The Bagdad Theater is a beloved Portland stop on the McMenamins passport, an array of Pacific Northwest attractions created by McMenamin brothers Mike and Brian, including hotels, cinemas, golf courses, brewpubs and event venues.
The theater has recently undergone extensive improvements to show first-run movies: a 50% larger screen, 20,000-watt Surround Sound, a K Prime digital projector, and more comfortable rocker seating. The Bagdad is currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary under McMenamins ownership, though the theater was originally built in 1925, and maintains much of its original old Holllywood-style glamour, while incorporating the McMenamins signature quirky charm.
All McMenamins theaters are designed for maximum enjoyment - you can consume an entire meal while you catch that new flick. You can purchase microbrews, as well as pizza, popcorn, candy and soft drinks from the concession window, and the cinema is equipped with a row of tables in front of each seat to make you extra comfortable. Or you can order burgers, sandwiches and appetizers in advance, and ask that they deliver them to your seats in the balcony!
The Bagdad has been the scene of some notable film premiers, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher in 1975, and Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho, when the McMenamins brothers took over the cinema in 1991 (the Pacific Northwest in general, and Portland specifically, has quite an extensive film and television history, which continues today). The theater has also hosted countless events, such as the Powell’s Books Author Series, live music, stand-up comedy, local and independent film screenings and private gatherings.
If you want to visit with your friends before or after the show, hang out at the Back Stage Bar adjacent to the cinema. There are many more microbrews on tap, as well as a full bar, and a Pacific Northwest pub menu featuring local ingredients. Delicious Happy Hour menu items include Truffle Fries, Cajun Tater Tots, a Hummus Plate, Hammerhead BBQ Pork Sliders (made with the famed McMenamins Hammerhead Ale) and a mini seasonal Crème Brûlée. Ask about gluten-free options! You can relax with your pet in the outdoor seating area, which gives you a pleasant view of Southeast Portland’s Hawthorne District, our bustling bohemian neighborhood. Or you can challenge your buddies to a game of pool or shuffleboard!
Movie Ticket Prices:
$9.00 – Adults 5 p.m. and later
$7.50 – Adults before 5 p.m.
$6.00 – children 12 years old and under (with a parent or guardian)
Rick
6 years agoThe Bagdad Theater is definitely one of the great places in Portland to see a film, and I love it how all the McMenamins locations maintain the historic charms of their interesting buildings, and add their new artistic charms. Thanks for posting about it, Merlin!