The Playhouse opened as the Baker in September, 1910. The 1,200 seat venue was a new home for the Baker Players. The theater included film as part of their entertainment offerings. Over the years it would be renamed the Dufwin, Alcazar, Music Box (one of six in Portland to carry that name) and El Capitan. It was named the Playhouse in 1932. It was used for church services in 1950, closed in 1953 and was demolished in 1954.
This is not the Playhouse Theatre located at 1107 SW Morrison. This is a much earlier (1902) Baker Theater that was home to the Baker Stock Company, a live theater/burlesque/vaudeville company.
The address for this theater is incorrect. The historic address of the Peoples Theatre (later Music Box) was 127 West Park. In Portland’s “Great Renumbering,” (1930-32) that became 517 SW 9th. This is the location of the Peoples under its various incarnations.
Any historic document listing an address in Portland pre-1932 is likely incorrect. You may find the corresponding modern address at https://pastportland.com/ .
This is not a program for the Playhouse Theater. This is a program for the Baker Stock Company, a troupe of stage performers from the early years in Portland, Oregon.
It should be noted that, as is the case with many early Portland, Oregon movie houses, the address for this one is incorrect on today’s map of the city. Starting in 1930, Portland went through a “Great Renumbering” and many addresses were shifted. This theater was located in the Oregonian Building, and that address in 1908 was 135 SW 6th. After 1932, and to the present day, that address is 537 SW 6th.
To find the modern locations of historic Portland addresses, use the following web site: https://pastportland.com/
The address for this entry is incorrect. The modern address for this site is 414 SW 6th. The Columbia Theatre opened in 1913 at what was then 106 SW 6th. The address was changed in Portland’s “Great Renumbering” of 1931-32. In 1935 the house was operating as the Downtown Theatre. In 1947 the facade was given a drastic streamline-moderne conversion and the theater was named The Century. From 1952 through its closure in 1955 it was operated as the 20th Century News Theatre, exclusively showing newsreels. The building was demolished in 1957.
This photo is from page 1533 of The Moving Picture World (1914). The accompanying article states it was sent to MPW by Edward C. Sacks of the Academy, Conneaut, Ohio. It is a photo of a successful promotion that involved presenting two dozen little boys with cowboy and Indian costumes and using them to publicize a screening of “The First Law of Nature.”
From 1972-75 I spent a lot of time at the Mt. Tabor and nearby Avalon Theaters. They were under the same ownership at the time and each was a twin cinema. Every week they programmed a second-run double feature in each auditorium, and charged 99 cents admission. They were basically no frills, clean and featured decent projection and sound.
“The first movie house [in Kenton] was in the back of Berg’s Store in 1911 (on the NE Corner of Kilpatrick and Denver). In 1925 it was moved to Denver and Schofield where the Chaldean Theater was built, and the theater was finally completed, they opened to a sold-out crowd. The electric sign in front of the theater was equal to any in the city of Portland and gave the business district of Kenton a metropolitan appearance when lighted.. A representative of the Multnomah Theater Corporation said that the theater in Kenton was second only to the Egyptian for beauty. He predicted it would be one of the finest picture houses on the east side of the river. The theater building had capacity for 600, with a balcony, manager’s offices, and even a separate glassed ‘cry room’ for mother’s with babies with a full view of the screen.”
The building that housed the Old Chelsea Tri Cinema has not been demolished, at least not as of January, 2024.
The Beaver Hotel was built in 1907. In 1962 local producer and entrepreneur John Hillsbury converted the hotel ballroom into the Portland Playhouse, home of the Portland Players. Later, it was apparently converted into a storefront cinema with three screens.
In recent years the building has been used for transitional housing and social services.
The building is still there as of 2024. It is the same building as the Old Chelsea Tri Cinema, just under a different address around the corner. The Tri Cinema played straight pronography in two screens and exclusively gay pornography in the third, under the Tom Kat name.
A screen shot for the 1962 Portland City Directory display ad has been added.
Growing up in Gresham in the early 1960s, this hulking, abandoned building across Powell from the Rexall drugstore was rumored to be haunted. It was built out over a slough on concrete pilings. We were warned to stay away it– and we did!
Fire destroys the Gresham Theater in September, 1970. The building hade been abandoned for many years and was scheduled for demolition. It was removed entirely in 1971.
Opened June 2, 1950 as the Hood. It was Henry and Rose Moyer’s fifth theater in Oregon. The opening feature was Paramount’s “The Eagle and the Hawk.” Publicity stated it featured 800 “bodiform” seats, air conditioning, and carpeted aisles.
The Playhouse opened as the Baker in September, 1910. The 1,200 seat venue was a new home for the Baker Players. The theater included film as part of their entertainment offerings. Over the years it would be renamed the Dufwin, Alcazar, Music Box (one of six in Portland to carry that name) and El Capitan. It was named the Playhouse in 1932. It was used for church services in 1950, closed in 1953 and was demolished in 1954.
This is not the Playhouse Theatre located at 1107 SW Morrison. This is a much earlier (1902) Baker Theater that was home to the Baker Stock Company, a live theater/burlesque/vaudeville company.
