Star Theater (Portland, Oregon)
Encyclopedia
The Star Theater is a historic former silent film
theater in Portland, Oregon
, United States. The address was originally 9 NW Sixth Avenue, but since 2001 thhas been 13 NW Sixth Avenue.
It opened in May 1911 as the Princess Theatre at Sixth and Burnside Street with 300 seats. It was one of many "semi-fireproof picture show[s]" that opened that year in Portland and the first in Downtown Portland to comply with the new fire codes. It was being run by the Sax Amusement Company circa 1923; it became the Star Theater in 1939, but was also known as the Star Burlesk, 4 Star Theater or New Star Theater at various times.
In the 1940s it became a live burlesque
theater. Featured dancers included Tempest Storm
, Betty Roth as Candy Renee, and Arabella Andre. It closed briefly during Dorothy McCullough Lee
's mayorship, but reopened in 1953. Jim Purcell
, Portland's Chief of Police, was a regular at the Star Theater and was especially interested in Candy Renee.
In the late 1960s, the Star Theater became an adult theater
which showed erotic movies and also had strippers on stage. In the 1970s the Star Theater experimented with presenting everything from underground and classic comedy films to controversial "live sex shows". Eventually the Star Theater went back to the somewhat less controversial adult movies and live strippers. In the period of 1979–1983 one of the strippers at the Star Theater was a teenage Courtney Love
. The Star Theater was closed in 1985.
The Star Theater was the business in question in the landmark City of Portland v. Tidyman Oregon Supreme Court ruling handed down by Oregon Supreme Court Justice Hans A. Linde
in 1988 (long after the incident(s) in question happened in 1979), which helped establish the State of Oregon's strong free speech protections, possibly the strongest free speech protections in the U.S. This ruling eventually led to an abundance of strip clubs and live nude entertainment in and around the city of Portland, now known around the country as having "the most strip clubs per capita" of any city in the U.S.
The property was owned for several years by Portland film director Gus Van Sant
. Van Sant sold it to "embattled restaurateur" Andrew Sugar in 2001. Sugar opened Vivid, a restaurant/nightclub in September 2002, it became Level by 2004 and the business was sold and closed in 2008.
The theater briefly re-opened as another nightclub called Five Star Theater, held some shows in October 2008, but then was shut down again on September 27, 2009 by the Portland Police Bureau
and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission
for selling alcohol without a liquor license and violating building codes. Local news outlet KATU
described Five Star as a modern speakeasy
.
As of 2011, the theater seating and original interior have been removed. The upper two-thirds of the exterior facade is almost completely original except for the marquee and sign, but the lower third was completely covered over in the 2001 remodel.
In February 2011, the owners of Dante's
took possession of the business and began to remodel and restore the theater into a live music and performance space. The old neon marquee sign was rebuilt in August of 2011 in time for the 100th anniversary of the building.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
theater in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States. The address was originally 9 NW Sixth Avenue, but since 2001 thhas been 13 NW Sixth Avenue.
It opened in May 1911 as the Princess Theatre at Sixth and Burnside Street with 300 seats. It was one of many "semi-fireproof picture show[s]" that opened that year in Portland and the first in Downtown Portland to comply with the new fire codes. It was being run by the Sax Amusement Company circa 1923; it became the Star Theater in 1939, but was also known as the Star Burlesk, 4 Star Theater or New Star Theater at various times.
In the 1940s it became a live burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
theater. Featured dancers included Tempest Storm
Tempest Storm
Tempest Storm is the stage name of an American stripper, burlesque star, and motion picture actress. Along with Lili St. Cyr and Blaze Starr, she was one of the best known burlesque performers of the 1950s and 1960s. She is regarded as having one of the longest careers as a burlesque performer,...
, Betty Roth as Candy Renee, and Arabella Andre. It closed briefly during Dorothy McCullough Lee
Dorothy McCullough Lee
Dorothy McCullough Lee was an American politician and attorney in the state of Oregon. She was the first female mayor of Portland, Oregon.-Early life:...
