United Artists Theatre (Portland, Oregon)
United Artists Theatre, originally known as the Majestic Theatre, was a movie palace in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was the first establishment in Portland exclusively intended for motion picture screening.
![]() Majestic Theatre marquee, showing D. W. Griffith's Dream Street in 1921 | |
| |
| Former names | Majestic Theatre |
|---|---|
| Address | 739 SW Washington Street |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 45.5210°N 122.6797°W |
| Construction | |
| Opened | June 10, 1911 |
| Renovated | 1929 |
| Closed | 1955 |
| Demolished | 1957 |
History
The Majestic Theatre opened as Portland's first "palace" for motion pictures on June 10, 1911, at the northeast corner of Southwest Park Avenue and Washington Street.[1] The venue contained 1,100 seats.[1] It was originally owned by Edwin F. James.[2]
In 1929, ownership transferred to J. J. Parker Theatres; the company renovated the venue and changes its name to United Artists Theatre.[1] The building was designed by Bennes and Herzog, who are also credited for designing Portland's Hollywood Theatre. During the renovation, offices on the second floor were converted into a lounge measuring 40 feet (12 m) by 100 feet (30 m). In addition, the interior was refitted.[1] Mayor George Luis Baker spoke at the venue's rededication ceremony on September 29, 1928. The theatre closed in 1955 and was demolished in 1957.[1]
The site is now occupied by the Union Bank Tower (formerly known as the Bank of California building), built in 1967–1969.[1]
References
- Lacher, Gary; Stone, Steve (2009). Theatres of Portland. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-1-439-63831-6.
- "Portland, Oregon Looks Back Over Ten Years". The Moving Picture World. New York City. 29: 409. July 15, 1916. OCLC 1717051 – via Google Books.

External links
Media related to Majestic Theatre (Portland, Oregon) at Wikimedia Commons
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