kids encyclopedia robot

Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre & Diner facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theater
Cherry Bowl-Honor, MI.jpg
Cherry Bowl Theater, October 2018
Location 9812 Honor Hwy, Honor, Michigan
Built 1953
Website http://cherrybowldrivein.com
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

The Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre & Diner is a special outdoor movie theater located in Honor, Michigan. It's on US Highway 31. This historic spot opened on July 4, 1953. It was one of only seven drive-in theaters left in Michigan by 2003.

The Cherry Bowl is more than just a movie screen! It has a snack bar, fun play areas for kids, putt-putt golf, and even beach volleyball. There's also a special rest area for dogs. It's the only drive-in theater left in Northern Michigan. The theater uses its original, old-fashioned sound system with speakers at each parking spot. You can also listen to the movie sound on your car's FM radio. The Cherry Bowl is open during the summer months and now shows movies using a modern digital HD projector.

In 2009, Jennifer Granholm, who was the Governor of Michigan at the time, said that visiting the Cherry Bowl was a true Michigan experience. She talked about watching movies from the back of a truck, enjoying popcorn and chicken fingers. In 2013, the car company Honda gave the Cherry Bowl a new digital projector. This was part of their "Project Drive-In" campaign. The theater is located at 9812 Honor Highway.

History of the Cherry Bowl Drive-In

Cherry Bowl Drive-In Movie Theater
The marquee sign in 2018

The Cherry Bowl Drive-In first opened its doors on July 4, 1953. A woman named Jean Griffin became the owner after her husband passed away in 1959. She was known for running the business for many years. Jean was famous for working hard, even while wearing high heels!

In 1996, Laura and Harry Clark bought the drive-in from Jean. Harry Clark passed away in 2012, but Laura continues to run the theater and its snack bar today.

Fun Features and Sculptures

The Cherry Bowl offers more than just movies. You can play mini-golf before the show. They often show two movies in a row, called a "double feature." These movies are usually rated PG-13 or below, making them great for families.

Harry Clark added some unique and fun sculptures around the theater. You can see them next to the old-fashioned speakers and a big, 14-foot neon hot dog sign. One sculpture is a pink and blue Volkswagen car with a clown head on top. Another is a pink cow with cherries instead of spots! There's also a classic Chevy car that looks like it's crashing through a fence. These sculptures add to the fun and quirky atmosphere of the drive-in.

Snacks and Treats

The Cherry Bowl has a snack bar with tasty food. Sometimes they offer "Messy Marvin's chili cheese fries." They also make fresh caramel apples every day.

See also