The Hollywood Theatre

Hollywood Theater The Hollywood Theater was one of the last vaudeville house and movie palace combinations built in Portland. The 18th century Italian-style theater, desigened by the local architectural firm of Bennes and Herzog, cost $500,000 to build over a three-year period (1923-1926). The original owner were Claude S. Jenesen and John G. Von Herberg, two prominent theater men on the West Coast. The 1,500 seat theater opened on July 17, 1926, with the premie showing of Peter B. Kyne's "More Pay-Les Work", featuring Mary Brian Cecil B. Teague played the $40,000 Wurlitzer organ with the accompaniment of an eight piece orchestra. General admission was 25 cents. The theater was a catalyst doe development. The surrounding commercial area eventually became known as ths Hollywood Commercial District, the only area in Portland named after a local building. In September 1983, the Hollywood Theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.