“The Miracle” is Dead.
It’s one of those events that, when it happens in your lifetime, grabs you by the throat and makes you take notice. I had to read the notice ten times before I gave it any credence. The “Red and Blue” has been closed for good.
“The owners of the Miracle Twin Drive-in in Burton said Tuesday it will not reopen. The announcement by National Amusements comes on the heels of U.S. 23 Twin Drive-In Theatre in Mundy Township being put up for sale.
“We wish to thank our loyal patrons who have shared great movies and memories with us over the years, and hope to see them at our other area theaters,” a National Amusements statement said.
Spokeswoman Wanda Whitson did not give a reason why it was closing, but drive-ins nationwide have been dwindling for a long time. Only about 10 remain in Michigan.”
The last film I saw there was “Pirates of the Caribbean; At World’s End” and the only reason I remember that movie was because I saw it at the drive in. I don’t remember the second feature. It was some horror flick and I left before it started.
The Miracle was always an experience. An occasion. Great Scott, twenty years ago I remember loading as many people as I could into my old Buick Regal and heading off to “The Twin”to see Nightmare on Elm Street; Freddie’s Dead. I don’t really remember much about the movie but I remember everything about the girl I was with that night.
I never go to indoor theaters anymore. They’re always so crowded, you have no personal space, your in a little folding chair for 2 hours cramped in next to Sally SwineFlue and her friends Paul Pestilence, Terry To-tall-for-my-seat, and that annoying girl and the cell phone who’s either talking on the blasted thing or texting and relaying the information to the other three. I’m not saying I’m the perfect movie goer. I heckle the heck out of movies, but when I’m in my own car, nice and comfortable in the plush car seat, I can roll up the windows and spare my neighbors the ranting criticisms.
And so another bastion of memory slips into the sea of nostalgia. Another experience we can never share with our children, and something their children may never even know existed. Hope is not lost, but it is fading. There are maybe 10 drive in theaters left in the state. I read that the one on US 23 mentioned in the above article was granted a 5 year lease and refurbishment was taking place. I challenge you, good reader. Find the nearest out door movie theater, leave your computer and the rest of the world behind, gather up some friends and family and EXPERIENCE something. Make it an event to remember. Go see a movie under the stars and you’ll never want to step foot in an indoor theater again.
