Cinema 21

616 N.W. 21st Avenue,
Portland, OR 97209

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rivest266
rivest266 on July 5, 2024 at 5:41 pm

Became the Vista theatre on December 3rd, 1940, and 21st Avenue on December 25th, 1941. Grand opening ad and article posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 5, 2024 at 5:32 pm

Opened February 5th, 1925. Article posted.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on April 29, 2019 at 6:26 pm

There Is A Snipe That Is Missing I’ve Found About “Providence Park” (During The Time It Was Multnomah Stadium) In 1956 When The Portland Beavers Came To The Park. The Theater Snipe Has A Background Of A Baseball Game With The Correct Arial Text For The Theater With IMPACT Fonting For The Big Letters. And The 6-#### Number Displaces At The Bottom. I Think This Belongs To This Theater Or A Closed One Nearby. I Don’t Know.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson on May 28, 2014 at 3:51 pm

I’m not sure of the exact reopening. Cinemas 21 has expanded, adding 2 screens and a new snack bar. The main auditorium still has 35mm film and digital projection, while the 2 smaller screens are digital only. Becasue of construction constraints, the booths were squeezed into narrow crawlspaces, with controls handled from the main booth. I found the 2 new auditoriums to have ample legroom and adjustable armrests. They now have beer & wine at the snack bar,

rivest266
rivest266 on August 2, 2012 at 10:14 pm

This reopened as Cinema 21 on March 30th, 1962. Grand opening ad in photo section.

Mikeyisirish
Mikeyisirish on June 26, 2012 at 5:54 pm

A 2011 photo can be seen here.

MagicLantern
MagicLantern on February 15, 2011 at 9:56 am

Also known as The Aero at some point in its life?

Douglas
Douglas on July 22, 2010 at 10:16 pm

I worked at this theatre briefly while going to college. They were showing Polanski’s Macbeth at the time. I must have seen portions of it a hundred times. When the late show would start and no one was there we’d signal the projectionist and he’d turn it off so we could all go home. One night I couldn’t remember if I’d turned off the hot butter machine. Not driving at the time, I walked back at 3am just to make sure. Of course, I’d already turned it off.

newyorkmcgee
newyorkmcgee on December 2, 2007 at 10:11 pm

Having recently moved to the portland area, i must say that i love the cinema 21!
I’ve seen the following movies here…

King of king: a fistful of quarters
Delirious
Blade runner: final cut (which was held over for a month)
What would jesus buy?
Because the bible told me so

Bewtween this theatre, the fox, and the hollywood, i can pretty much see every small release movie out there…although i wish they all played at the 21.

1st weekend shows are $4.00! shows before 6 are $6 and evening shows are 8. Refreshments are cheap. I get a GIANT soda for 2 bucks…and a king size pack of m and m’s for 1.75.

Coming from nyc going to a movie and getting a drink and candy for 7.75 warms my soul. I can take my girlfriend…and the whole kit and kaboodle costs less than a manhattan ticket.

William
William on January 18, 2007 at 3:43 pm

From Lost Memory’s post of July 12th 2005.

This theatre was also known as State Theatre, Vista Theatre and 21st Avenue Theatre.

prpolen
prpolen on August 3, 2005 at 10:57 am

I love this theater. I saw so many classics here—Hitchcock, Bergman, Kurosawa—as well many obscure movies. I hope that it will continue to be a great theater.

prpolen
prpolen on August 3, 2005 at 10:56 am

I love this theater. I saw so many classics here—Hitchcock, Bergman, Kurosawa—as well many obscure movies. I hope that it will continue to be a great theater.