Located on Hawthorne Boulevard in Southeast Portland is the historical Bagdad Theater. A tribute to Hollywood’s golden age, the Bagdad Theater hosts both a theater and a restaurant. Inspired by Mediterranean architecture, the Bagdad is a great spot to catch a movie while also indulging in some pub food. 

First opened in 1927, the “Oasis for Entertainment” attracted hundreds of Portlanders to lose themselves on the big screen. The grand opening was accompanied by street dancers, orchestras, and live music that consumed Hawthorne Boulevard. The Bagdad Theater was considered the crown jewel of the Hawthorne District at the time due to its fascinating architecture and peak entertainment. 

Designed by Lee Arden Thomas, the theater encompasses four city lots and is known for its authentic “Bagdad” electric sign. The interior features different arches, stonework, mosaics and colorful tilework inspired by Middle Eastern architecture. The slogan “Meet me at the Bagdad!” took the Hawthorne district by storm alongside the intriguing architecture. 

When the Bagdad first opened, the United States was entering its Hollywood golden age. Americans became obsessed with the new technology of movies. “Talkies” are the first known movies to have a sound played over them, and were invented the same year that the Bagdad opened. Even though talkies were rising in popularity, the Bagdad still featured many silent films and vaudeville acts in its early years. Vaudeville is a group of comical acts that are performed in the form of ballet or circus-like tricks. 

Eventually, the Bagdad transferred to the more modern movie scene, and the theater would host premiere galas for new films. Premieres for Star Trek III, 1776 and A Star Is Born would take place in the historic theater. The most notable was One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, as actors Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher would visit the Bagdad for the movie’s Oregon premiere in 1975. 

Over the years, the Bagdad Theater has gone through many different managers and owners who have tweaked the building over time. During the mid-1980s, many single-screen theaters were under distress due to larger movie theaters outcompeting the smaller venues, and the Bagdad was one of them. So in 1987, McMenamins, a chain of brewpubs that are spread all throughout the Pacific Northwest, bought the Bagdad Theater. McMenamins would transform the Bagdad into not only a theater but a restaurant as well where you can find a variety of pizza, burgers and classic pub food. 

The theater itself can hold 590 seats, and with your seat, there are also long tables where you can be served food and beverages so you can enjoy both a movie and a meal. There are also two levels to the theater, as a balcony hangs over the theater for additional and higher seating options. 

The Bagdad Theater is the epicenter of Hawthorne Boulevard and this elegant theater is something that all movie-goers should consider visiting. From its mesmerizing architecture to its fascinating history, the Bagdad is a perfect place to watch some films all while enjoying some popcorn or a hot slice of pizza.