Children

Children going to the movies is never going to go out of style. Families bring their kids to theaters so that movies can be enjoyed altogether. At Tower Theatre, children have always been welcome. Children were often admitted free at the theatre for special events, but prices were cheapest for kids. Price reductions happened in 1940 where matinees became cheaper than regular showings. Children's tickets would cost 10 cents at any time of the day, but were only available on bargain nights which were Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Bend Drive-In Theatre wasn’t just a place to watch movies. It was designed as a full family environment where children were encouraged to participate in the experience.

At left is an advertisement for the program ‘The Best Our Ambition’ at the Ye Liberty Theatre in

In these two separate advertisements located next to each other in The Plaindealer’s July 6, 1905 paper, The Roseburg Theater boasts two shows on the same days: Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8.

Underage Workers in Early Exhibition

Edwin F. James was a highly regarded businessman who moved from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon to open the Majestic Theater on June 11, 1911. The theater sat 1,100 people and was the first palace in Portland to show silent feature films and was later the first to add live organ music to silent films viewings.

It seems that quite a bit of Portland theaters during the early 20th century would organize charity programs or host public leisure events to become friendly with the community, and further research proves that a similar kind of behavior exists among the popular theater chains of today.