Bagdad Theater

3702 SE Hawthorne Boulevard,
Portland, OR 97214

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pdx66
pdx66 on June 7, 2015 at 3:57 pm

The McMenamin chain has done well with the Bagdad. The theatre was never the biggest or most elaborate of Portland’s theatres, but it still has a charm all its own nonetheless. It’s size and fairly conservative decoative scheme made this one a reasonable target for mostly-authentic restoration. I say “mostly authentic” because the stage house and stage have been made over for use as a bar/pool table area with the original arabesque fire curtain turned around to serve as a backdrop for a spectacular brass-railed, turn-of-the century-wooden bar.

cmbussmann
cmbussmann on August 13, 2014 at 3:36 pm

Traveled to Portland over the weekend and caught Guardians Of The Galaxy at the Bagdad. What an incredible experience! The theater itself is beautiful with comfy seats, small tables for food and drink, a balcony, and nicely restored interior design. Can’t recommend this place enough…

spectrum
spectrum on June 23, 2014 at 10:50 am

Their new official webpage has a couple good auditorium photos (one alternates with an exterior one at the top) – at http://www.mcmenamins.com/467-bagdad-theater-pub-history

rivest266
rivest266 on July 31, 2012 at 7:42 pm

It’s grand opening ad is uploaded in the photo section for this theatre.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 31, 2012 at 7:42 pm

This opened on January 14th, 1927

Simon Overton
Simon Overton on June 26, 2012 at 2:17 pm

The local residents and merchants are very lucky to have such a vibrant cinema in their midst.

Mikeyisirish
Mikeyisirish on June 26, 2012 at 12:30 pm

Various photos of the Bagdad can be seen here, here and here.

philbertgray
philbertgray on September 17, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Several excellent color shots of the interior and exterior of the Baghdad for those of you who haven' checked out the McMinamens website

View link

Click on the gallery link directly below the shot of the exterior

droben
droben on September 12, 2007 at 1:27 am

Simon, you might want to check out cinematour.com. They feature many theater “tours,” of which many have lobby and auditorium photos (including the Bagdad).

Cinematour and Cinema Treasures work very well together for the total picture. As was pointed out by another poster on another theater page, Cinema Treasures is primarily a cinema nostalgia site, while Cinematour aims to document via photos, every known (existing or not, open or not) theater in the world. It also features an entertaining forum.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 11, 2007 at 11:07 pm

I like the facade. Besides, they’re different angles, and one is at night.

Simon Overton
Simon Overton on September 11, 2007 at 10:57 pm

Enough of the repetitious facade shots… some auditorium pictures PLEASE and thank you.

Aeronaut
Aeronaut on July 7, 2007 at 1:17 pm

The Kimball organ originally installed in the Bagdad Theater has been removed from the Galaxy Theater (now closed to be turned into offices) in Guttenberg, NJ and is to be installed in the auditorium of Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Wayne, NJ.

GaryParks
GaryParks on April 15, 2007 at 10:42 pm

My wife and I enjoyed “Children of Men” at the Bagdad week-before-last. This theatre has a wonderful atmosphere. I would not call it restored, but certainly well-preserved and nicely maintained. The restaurant in the front of the building has fantastic muralwork which compliments, but doesn’t imitate, the intact decorative painting of the theatre proper. I would call the historic decorative style of the theatre’s interior to be “Islamo-Byzantine Meets the Book of Kells.”

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 14, 2006 at 10:39 am

Here is a photo, possibly late 20s or early 30s:
http://tinyurl.com/yfca9h

Cami01
Cami01 on September 14, 2006 at 4:00 am

I visited the Bagdad for the first time in August. It is very majestic and beautiful. McMenamins has good food and skilled artists, however, I’m not sure how much original things were changed after McMenamins bought it. But what matters is that it’s still here and still running film. Great place.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on February 17, 2005 at 12:52 pm

Re: “a format it has maintained to this day, with one exception.”

What was the one exception?

The “Related websites” link is now broken. It should be changed to
http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=9

All of the venues that these folks run look fascinating! I wish we had them in New England.

teecee
teecee on February 17, 2005 at 12:46 pm

Here is a link to some photos and history:
View link

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on October 28, 2004 at 12:05 pm

The Bagdad shows up in the movie “What The #$%! Do We Know?.” Several nice shots of the auditorium, lobby and marquee.
“What the #$%!…” is a wonderful quasi documentary with dramatizations of the mixing of quantum mechanics and spirituality. (!) Hope you can see it in a theatre rather than on video. Really hope it plays at the Bagdad.

rapidheart
rapidheart on May 30, 2004 at 9:11 pm

There was a small screen around the corner from the Bagdad called The Backstage. Maybe 150 seats. A few sofa type seats too. Lotsa B pictures played at the Backstage. You bought your ticket at the Bagdad boxoffice though.