From 1972-75 I spent a lot of time at the Mt. Tabor and nearby Avalon Theaters. They were under the same ownership at the time and each was a twin cinema. Every week they programmed a second-run double feature in each auditorium, and charged 99 cents admission. They were basically no frills, clean and featured decent projection and sound.
“The first movie house [in Kenton] was in the back of Berg’s Store in 1911 (on the NE Corner of Kilpatrick and Denver). In 1925 it was moved to Denver and Schofield where the Chaldean Theater was built, and the theater was finally completed, they opened to a sold-out crowd. The electric sign in front of the theater was equal to any in the city of Portland and gave the business district of Kenton a metropolitan appearance when lighted.. A representative of the Multnomah Theater Corporation said that the theater in Kenton was second only to the Egyptian for beauty. He predicted it would be one of the finest picture houses on the east side of the river. The theater building had capacity for 600, with a balcony, manager’s offices, and even a separate glassed ‘cry room’ for mother’s with babies with a full view of the screen.”
The building that housed the Old Chelsea Tri Cinema has not been demolished, at least not as of January, 2024.
The Beaver Hotel was built in 1907. In 1962 local producer and entrepreneur John Hillsbury converted the hotel ballroom into the Portland Playhouse, home of the Portland Players. Later, it was apparently converted into a storefront cinema with three screens.
In recent years the building has been used for transitional housing and social services.
The building is still there as of 2024. It is the same building as the Old Chelsea Tri Cinema, just under a different address around the corner. The Tri Cinema played straight pronography in two screens and exclusively gay pornography in the third, under the Tom Kat name.
A screen shot for the 1962 Portland City Directory display ad has been added.
Growing up in Gresham in the early 1960s, this hulking, abandoned building across Powell from the Rexall drugstore was rumored to be haunted. It was built out over a slough on concrete pilings. We were warned to stay away it– and we did!
Fire destroys the Gresham Theater in September, 1970. The building hade been abandoned for many years and was scheduled for demolition. It was removed entirely in 1971.
Opened June 2, 1950 as the Hood. It was Henry and Rose Moyer’s fifth theater in Oregon. The opening feature was Paramount’s “The Eagle and the Hawk.” Publicity stated it featured 800 “bodiform” seats, air conditioning, and carpeted aisles.
From 1972-75 I spent a lot of time at the Mt. Tabor and nearby Avalon Theaters. They were under the same ownership at the time and each was a twin cinema. Every week they programmed a second-run double feature in each auditorium, and charged 99 cents admission. They were basically no frills, clean and featured decent projection and sound.
“The first movie house [in Kenton] was in the back of Berg’s Store in 1911 (on the NE Corner of Kilpatrick and Denver). In 1925 it was moved to Denver and Schofield where the Chaldean Theater was built, and the theater was finally completed, they opened to a sold-out crowd. The electric sign in front of the theater was equal to any in the city of Portland and gave the business district of Kenton a metropolitan appearance when lighted.. A representative of the Multnomah Theater Corporation said that the theater in Kenton was second only to the Egyptian for beauty. He predicted it would be one of the finest picture houses on the east side of the river. The theater building had capacity for 600, with a balcony, manager’s offices, and even a separate glassed ‘cry room’ for mother’s with babies with a full view of the screen.”
From: https://historickenton.com/about-us/kenton-history/
The building that housed the Old Chelsea Tri Cinema has not been demolished, at least not as of January, 2024.
The Beaver Hotel was built in 1907. In 1962 local producer and entrepreneur John Hillsbury converted the hotel ballroom into the Portland Playhouse, home of the Portland Players. Later, it was apparently converted into a storefront cinema with three screens.
In recent years the building has been used for transitional housing and social services.
The building is still there as of 2024. It is the same building as the Old Chelsea Tri Cinema, just under a different address around the corner. The Tri Cinema played straight pronography in two screens and exclusively gay pornography in the third, under the Tom Kat name.
A screen shot for the 1962 Portland City Directory display ad has been added.
Growing up in Gresham in the early 1960s, this hulking, abandoned building across Powell from the Rexall drugstore was rumored to be haunted. It was built out over a slough on concrete pilings. We were warned to stay away it– and we did!
Fire destroys the Gresham Theater in September, 1970. The building hade been abandoned for many years and was scheduled for demolition. It was removed entirely in 1971.
Opened June 2, 1950 as the Hood. It was Henry and Rose Moyer’s fifth theater in Oregon. The opening feature was Paramount’s “The Eagle and the Hawk.” Publicity stated it featured 800 “bodiform” seats, air conditioning, and carpeted aisles.
https://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/not-the-last-picture-show-mt-hood-theater-thrives/article_97345049-edb1-5ffc-a73f-f38117e6c01e.html
Girls in ethnic costume pose in front of Delray Theatre, 1933