From the research I have done so far for the Oregon Theater Project, I have noticed a pattern: drive-ins in Oregon were most successful in rural and suburban areas rather than in the hearts of big cities like Portland. These smaller areas offered vast, affordable acreage necessary to support the popularity of cars during the 1950s (mid-century), allowing theaters to act as hubs for families outside the urban center.
The Super 99 Drive-in, located outside Portland in Milwaukie, stands as a prime example of this trend. As one of the more well known drive-ins of the era, it was designed for high volume success. It could house 692 cars, which allowed for thousands of viewers a night, meaning more ticket and concession sales than other city lots could handle. I've included a newspaper clipping showing the Grand Opening of the Super 99 Drive-in.
It's interesting though that this rural success of the drive-in, came with a trade-off. Because they were built on large pieces of land, these theaters faced lots of impacts from the environment. The Super 99, in particular, faced multiple severe storms within its first decade of operation. Without the windbreaks one may find in a dense city, the massive screen towers acted like sails, making maintenance a constant and costly battle against the climate.