This is not the Heilig/Rialto/Mayfair/Fox Theatre building. This is the Belasco, a completely different building.
The address for this theater is incorrect. The historic address of the Peoples Theatre (later Music Box) was 127 West Park. In Portland’s “Great Renumbering,” (1930-32) that became 517 SW 9th. This is the location of the Peoples under its various incarnations.
Any historic document listing an address in Portland pre-1932 is likely incorrect. You may find the corresponding modern address at https://pastportland.com/ .
The Majestic (later United Artists Theatre) occupied the same block as the Liberty. Their entrances were on the opposite corners.
This is not a program for the Playhouse Theater. This is a program for the Baker Stock Company, a troupe of stage performers from the early years in Portland, Oregon.
This is not the Liberty. This is the Broadway.
This is not the Liberty Theater. This is the Broadway.
It should be noted that, as is the case with many early Portland, Oregon movie houses, the address for this one is incorrect on today’s map of the city. Starting in 1930, Portland went through a “Great Renumbering” and many addresses were shifted. This theater was located in the Oregonian Building, and that address in 1908 was 135 SW 6th. After 1932, and to the present day, that address is 537 SW 6th.
To find the modern locations of historic Portland addresses, use the following web site: https://pastportland.com/
The address for this entry is incorrect. The modern address for this site is 414 SW 6th. The Columbia Theatre opened in 1913 at what was then 106 SW 6th. The address was changed in Portland’s “Great Renumbering” of 1931-32. In 1935 the house was operating as the Downtown Theatre. In 1947 the facade was given a drastic streamline-moderne conversion and the theater was named The Century. From 1952 through its closure in 1955 it was operated as the 20th Century News Theatre, exclusively showing newsreels. The building was demolished in 1957.
According to a 1912 issue of The Moving Picture World, this picture was taken at the People’s Theater on “Florence Turner Night.”
This photo is from page 1533 of The Moving Picture World (1914). The accompanying article states it was sent to MPW by Edward C. Sacks of the Academy, Conneaut, Ohio. It is a photo of a successful promotion that involved presenting two dozen little boys with cowboy and Indian costumes and using them to publicize a screening of “The First Law of Nature.”
The Walnut Park Theatre opened on February 17, 1924. Cost was $55,000 and seating capacity was 550.
Much more here: https://heyneighborpdx.com/ne-history-the-walnut-park-theater/
A quick note: This building today is the Milwaukie Lumber Company, at the modern address 8048 SE Stark.
From 1972-75 I spent a lot of time at the Mt. Tabor and nearby Avalon Theaters. They were under the same ownership at the time and each was a twin cinema. Every week they programmed a second-run double feature in each auditorium, and charged 99 cents admission. They were basically no frills, clean and featured decent projection and sound.
“The first movie house [in Kenton] was in the back of Berg’s Store in 1911 (on the NE Corner of Kilpatrick and Denver). In 1925 it was moved to Denver and Schofield where the Chaldean Theater was built, and the theater was finally completed, they opened to a sold-out crowd. The electric sign in front of the theater was equal to any in the city of Portland and gave the business district of Kenton a metropolitan appearance when lighted.. A representative of the Multnomah Theater Corporation said that the theater in Kenton was second only to the Egyptian for beauty. He predicted it would be one of the finest picture houses on the east side of the river. The theater building had capacity for 600, with a balcony, manager’s offices, and even a separate glassed ‘cry room’ for mother’s with babies with a full view of the screen.”
From: https://historickenton.com/about-us/kenton-history/
The building that housed the Old Chelsea Tri Cinema has not been demolished, at least not as of January, 2024.
The Beaver Hotel was built in 1907. In 1962 local producer and entrepreneur John Hillsbury converted the hotel ballroom into the Portland Playhouse, home of the Portland Players. Later, it was apparently converted into a storefront cinema with three screens.
In recent years the building has been used for transitional housing and social services.
The building is still there as of 2024. It is the same building as the Old Chelsea Tri Cinema, just under a different address around the corner. The Tri Cinema played straight pronography in two screens and exclusively gay pornography in the third, under the Tom Kat name.
A screen shot for the 1962 Portland City Directory display ad has been added.
Growing up in Gresham in the early 1960s, this hulking, abandoned building across Powell from the Rexall drugstore was rumored to be haunted. It was built out over a slough on concrete pilings. We were warned to stay away it– and we did!
Fire destroys the Gresham Theater in September, 1970. The building hade been abandoned for many years and was scheduled for demolition. It was removed entirely in 1971.
Opened June 2, 1950 as the Hood. It was Henry and Rose Moyer’s fifth theater in Oregon. The opening feature was Paramount’s “The Eagle and the Hawk.” Publicity stated it featured 800 “bodiform” seats, air conditioning, and carpeted aisles.
https://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/not-the-last-picture-show-mt-hood-theater-thrives/article_97345049-edb1-5ffc-a73f-f38117e6c01e.html
Girls in ethnic costume pose in front of Delray Theatre, 1933