Hollywood Theatre
4122 NE Sandy Boulevard,
Portland,
OR
97212
4122 NE Sandy Boulevard,
Portland,
OR
97212
10 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 46 comments found
A few photos can be seen here, here and here.
Does the main theatre still have its CINERAMA Screen?
One of my coleagues and I drove non stop from Toledo Ohio in the mid 70’s to deliver the new projection equipment for the triplexing of the theatre. Two sets of “EPRAD” SWORD Systems were installed to accomodate the twinning of the balcony level. The new projectors were designed to provide fully automated operation of the film presention.
I worked as an “usherette” along with my girlfriends who went to high school at both Marycrest High School (now the Western States Orthopedic College) and US Grant High School, in 1966-1967. Quite the memories. Wearing a replica race car driver helmet while seating patrons to watch Steve McQueen in ‘Grand Prix’ for example. Balcony duty for more than 2 months while the Sound of Music ran for record crowds. Cleaning the popcorn machine, etc. etc. It was quite the instituation back in the 1960’s and should be preserved as what the theatres were at that time as well, not just when it was first built. Part of a true Americana, much like the Alberta Theater where we watched Ma & Pa Kettle on Saturdays for 25cents!
Don’t know how far they’ve gotten with the renovation, but the outside has been nicely redone – all painted white with trim, kind of a stucco design. / mission revival. Strange feature about this theatre, the auditorium extends straigh back from the street, but the main facade/marquee is on the corner of the building, despite all the street frontagethe building has. The foyer/mezzanine simply backs up against the sidewalk. Looks like they pushed that right up to the sidewalk to extend the auditorium and the only place to put the entrance was on the corner under the curved marquee (which is flat against the building). Interesting effect and I’m glad they’ve been making progress on restoration.
Here is a September 2009 photo.
This one can be viewed normally.
You’ll have to tilt your head to the left for this photo.
Here is a May 2009 photo.
Here is a 2007 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/9tf6xl
This is a November 2008 photo.
“I Like Ike”.
Here is a 1956 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/54v5rv
Here is a 1971 photo.
In some of the 1980 vintage shots of the vertical sign you can still see the neon tubing from it’s Cinerama days.
That link did not work.
Daggnabbit I forgot the link – sorry, here it is
View link
This photo was taken in the lobby during a filmmakers event. Looks like the wall shape and chandeliers are the same. The walls have probably been painted.
The last photo was a close-up and this photo is from further away.
Another recent photo can be seen here.
This is a recent close-up view.
Some vintage photos can be seen here.
Norma Rae with Sally Field and Beau Bridges was released in June of 1979. The Rose with Bette Midler was released in November of 1979.
Here is a 1980 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2zzxbk
The building immediately west of the Hollywood burned down in a spectacular blaze back in 1997. A good friend of mine who worked for Portland Fire at the time was one of the first responding and helped save this great place. I remember seeing news footage of firefighters in the balcany lobby at 5 a.m. laying hoselines to project water out the windows onto the exterior walls and prevent it from developing into an exposure fire. Recently when I have driven by the theatre I have noticed the empty lot next door where that building once stood, and how dangerously close it did stand, and thanked God for the efforts of Portland’s bravest!
I had the privilage of seeing “Return Of The Jedi” originally in one of the balcony auditoriums, which along with “E.T” and “Ghostbusters” are my earliest film going memories, although the first is the only one I saw at the Hollywood. In 1990 my parents drug me to see a double feature of “Always” and “Steele Magnolias” in one of the balcony auditoriums with them. I recall it vividly because “Look Who’s Talking” was playing in the opposite balcony auditorium at the time and I would have preferred to see that and meet them afterward. The most recent film I have seen at the Hollywood was “Party Monster.” This is a great theatre, but you often have to act quick if you want to see a film there because they typically last only a week and then move on. Hence, the sad fact that it has been three years since I have been there. That is no excuse though. If you are a fan of cinema treasures and are in Portland ever, do yourself a favor and pay a visit!