Located on NW 23rd and Kearny St, the Esquire theater was an entertainment staple for the Nob Hill neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. The theatre was well known for featuring silent films and vaudeville acts, which steadily gave them an immense amount of support from their local community and became a neighborhood favorite[1]. The Esquire had one screen and five hundred and twenty-three seats in the vicinity. According to the Oregon Sunday Journal, it was known as a clean and quiet theatre with a strong presence among the north side neighborhood residents of Portland. When it originally opened in 1912, it was under the name “Nob Hill Theatre”. It was later renamed in 1938 under new management and remained until 1987 when it permanently closed[1]. According to an article written by Bill Peterson for Oregon magazine, the name “Esquire” is greatly attributed to the State Cinema 21 Theatre, which is located in Portland presently and carries a strong resemblance to the Nob Hill Theatre/ The Esquire [2]. The Esquire theater's legacy has left a lasting impact in their community even prior to its demise.
Although there were not many articles published about the Esquire at its time, there was an abundance of advertisements under its previous name which was the Nob Hill Theatre [1], that dominated various Oregon newspapers throughout the years. For example, the Nob Hill Theatre would commonly advertise local events in order to receive traction from the community, their affordable ticket prices, and various celebrities attending their showings. Some of its most popular showings that were advertised included Trey O' Hearts and Moonlight Sonata, which drew in an abundance of patrons to the theatre [3]. Throughout the advertisements for the theatre, it is clear that is it was known as a convenient, well priced, and charming experience for moviegoers. It was well-loved for its “popular prices”, as advertised in several newspapers, but additionally for its participation in exclusive Portland screenings and events. Customers could rely on the Esquire for unique cinematic experiences at an affordable price.
Footnotes
1. Bibber, Chuck Van. “Esquire Theatre.” Cinema Treasures, cinematreasures.org.
2. Butler, Grant. “Film Flashback: 31 Movie Theaters from Portland's Golden Age.” Oregonlive, 23 Feb. 2017, OregonLive
3. University of Oregon, Historic Oregon Newspapers. "The Oregon Daily Journal, August 16, 1914, Page 31, Image 31." Journal Print Co.
