Portland Exhibitors Against Censorship
With the moving picture industry expanding at a rapid pace, film censorship was quickly growing as a potential threat for those involved in the industry. According to an article from The Sunday Oregonian in 1915, there was an opposition to film censorship by men of The Portland Press Club. The president of the club made the argument "if exhibitors in Portland show flagrant pictures, the public itself will be the censor". He continued to explain that if a picture is disliked by the public, it will fail and no longer be shown.
"Hypocrites"- Censor Boards and when Nudity is Acceptable
While doing research on the Grand theater in Bandon, Oregon, I came across an advertisement for a film titled Hypocrites. In the advertisement, it described how the film had been banned in Portland and across the country and that the film will easily offend those who are prudish.
The Birth of A Nation at the Heilig: Racism with Grand Promotion
The release of The Birth of A Nation (D.W. Griffith, 1915) around the country made big waves. D.W. Griffith and James Q.
Progressive, Effective Advertising!
On Saturday, July 26, 1926, an advertisement was posted in
Associated First National Pictures Branch Opens In Portland
According to The Sunday Oregonian, a Portland office for Associated First National Pictures opened, in the city, on November 1, 1920. This was big news for Portland theaters as Associated First National Pictures was a large nationwide film distributor, with famous stars attached to their films, such as Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford, meaning that Portland theaters will be able to get better pictures easier and faster.
Oaks Amusement Park: Set For a Film and Setting For Exhibition
Oaks Amusement Park, located on the Willamette River and near the present-day Sellwood Bridge, opened its gates for the first time on June 1st of 1905. The amusement park was a huge family place of amusement for their rides, live music, roller arena, picnicking and many other activities.