites provide a bonus bet of $ 50, for example, when registered with a service. Players can bet $ 50 without spending their own money, but if they win a 3-t o-one odds, they can only receive $ 100, and the company has the original "bonus" bet. There is a possibility.

Colorado has several regulations on advertising in sportsbooks that provide promotion. Although the state allows promotion, the company requires companies to include clear and accurate conditions, and if customers may lose their money, something is expressed as "ris k-free". It is forbidden to do.

"" There are rules and regulations on advertising, but most of them focus on consumer protection. "

People with a history of problem gambling are being harmed, advocates say

Some people have a cold view for such advertising. Earlier this year, Letsia James, a representative of New York, warned consumers to avoid "scammers" in front of the Super Bowl. She warns Better to pay attention to offers such as "no risk" beds and bonuses.

Italy imposed a full ban on gambling ads in 2018. The United Kingdom has recently banned celebrities and sports stars in Sports Betting ads. Countries from Belgium to Australia and Chile are considering advertising regulations in the field.

Actor and comedian JB Smoove, head of Caesars Entertainment, spoke at a press conference in Phoenix last summer as the Arizona Diamondbacks partnered with Caesars Entertainment to set up temporary betting windows at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks' home stadium. But in the absence of state or federal regulation, sportsbooks have little interference with the number and content of their ads. Screenshot: NPR

Drew Breeze, a former New Orleans Saints quarterback that appears in POINTSBET commercials.

"Oklahoma's assistant professor and sports betting and gambling regulation expert John Holden said," There is a federal trading committee to investigate advertisements. It is not clear so far.

Industry leaders say that federal regulatory authorities do not need to intervene.

"The American Gaming Association, Casey Clark Senior Vice Chairman, says," I think it will be difficult in various ways. "

Mr. Clark pointed out that the association has published voluntary standards that can be obeyed when advertising by sports books and other sports gambling operators suggests that the gambling division has the ability to crack down on itself. 。 The criteria include not to appeal to too young people to gamble, and not to promote "irresponsible or excessive participation" to sports betting.

Clark also defended the promotions and offers that major sportsbooks frequently advertise as a way to improve the industry.

"Certainly, it is a line that should be cautious, but" but I think it helps to attract customers into a market regulated from illegal markets.

Despite the opposite of the industry, advertising experts have regulated products and services advertising that can be dangerous to the general public.

For example, a tobacco company is forbidden to use manga for child marketing and advertising, and the Food Pharmaceutical Bureau calls a tobacco company to display a health warning to the product.

For now, a sportsbook has decided how to advertise the service. < SPAN> In the United States, advertisers are required to be truth and misunderstanding in consumers, but the federal government's monitoring in the sports betting industry is almost that much. In 2018, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Senator Orlian Hatch, a State of Utah, submitted a bill to unify the rules of advertisements on online sports betting, but the bill eventually failed.

/ NPR screenshot

Screenshot: NPR

Drew Breeze, a former New Orleans Saints quarterback that appears in POINTSBET commercials.

"Oklahoma's assistant professor and sports betting and gambling regulation expert John Holden said," There is a federal trading committee to investigate advertisements. It is not clear so far.