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This week, we have a Double Feature of Pacific Northwest cinema history, with good news for one drive-in theatre and bad news for another.

First, the good news.

成人X站 Newsradio reported last month that the Auto-Vue Drive-In and the Alpine Theatre in Colville were for sale as a package deal. It was learned Thursday that a purchase offer has been accepted, and the sale is scheduled to close late next month.

Michel Pitts, real estate agent for the seller, said they are holding off on identifying the buyer or revealing much in the way of specifics until the sale closes, perhaps as soon as March 25.

In the meantime, Pitts wrote in an email, 鈥淚 know the current owners are looking forward to retirement and to the fact [that] the buyer will be continuing聽to operate the properties as a walk-in theatre聽and [drive-in].鈥�

And now, the bad news.

A few miles north of Lynden in Whatcom County, just across the it鈥檚 not looking good for

The Twilight Drive-In is unusual because it opened just 19 years ago in 2005. Reports are that the Twilight will close later this year, sometime after the peak summer season. 成人X站 Newsradio emailed and called drive-in management, but we have not yet heard back.

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When it was built, the Twilight was a replacement for which had operated in nearby Surrey, B.C. from 1953 to 2003. In the relatively short time it鈥檚 been open, the Twilight has become the last remaining outdoor movie screen in the Lower Mainland of BC, and it鈥檚 become something of a popular destination for Vancouverites. It was also featured in an episode of the 鈥淎rchie鈥� reboot TV series 鈥淩iverdale.鈥�

News for British Columbian drive-in fans might not be all bad. Some recent coverage in Vancouver, BC media suggests that while the Twilight may be doomed, the family who owns the business may be searching for a new location to open a successor to the Twilight.

Meanwhile, unlike four of the five drive-ins still in business in the Evergreen State, the Twilight Drive-In operates for at least a portion of the winter months. And, while most Washington drive-ins won鈥檛 open until March or even later in the spring when night-time temperatures are a bit more mild, the Twilight鈥檚 season begins tonight 鈥� Friday, February 16.

While winter at the drive-in means cold temperatures outside, it also means earlier start times for movies. As anyone who鈥檚 attended a drive-in theatre in the summertime can attest, the first feature often doesn鈥檛 start until 10:00 p.m., and the second feature might run until long after 2:00 a.m.

For tonight鈥檚 season opener at the Twilight, the first feature begins at 6:45 p.m., and the second one begins at 9:00 p.m. 鈥� which means the evening鈥檚 entertainment concludes very reasonably long before midnight.

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The double-bill tonight at the Twilight, 鈥淢adame Web鈥� followed by 鈥淎nyone But You,鈥� is also something of an inadvertent tribute to one of Hollywood鈥檚 emerging stars who also has direct connections to the Pacific Northwest: each film features Spokane-born and raised Sydney Sweeney.

So, while it may be the final opening night at the Twilight Drive-In in Langley, BC, it might also be considered the first night of the First Annual Sydney Sweeney Film Festival.

And, if Canada is too far away 鈥� about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Seattle, with no traffic, and not counting border wait times 鈥� the beloved operates year-round and is offering the same double-bill this weekend 鈥� 鈥淢adame Web鈥� and 鈥淎nyone But You鈥� 鈥� for their own closer-to-home edition of the Sydney Sweeney Film Festival.

Other historic drive-in theatres in Washington which are scheduled to open later this year include:

The in Shelton

The in Port Townsend

The in Bremerton

The in Colville

You can hear Feliks every Wednesday and Friday morning on Seattle鈥檚 Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O鈥橞rien, read more from him鈥�here, and subscribe to The Resident Historian Podcast聽here. If you have a story idea or a question about Northwest history, please email Feliks鈥�here.