The Golden Era of film may have begun in Hollywood with the advent of talkies, but the popularity of films and the power of its stars, such as Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, graced the screens of movie houses and palaces built in the early 1900s across Oregon and Idaho. Not only hubs for entertainment, these theaters were often designed with cinematic flair and grand architecture, and served as gathering points and cultural centers for the communities they anchored. Historic preservation of these theaters is an ongoing process as many enter their centennial year, and initiatives such as Restore Oregon and Oregon Heritage, and the Historic Theatre Revitalization Subgrant Program (administered by the Idaho Heritage Trust), provide support to bring them back to their glory. Find one of the Pacific Northwest’s own stars: The Hollywood Theatre is one of the oldest in the United States and namesake of the Hollywood District in Portland. Visit these, and more historic theaters for a screening or live show. Now, that’s entertainment.

Astoria, Liberty Theatre (pictured) (1925) is a venue for live music, film screenings and performances on the Oregon coast. In 2025, it celebrates its 100th anniversary. See libertyastoria.org.

Athena, Gem Theatre (1901) is close to the end of a two-decades-long project to restore this bright spot in rural Oregon. See gemtheatre.org.

Boise, Egyptian Theatre (1927) is one of only seven remaining Egyptian-style theaters of more than 100 built in the 1920s, inspired by the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. See egyptiantheatre.net.

The Dalles, Granada Theatre (1929) hosts live performances and community events in its Art Deco/Moorish Revival-designed building. See granadatheatrethedalles.com

Grants Pass, Rogue Theatre (1938) is a National Historic Landmark. Built during the Great Depression, it raises spirits with live music and entertainment. See roguetheatre.org.

Idaho Falls, Colonial Theater (1919) was a vaudeville theater that has been fully refurbished for modern stage and film presentations. See idahofallsarts.org.

Klamath Falls, Ross Ragland Theater (1940) is an Art Deco theater that serves as a performing arts center for the southern Oregon community. See ragland.org.

Moscow, Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre is a multipurpose arts venue that began as a movie house as early as 1908. See kenworthy.org.

Portland, Hollywood Theatre (1926) is a Spanish Colonial Revival style movie theater that anchors the Hollywood District in northeast Portland. See hollywoodtheatre.org.

Rupert, historic Wilson Theatre (1920) has architecture referencing Louis Sullivan as a jewel of the historic downtown in rural Idaho. See historicwilsontheatre.com.

Salem, Elsinore Theatre (1926) was a silent film house and today is a cultural centerpiece of Oregon’s capital city. See elsinoretheatre.com.