More than a decade ago I wrote for Neighborhood Notes, a cool community-focused digital publication based in Portland. The now-defunct site went offline a couple of years ago but the editors have graciously let me repost a couple of the posts I wrote. 

Meanwhile, the past few months I’ve rediscovered the joys of “going to the movies” after a long absence of just staying home and streaming them. From the previews, to pizza slices, to a cold pint, the experience of sitting in the dark as the titles roll just can’t be replicated by a TV in a living room. We are blessed with so many neighborhood single-screen theaters! There are probably some changes to this 12-year-old article but …close enough. Maybe I’ll update as needed as a guide to local movie theaters and those beyond Portland (hello, Oak Grove 8!) because there are some glaring omissions (Clinton Street Theater for one).

And then there are the dozens of theaters that didn’t make it. But that’s a different post.

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Portland is lucky to have a solid core of neighborhood theaters that cater to film buffs, beer drinkers and cinema-goers. Many, once beyond disrepair, have risen from near-death and have even helped spark the revitalization of neighborhoods. Historical preservation meets beer, pizza and movies?  That’s a win-win. Here’s a small roundup of theaters to grab a cold one and enjoy a film.

Laurelhurst Theater
The Laurelhurst owners have managed to keep the cool, indy vibe to the theater while adding more comfortable space and more screens, and serving food and beer. The theater was constructed in 1923 with an Art Deco design. Update: They went first-run in 2018.

Cool fact: The ginormous, beautiful, jaw-dropping neon sign, of course. And photo booth!

Bagdad Theater & Pub
Do you remember the first time you took a sip of a cold beer in a movie theater (no, that can of smuggled, lukewarm Milwaukee’s Best doesn’t count) and thought “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” Wonderful Mediterranean Revival-style interior-inspired architecture inside and out, the Bagdad was built in the 1920s by Universal, is run by the McMenamin empire, and shows mostly films but also hosts events. 

Cool fact: Purportedly haunted by numerous ghosts from different eras. Just like every other old building in town. 😉

Cinema 21
Showcasing a healthy selection of independent, foreign, classics and repeated screenings of cult-favorite, The Room, Cinema 21 also does in-person events like the recent sold-out showing of R.E.M. By MTV complemented with a live episode of the podcast Revolutions Per Movie with host Chris Slusarenko—and Peter Buck! 

Cool fact: Originally called the State Theater in the 1920s when it was built, its “new” sign boasts a charming neon display.

Academy Theater
The story is familiar: theater gets built, gets remodeled, stops showing films, turns into a grindhouse, then gets leveled. The Academy Theater, built in the late 1940s, bucked that and has gone through a wonderful metamorphosis since falling into disrepair while avoiding the wrecking ball. And not only does it show films, it’s helped grow a community. All theaters should have an awesome FAQ page.

Cool fact: The renovation painstakingly re-created the metallic two-story dome and 1940s-style round lobby.

Hollywood Theatre
Probably the most well-known and ornate theater in Portland, and thanks to the unrelenting efforts of owners and volunteers, the old palace has managed to turn the corner, stay in shape and keep running. Built in 1926, and according to the Oregon Historical Society, designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the Hollywood was at the time it was built, one of the largest theaters in Oregon. Showcasing independent films as well as local filmmakers, the theater also hosts events such as the annual H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. It’s more than a movie theater, it’s a living historical monument as well as filmmaker incubator. And it screens 70mm prints.

Cool fact: Was once the exclusive Oregon home of Cinerama, a popular 1950s widescreen process.

Moreland Theater
This is another gem of a theater that has managed to stay intact, keep the original name and continue to screen first-run flicks. The theater featured live acts in the ’20s when it opened then switched to movies and hasn’t looked back. The ownership is wonderful and the place has a legit small-town vibe to it. New (well, maybe not so new) seats are icing on the cake. Pro tip – grab a bite next door at The Limelight and stroll on over when the movie starts.

Cool fact: Once housed an organ to accompany silent films and acts.

Cinemagic
This theater tucked between a couple of businesses on Hawthorne is easy to miss if you drive—or even bike—by it. But at night, Cinemagic puts on quite the neon show with its magnificent sign. Built in the teens, making it one of the older surviving theaters in Portland, Cinemagic is a dang gem. The owners are also doing a fundraiser to update the amenities, too.

Cool facts: A great vantage point to admire the neon sign at night is across the street on that little concrete island next to the vintage shop. Also, it’s been known as many different names throughout the decades, from the Hawthorne (1915) to the Fine Arts (1957) and now CineMagic (1991).