Midway Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Kent, WA
Photo courtesy Mike

Check out the Midway Drive-in Theatre of Kent, WA which opened in 1940. Though this ozoner is now defunct, the Midway was once a fun place for a family, dates, or even passing by travelers to grab a flick under the stars.

The Midway Drive-In Theatre site has been completely redeveloped and is now occupied by modern retail businesses, including a Lowe's Home Improvement store. The famous screen tower, ticket booths, and marquee are all gone, but for those who remember driving Highway 99, the Midway remains one of the Northwest's most beloved drive-in memories. 07-26

See more photos of the Midway Drive-in Theatre at Roadside Peek's Lost Treasures Feature on the Midway.

Rodeo Drive-in Theatre
Bremerton, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

An evening at the Rodeo Drive-In Theatre begins well before anything appears on the screen. Pull beneath the marquee, find a parking spot, and there’s still time to wander over to the snack bar while daylight lingers over the lot. With three giant screens rising above the grounds, this is the kind of place that makes going to the movies feel like a road trip destination. 07-08

The theater opened in 1949 as Rodeo Motor Movies, originally offering one screen and room for more than 600 cars. Its arrival was quite an occasion. A contemporary trade report described an elaborate opening parade and extensive newspaper publicity for the new $50,000 theater. Apparently, opening the gates and waiting for customers wasn’t nearly enough of a celebration.

Rodeo Drive-in Theatre
Bremerton, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Rodeo grew considerably in 1978, when two additional screens, a new snack bar, and a new box office complex were added. The expanded theater could accommodate roughly 850 cars, giving moviegoers more choices without moving the entertainment indoors. Looking across those lots, it’s easy to appreciate just how much ground a successful drive-in could cover.

One of my favorite parts of places like this is the time before the movie starts. People visit between cars, make their snack bar runs, and settle in while the sky gradually darkens. The playground gives younger visitors something to do besides repeatedly asking when the movie will begin. By showtime, the evening has already offered considerably more than a seat in front of a screen.

Rodeo Drive-in Theatre
Bremerton, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The equipment has changed along the way, with digital projection and FM radio sound helping the Rodeo keep pace with modern movies. Thankfully, those improvements haven’t required trading away the outdoor experience. You still bring your own seat, in the form of whatever vehicle got you here, and wait for darkness to turn a parking lot into a theater.

UPDATE: The Rodeo Drive-In continues operating seasonally with three screens, remaining one of the Northwest's oldest and best-known family-owned drive-in theaters. 07-26

UPDATE: The Rodeo continues operating seasonally with three screens at 7369 State Highway 3 Southwest. More than seventy five years after opening, it remains a place where moviegoers can spend an evening beneath the stars instead of a ceiling. It’s great to find a drive-in where the screens are still showing movies rather than simply marking where one used to be. 07-26

A screentower lot Bremerton, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	The playground area Bremerton, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com