Movie Theater Pubs, Alternative and Second Run Theaters in Portland, Oregon
See Films Cheaply with Beer and Pizza!
Theater Pubs
If you've lived in Oregon for any length of time, you probably know about theater pubs, including some of the popular McMenamins pub chain locations. But if you're visiting, you'll need some introduction.
What kinds of movies play in theater pubs? These theaters usually show certain kinds of movies: second-run new films - so, for example, if you wait a few weeks to see the newest Batman flick, you can catch it at a theater pub; art films or foreign films that will not hit the major chain theaters; and old favorites. Recently, for example, the Laurelhurst was playing Repo Man.
How much is admission? Usually $3 per person. It's available at such a low cost because the film reels cost the theater less money.
Beer? In a movie theater? Yes. Usually some inexpensive wines are served as well, and often pizza, donuts, and other simple hearty foods are available in addition to the usual popcorn and candy. It's a much better refreshment selection than you'll find in a mall theater, and the prices are much more reasonable as well.
Can children and young adults get in? In this article, I'll cover theater pubs and then some other alternative theaters. Some of the alternative theaters admit all ages; the pubs, however, only permit age 21 and up, except during certain afternoon hours.
Some of the more well-known theater pubs in Portland:
The Laurelhurst Theater
http://www.laurelhursttheater.com
2735 E Burnside St
Portland, OR 97214
Great art-deco building and inexpensive gourmet refreshments make this a very popular spot. Look for the old-fashioned neon sign.
21+, minors permitted with parents at early afternoon showings.
The Bagdad Theater
http://www.mcmenamins.com
3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214
Part of the popular McMenamins pub chain, the Bagdad is a Hawthorne institution.
21+, minors permitted with parents at afternoon showings.
McMenamins Kennedy School
http://www.mcmenamins.com
5736 NE 33rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97211
Another McMenamins location, Kennedy School is a former elementary school which now also houses musical events and a hotel.
21+ for movies, minors permitted with parents at afternoon showings.
The Clinton Street Theater
http://www.clintonsttheater.com/
2522 SE Clinton St.
Portland, OR 97202
The Clinton Street Theater is a one-screen movie theater specializing in weird films, cult classics and independent films. It admits minors only before 7 PM and also for interactive showings of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show on Saturday nights. Admission is $6 for most, $5 for students, $4 for seniors and for matinee showings, and $3 for kids under 12.
Non-Pub Alternative Movie Theaters in Portland
The below theaters each have their own special style, and admit minors at almost all times, though the usual movie-rating restrictions apply.
The Avalon Theater
http://www.wunderlandgames.com
3451 SE Belmont St
Portland, OR 97214
The Avalon is a two-screen theater with popcorn, sodas, and a nickel arcade - great place to go for an evening of cheap fun. It shows recent second-runs, and fun old B-movies. Admits all, for $2-4 a head; there's a small admission charge to the arcade as well, but a bag of nickels goes a long way on those games.
The Hollywood Theatre
http://www.hollywoodtheatre.org
4122 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR 97212
The Hollywood Theatre is a beautiful historical building, part of Portland's Hollywood district. Mostly, this movie theater plays host to film festivals throughout the year on weekends, and plays independent films during the week. Admission varies.
Published by Eri Luxton
Formerly an English teacher in China, Luxton currently lives in Portland, attends college in pursuit of a second bachelor's degree, and devotes time to reading, writing, crafting, working, and cultivating ch... View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentI did say I was only reviewing *some* of the theater pubs and second-run theaters in Portland! An article covering all of them would be a very long list indeed, since there are so many wonderful options for us Portlanders as to where we can see our movies. I'm sure many others are great as well. Since I live in inner Southeast and often use forms of transportation other than driving, I have mostly reviewed a few theaters that are close to my home. If you'd like to review others, feel free to write your own piece.