Midway Drive-In near Sterling, Illinois, is one of only 12 drive-in theaters remaining in the state and part of the small number of outdoor cinemas that once shaped summer moviegoing across the United States. After Mike and Mia Kerz bought it in 2007, they undertook a two-year renovation aimed at preserving its historic character while modernizing it for continued use. The work restored the original screen tower, projection booth, concession stand in its 1950s diner style, the spaceship-shaped ticket booth, and the children’s playground. It continues to operate as both a movie theater and a reminder of the mid-20th-century drive-in experience.

Nelson, Illinois · USA