Rose Moyer Theatre

Yes, this was a great theater in Portland. I saw a ton of movies there (“Apocolypse Now” “Star Trek”) and only paid for a third of them, as it was so easy to go from theater to theater, and I had no money as a kid. It was built over the former 162nd Drive-In, which had a huge outdoor screen, and was owned by the Moyer family (my mom baby sat for them way back when.) A new theater was built in it’s place and I think it’s a bit better. I even know the manager there who took me on a tour this past February. I know it used to be in Portland and I think it still is. (The border between Portland and Gresham used to be at about 200th, where the train track on Division St. were, but now I think it extends out to Rockwood Plaza, on 182nd and Division.) Ask one the cops in the morning at 182nd Pub during breakfast—they know.

I grew up a few miles away from the Rose Moyer so I can clear up some of the debate. The Rose Moyer was torn down in late 1996 or early 1997 and the Division 13 was built on the same site, not down the street. One of my first movie going memories ever is of seeing Ghostbusters here with my family as a 4 year old in the summer of 1984. I can still recall seeing certain scenes on the big screen there to this day when I watch Ghostbusters and I can also recall spending parts of the film on my knees with my face in the theater seat scared. The projectors were indeed visible overhead in the lobby and you could watch them operate and hear them as you walked through the lobby or waited for concessions. There were large green leafed trees that provided shade for parking on hot summer days in the parking lot. As I grew up I saw quite a few movies here such as UHF, Weekend At Bernies, The Shadow, and Star Trek Generations. I even saw No Holds Barred starring Hulk Hogan on opening day June 2, 1989. Hey, give me a break, I was 10 and a huge fan of Hulk so my older brother was willing to take me. In the 1990s Act III acquired most of the theaters and cinemas around the Portland metro area from Moyer. They made several tasteless changes to the Rose in it’s waning years such as cutting down the parking lot trees, and dividing up several of the auditoriums into tiny 50-100 seat shoeboxes to try and pack in more films. It was poorly done and looked like hell. I attended the opening week festivities of the Division 13 in fall 1997. By then I was a senior in high school and they were showing the previous summer’s movies for free. Thus, I sat through a packed screening of Men In Black (the third time I had seen it) with about a half dozen friends. Today, as a film buff I tend to avoid corporate cinemas so I rarely go to the Division 13, an average of once a year, but when I do I still think of the Rose Moyer

I just discovered this site and I am so glad there are people who remember my grandmother, Rose C. Moyer, and her theatres. She was a grand lady, full of spunk. I have many stories about her because were were very close and I worked in the box office with her. Winnie

@castor801 that’s pretty funny to read your No Holds Barred story, I’m pretty sure I ran that showing. I worked at the Rose at two different times for a total of 5 years started as a soda jerk and worked my way up to head projectionist. Was such a fun job, I was there during the remodel when they divided up the smaller auditoriums and made it a ten plex. Fun times!

Opened on April 7th, 1977. Grand opening ad posted.