Midway Drive In Theater Demolition

[sirrobyn0]

Continued from last comment: Since 1990 there has been little if any maintenance done at the Valley drive in, since it has been slatted to close anytime since ``1990. The place is in horrible shape, right down to leak roofs and screens that are more green than white. But historically I love going to this place, it has all the old trademarks of a United Theatre drive in. From the brown picket fencing to the Cine-Fi AM sound. If your into history this is a great place, but 2012 maybe the last

[sirrobyn0]

There is some interesting corperate history here too. The midway drive in was part of the once large United Theatre chain (which mostly ran drive in theatres. In 1990 United theatre had one main goal, redevelop there drive ins into something else. Many of there drive ins closed in the early 1990's the ones that remained started to fall into terrible disrepair. Today 11-2011 there is one remaining theatre operated by United theatre, the valley 6 drive in auburn

[RUSS30776]

There goes another piece of history demolished by idiots

[stinkpotbaby]

I can understand some of what he said.

[cathole612]

lowes sucks!

[hikernut1968]

Thanks for this great video! I am 41 and have many great memories of drive- ins. I grew up in Upstate New York and we had the Commercial drive-in on Commercial drive, in New Hartford NY. Sadly, I was a 8th grader when that came down, although then we went to a twin screen in nearby Utica, ny- I bet that is gone now too- sad. btw- there is another drive in on I-5 near Seattle, called puget sound drive in- it just ended its last season last fall, and a hospital is buying the land- sad:(

[timbabcock]

Wow I didn't even know that the Puget Park was shutting down and I some family that live nearby there. There was an article in the Seattle paper the other day the drive in at Oak Harbor.  The owner wasn't paying the taxes on it. I hope they don't confiscate it.

[jdstarlit27]

Thank you for preserving the memory of the MIDWAY.

[dunbarGirl007]

Yes. I agree. Posting videos like this is a nice way of preserving history. Four of 5 Stars. Nice commentary.

[driveinnut61]

CONTINUED....That back screen is especially cool, they way it looks like with a paint job it could spring back to life. I timbabcock.greatly admire you for posting this video, Otherwise, how could all of us drive in geeks have seen it? I'm reminded of a story. Me & my bro used to go on trips up old US27 in Michigan. There was a race track with and old D.I. tic booth & a marquee that looked like a transplant from a closed down D.I. When I finally brought a camera they were gone. HISTORY? You bet

[driveinnut61]

Thank you so much for posting this video. While producing my now on hiatus Public Access show OUTDOOR MOOVIES, I visited and documented dozens of abandned drive ins, so I know what it's like being there like youu were. So often people complain about these remnants that remain, but for me, even decaying and abandoned, they are a welcome site. To me what sucks is when they tare them down and leave nothing but an empty field, I'd much rather look at an old ticket booth, snack bar, etc.....

[timbabcock]

I gotta admit though the view does look nicer with the drive in gone. You can see Mt. Rainier from the highway now.

[timbabcock]

I got the info about it being the "first drive in west of the Mississippi" from data from the Federal Way Historical Society. The information from the society is incorrect. Pegbars is correct. One of these days I'll let the historical society know of the error. It was the first Drive In in the Pacific Northwest.

[pegbars]

FWIW, the Drive-In Short Reel Theatre in Galveston, TX, was the first drive-in west of the Mississippi (1934). The Pico in Los Angeles was the first on the west coast, also opening in '34. There were hundreds of drive-ins by 1940.

This is the rub with local drive-in lore; it's mostly ballyhoo. It seems every theatre was the first, or the largest. ;)

[rotunda57]

Torn down for another box store. Phooie!