Hollywood Theatre

The Hollywood Theatre announced that it would close temporarily for the COVID-19 pandemic following its March 13, 2020 shows. The theatre reopened nearly 16 months later just prior to its 95th anniversary on July 2, 2021. It also resumed its 70mm film screenings shortly after reopening.

Thanks to the former Fox Cinerama Hollywood Portland they still show 70mm film prints from time to time and the screen is as little curved. They need to do a fund raiser or extra fee for screen curtains and color lights for the large downstairs cinema.

Paint and tri-plexing altered the Hollywood so much over the years that to do an authentic restoration of the facility will most likely not happen, given the current owners. This being due to costs of refurbishment, current economic realities in the performance facility demographics and operating costs of Portland and the desired use of the building today. Much like the ex-Paramount, the Hollywood’s elabourate 1920’s charm resides outside of the auditorium side of the building. Given its location, and the costs and labour required for authentic restoration, the Hollywood in many ways is probably gone forever. Only the Bagdad and Elsinore Theatre in Salem approach what could be called “authentic” restorations. The Elsinore was well-preserved over the years before being worked over and the Bagdad was not a terribly ambitious project when it was built. With all due respect, $100,000 in 1927 would have been considered an “economy-priced” theatre, given it’s size. Indeed, the comparably-sized Elsinore and Capitol Theatres in Salem and Portland’s Hollywood Theatre came in with price tags hovering in the $250,000-plus range.

Gary Lacher and Steve Stone wrote a book called The Theatres of Portland which has a number of good photos of the Hollywood—inside and out. Some of us who remember these places from many years ago find the book at once fascinating, but also painful because what does survive in Portland is very little. However, once one realises that these places are usually—no matter what city they are in—titanic projects, then we must be thankful for what little we have left—which I am. At least a few of the more important buildings survive. If economics ever dictate that these places can be restored to their former glory, the foundation and “canvas” upon which to do it are still there.

A few photos can be seen here, here and here.

One of my coleagues and I drove non stop from Toledo Ohio in the mid 70’s to deliver the new projection equipment for the triplexing of the theatre. Two sets of “EPRAD” SWORD Systems were installed to accomodate the twinning of the balcony level. The new projectors were designed to provide fully automated operation of the film presention.

Don’t know how far they’ve gotten with the renovation, but the outside has been nicely redone – all painted white with trim, kind of a stucco design. / mission revival. Strange feature about this theatre, the auditorium extends straigh back from the street, but the main facade/marquee is on the corner of the building, despite all the street frontagethe building has. The foyer/mezzanine simply backs up against the sidewalk. Looks like they pushed that right up to the sidewalk to extend the auditorium and the only place to put the entrance was on the corner under the curved marquee (which is flat against the building). Interesting effect and I’m glad they’ve been making progress on restoration.

Here is a 1956 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/54v5rv

That link did not work.

This photo was taken in the lobby during a filmmakers event. Looks like the wall shape and chandeliers are the same. The walls have probably been painted.

The building immediately west of the Hollywood burned down in a spectacular blaze back in 1997. A good friend of mine who worked for Portland Fire at the time was one of the first responding and helped save this great place. I remember seeing news footage of firefighters in the balcany lobby at 5 a.m. laying hoselines to project water out the windows onto the exterior walls and prevent it from developing into an exposure fire. Recently when I have driven by the theatre I have noticed the empty lot next door where that building once stood, and how dangerously close it did stand, and thanked God for the efforts of Portland’s bravest!

I had the privilage of seeing “Return Of The Jedi” originally in one of the balcony auditoriums, which along with “E.T” and “Ghostbusters” are my earliest film going memories, although the first is the only one I saw at the Hollywood. In 1990 my parents drug me to see a double feature of “Always” and “Steele Magnolias” in one of the balcony auditoriums with them. I recall it vividly because “Look Who’s Talking” was playing in the opposite balcony auditorium at the time and I would have preferred to see that and meet them afterward. The most recent film I have seen at the Hollywood was “Party Monster.” This is a great theatre, but you often have to act quick if you want to see a film there because they typically last only a week and then move on. Hence, the sad fact that it has been three years since I have been there. That is no excuse though. If you are a fan of cinema treasures and are in Portland ever, do yourself a favor and pay a visit!

Many thanks Howard… maybe I’ll see you there?

I see the Broadway is listed as “triplex” but wonder if the main auditorium is still in tact and the balcony was twinned?