On June 2nd and 3rd, The Resident Historian will be performing at the Bobwhite Theater opening. Some other folks will be kickin’ ass as well, including School of Rock, Alialujah Choir and Chervona. DO NOT regret missing this kick ass event! Some more deets will be updated here.
So what’s the deal with this movie house? Built in 1924, the Bobwhite was a classic movie theater that spanned the silent era, and kept going right into the 
“talkies,” starting in 1930. Films were shown up until the 1980s, and live bands also graced the stage.
The Return of The Bobwhite has got the folks out in FoPo pretty excited, and with good reason. As an event venue on Foster and 65th, it will serve a s a community anchor and hopefully continue to bring exciting and crowd drawing entertainment to the area.
The theater has had a tradition of such accomplishment. In reviewing old Oregonian ads for the auditorium, such notable films as GI Blues with Elvis, 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Bells of Cornnado previously wowed South East Portlanders. In the 1970s, the place became a “chop-socky” house, which was a slang term for Asian martial arts flicks. Apparently some adult themed features were also projected, as you can see from the ad at the end of this missive. With an expanded stage for live bands, The Bobwhite was a real happening place, and with a shit ton of work ahead (and I’m guessing some considerable dough), it could be so once again. Let’s hope that happens!
One thread within the story of this hallowed film house has really caught this historian’s attention. In 1990, a fellow named Dale Haskin purchased the Bobwhite for the sole purpose of housing his pipe organ collection. That’s right – he acquired the space for organs. The center piece of his collection was a four manual Robert Morton theater pipe organ originally from San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre. The Bobwhite was a large enough space to host all of the wooden pipes needed for this behemoth, as well as several other instruments in his collection. Haskin’s story in itself is a Kick Ass tale, and I will be discussing it at my appearance.
I’m really hoping you can join us on the 2nd and 3rd of June at The Bobwhite Theater. The crew there has really done a bang-up job to get the place together. There is still much work to be done, and I am hopeful that all the vision currently possessed can be put into action. It would be a GREAT venue for Portlanders to enjoy, and certainly a unique piece of Kick Ass Oregon History!
Hmmmmm… Which feature would you choose to attend at the late 60s, early 70s Bobwhite Theater?
The classics never go out of style, of course…
Where: Bobwhite Theater 6423 SE Foster Road, Portland
When: June 2nd and 3rd, Kick Ass Oregon History is at 4pm each day, but you should check out the other acts too.
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