As the Covid virus impacted businesses, major movie chain AMC was having trouble surviving as a theater chain if it doesn't reopen soon.
While AMC has been acquiring other theater chains over the past few years, including Galaxy and Carmike, money is tight for the company. This downtime hasn't helped their bottom line at all.
While some entertainment sources have stayed closed during phase 2, one entertainment source has gained popularity during this crisis, the drive-in movie theater.
A drive in theater was in many neighborhoods including the Midway Drive In located in Kent, Washington (the first drive in movie theater to open in the Northwest). It was built just before World War 2 off of Highway 99 and So 240th Street and stayed in operation until 2004 when the popular Swap Meet was closed (the movies were stopped in 1990).
Then there was the Valley Drive In in Auburn, Washington that continued to operate 5 screens (the sixth screen was shut down due to wind storms) until 2012 as the result of digital conversion costs and the high real estate prices. It was something to see when all six screens were operating at night.
La Grande Drive In Theater (La Grande, Oregon)
While our family has visited the Motor-Vu Drive In in Dallas Oregon (now closed) and the La Grande Drive In in La Grande, Oregon (still open) they are nice settings in the Summertime to see a movie while keeping your family safe.
Over the years, materials were provided for these locations on websites (such as Drive-Ins.com) but they have shut some of the services down due to funding.
This website will feature materials from these locations mentioned as well provide a list of current theaters opened in Washington and Oregon
While the Midway Drive In and Valley Drive In theaters won't come back, there has been a popularity to put up a screen on closed multiplex theaters and show movies with cars parked in the lot.
One movie theater has attempted to do this in the Bellevue/Redmond area.
Motor-Vu Drive-In (Dallas, Oregon)
Drive In theaters were all over the Northwest (especially along the Highway 99 corridor). Many of their original locations today exist as apartment complexes, stores, warehouses, and office complexes. Their memories live on in historical websites and archives.
While new movies are being released through apps and streaming services owned by the companies who produced the movies, there is a concern that many will change their entertainment habits once the virus quarantine is lifted.
Snack bar of Motor-Vu Drive-In (Dallas, Oregon). The best drive-in movie food I ever had (they made a good pizza)
Current Drive In Theaters Opened:
Oregon
99 (Newberg) http://99w.com
La-Grande (La Grande) http://www.lagrandemovies.com/#laGrandeDriveIn
Milton Freewater (Milton-Freewater) http://m-fdriveintheatre.com/
Washington
Skyline (Shelton) http://www.skylinedrive-in.com
Wheel In Motor Movie (Pt. Townsend) http://www.ptwheelinmotormovie.com
Rodeo Triple (Bremerton) http://www.rodeodrivein.com
Blue Fox (Oak Harbor) https://www.bluefoxdrivein.com
Auto-Vue (Colville)