by Jaime Vazquez for pdxguide.com
July 2007

99-W Drive-In Highway 99-W Newberg, OR 503-538-2738 Website

Every summer, I make a list in my head of all the seasonal things I want to do--go to a baseball game, pick berries--and in the fall I look back and kick myself for not having done them. The one thing I never skip, however, is the drive-in. Drive-in movie theaters are the last place to get non-sponsored Americana; families come as much to picnic as they do for the flick, and summer blockbusters always look better with the night sky as a backdrop. While drive-ins are certainly rare, they have their own strong culture, solidified by the threat of their impending extinction; it's romantic and sad at the same time.

The 99-W Drive-In is one of eleven remaining in Oregon, and sits tucked off of Highway 99-W in Newberg (for the suburb-challenged: take I-5 South to exit 294, and follow 99-W for a half-hour). Movies start at dusk, and double-features tend to be the rule. While they no longer charge by the carload (it's $7 per passenger now), catching both Transformers and Die Hard 4--and remember, that's a lot of great explosions--for less than the price of an indoor theater is still an incredible value.

Arriving at 9 or so, there were plenty of good spots open, and although there was an unhealthy amount of Duran Duran on the loudspeaker, there was something Rockwellian about groups of kids playing catch and awkward teenagers on dates milling around. Smaller cars slid into the spots facing forward, and SUVs backed in and opened their trunks, making the pre-show a tailgate party as much as anything else. People nod and smile as you pass, as though they're relaxed but know they're somewhere special.

The theater broadcasts the audio for their movies on the radio, which is fun for bringing boom-boxes and also lets audio geeks get the most out of their car stereos. An announcer jumps in from time to time, providing all the details and frequently reminding everyone to visit the snack bar.

Normally, the shameless plugs for theater food drive me crazy, even if it is the sickeningly cute retro dancing refreshments. But it's different here: drive-ins are a dying breed, and the snack bar is really all they've got to stay afloat. In fact, instead of previews, they show a short film explaning as much, reminding moviegoers of the harsh reality: if you don't buy popcorn and candy here, there's no guaranteeing the drive-in will be back next summer. Watching this is a strange moment, because the film is made in the "this could happen to you" style of 50s-era school films. Nonetheless, by the time they play the national anthem--each car honking rowdily in response at the end--everyone knows they're sharing an experience, and not just going to the movies.

Overall, the 99-W Drive-In is a refreshing mix of old and new, certain to be a treat for the nostalgic or a new tradition for the young. And if drive-ins are disappearing fast, spaces where everyone in the local community can come and relax and socialize are going faster; my only hope is that I get to keep it on my summer list for years to come.

The opinions expressed within are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of pdxguide.com or The Columbian Publishing Co.