's mayorship, but reopened in 1953. Jim Purcell
Jim Purcell
“Diamond” Jim Purcell was the Chief of Police in Portland, Oregon during the 1950s.Purcell was an associate of Jim Elkins, a Portland mob boss, and helped protect Portland's pinball racket and other organized crime activity in the city...
, Portland's Chief of Police, was a regular at the Star Theater and was especially interested in Candy Renee.
In the late 1960s, the Star Theater became an adult theater
Adult theater
An adult movie theater is a movie theater where pornographic films are shown to an adult audience. There are usually continuous showings. The movie posters in front of the theaters normally feature no nudity.- Films and patrons :...
which showed erotic movies and also had strippers on stage. In the 1970s the Star Theater experimented with presenting everything from underground and classic comedy films to controversial "live sex shows". Eventually the Star Theater went back to the somewhat less controversial adult movies and live strippers. In the period of 1979–1983 one of the strippers at the Star Theater was a teenage Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
. The Star Theater was closed in 1985.
The Star Theater was the business in question in the landmark City of Portland v. Tidyman Oregon Supreme Court ruling handed down by Oregon Supreme Court Justice Hans A. Linde
Hans A. Linde
Hans Arthur Linde, is a German American attorney and former jurist in Oregon. Born in Germany, he also lived with his family in Denmark before immigrating to Portland, Oregon. After serving in the United States Army during World War II he graduated from college and law school. Linde then worked...
in 1988 (long after the incident(s) in question happened in 1979), which helped establish the State of Oregon's strong free speech protections, possibly the strongest free speech protections in the U.S. This ruling eventually led to an abundance of strip clubs and live nude entertainment in and around the city of Portland, now known around the country as having "the most strip clubs per capita" of any city in the U.S.
The property was owned for several years by Portland film director Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
. Van Sant sold it to "embattled restaurateur" Andrew Sugar in 2001. Sugar opened Vivid, a restaurant/nightclub in September 2002, it became Level by 2004 and the business was sold and closed in 2008.
The theater briefly re-opened as another nightclub called Five Star Theater, held some shows in October 2008, but then was shut down again on September 27, 2009 by the Portland Police Bureau
Portland Police Bureau
The Portland Police Bureau is the law enforcement agency of the City of Portland, the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. While oversight of Portland's bureaus shifts among the five City Commissioners, the Mayor has historically been assigned to the Police Bureau as the police...
and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission
Oregon Liquor Control Commission
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is a government agency of the U.S. state of Oregon. The OLCC was created by an act of the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1933, days after the repeal of prohibition, as a means of providing control over the distribution, sales and consumption of alcoholic...
for selling alcohol without a liquor license and violating building codes. Local news outlet KATU
KATU
KATU, virtual channel 2, also known as K2, is an ABC-affiliated television station broadcasting on digital channel 43 in Portland, Oregon, USA. It has been owned by Fisher Communications of Seattle, Washington, which has been the owner of the Seattle's ABC affiliate KOMO-TV, ever since it began...
described Five Star as a modern speakeasy
Speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the period known as Prohibition...
.
As of 2011, the theater seating and original interior have been removed. The upper two-thirds of the exterior facade is almost completely original except for the marquee and sign, but the lower third was completely covered over in the 2001 remodel.
In February 2011, the owners of Dante's
Dante's
Dante's is a nightclub and live music venue in Portland, Oregon, United States, that opened in February, 2000. Since opening, the club has hosted numerous internationally-famous bands, solo-acts, troupes and performance artists....
took possession of the business and began to remodel and restore the theater into a live music and performance space. The old neon marquee sign was rebuilt in August of 2011 in time for the 100th anniversary of the building.
External links
- Pictures of the Star Theater at the William Joseph Gallery
- Star Theatre pictures at historicphotoarchive.net
- Photo of Star Theater in 1979 on FlickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
- Photo of Star Theater in 1970s on FlickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...