Miles Drive-in (Demolished)
Cleveland, OH Photo courtesy Steve Felder
The Miles Drive-in was one of the most distinctive drive-ins in the Cleveland area thanks to its beautiful Art Deco-inspired screen tower. The still looked much as it had for decades, making it a favorite among drive-in enthusiasts and roadside photographers alike. Opened on June 22, 1951, the Miles accommodated up to 1,000 cars and remained one of northeast Ohio's premier outdoor movie destinations for nearly 50 years. 04-01
Sadly, the Miles Drive-In is gone today. The screen tower and entrance were demolished in 2006, ending the story of one of the Cleveland area's most recognizable drive-ins. Fortunately, photographs like this preserve the memory of a theater that many considered one of the region's finest. 06-26
Bel-Air Drive-in (Gone)
Mitchell, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Bel-Air Drive-In Theatre marquee stood beside Route 66 in Mitchell long after the movies ended. Neon script and a sweeping arrow made the weathered sign worth stopping for, even when it pointed toward an empty field. 04-01
Brothers Commando “Kommie” and Harold Link opened the theater on May 17, 1952, with The Bushwhackers. Its 700-car lot welcomed families until the end of the 1987 season.
The sign remained for nearly twenty-five more years, becoming a familiar ghost landmark before removal in February 2012.
UPDATE: Private collectors acquired the original marquee, and the property has been redeveloped. A roughly two-thirds-scale replica now stands at Route 66 Legends Neon Park in Springfield, Illinois. 06-26
The Sandusky Drive-In Theatre opened in 1948 along U.S. 6, welcoming local families and Lake Erie vacationers. Its 608-car lot and towering steel screen made a substantial roadside presence, even after the theater went quiet. 03-06
Built by Seitz Amusement Company, it offered RCA speakers, concessions and seating for walk-in customers. More than fifty seasons of movies ended after the 2001 season. The abandoned screen lingered for several years before demolition around 2007.
UPDATE: The screen and entrance structures are gone. The property became part of the East Sandusky Bay Preserve, giving the former movie grounds a quieter role as protected natural land. 06-26
Skyview Drive-in
Belleville, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Skyview Drive-In has been lighting up the skies over Belleville since 1949 and remains one of the Midwest's true drive-in treasures. While many outdoor theaters have disappeared over the years, the Skyview continues to entertain moviegoers with first-run double features beneath the stars. Its biggest claim to fame, however, is the unforgettable Space Age marquee. Installed in 1950, the towering sign features a rocket ship that perfectly captures America's fascination with the dawn of the Space Age and remains one of the finest surviving drive-in signs anywhere. 11-10
The theater originally opened on July 8, 1949, with room for hundreds of cars and has survived more than its share of challenges. A tornado damaged the original screen in 1955, and another powerful windstorm destroyed it in 1981. Rather than calling it quits, the owners rebuilt the screen using a steel structure and added a second screen the following year, allowing the Skyview to continue serving generations of movie fans throughout the St. Louis Metro East.
Skyview Drive-in Theatre
Belleville, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Another trademark of the Skyview is its bright pink screen tower, affectionately known as "Bloomer Pink," a custom color named after the family that has operated the drive-in for decades. In 2026, after nearly 80 years of family ownership, the property was placed on the market with the hope that a new owner will continue operating this beloved landmark rather than redeveloping it.
UPDATE: The Skyview Drive-In remains open today and continues to show first-run movies under the stars. Its famous rocket marquee still lights the entrance every evening, making it one of the finest surviving drive-in theaters in the Midwest. 06-26
Melody Drive-in (Gone)
Springfield, OH Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
The colorful Melody Drive-In marquee welcomed Springfield moviegoers along old U.S. 40. Opened in 1955, the theater expanded to two screens with room for nearly 1,000 cars. Its sign became a familiar attraction of its own. 07-11
Generations came for double features before the final season in 2016. Demolition began in early 2023, replacing the outdoor theater with the Melody Parks residential development. Fortunately, the marquee was removed before the wrecking crews arrived.
UPDATE: The drive-in is gone, but its sign was saved and placed in storage. Preservationists hope to restore and display the familiar roadside welcome again. 06-26
Bel-Air Drive-in (Gone)
Sandusky Drive-in (Demolished)
Skyview Drive-in
Skyview Drive-in Theatre
Melody Drive-in (Gone)
