One of my favorite spots in Portland is the McMenamins Bagdad theater pub. You pay $3 to see a movie in an old theater that originally opened in 1927 AND while you watch the movie, you can drink the tasty McMenamins brews (I recommend the Terminator Stout or Hammerhead Ale), get food delivered to you, and sit in comfortable couches (2nd Floor). I got to see No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood in this theater. These were probably two of my favorite movie experiences ever, save Jurassic Park when I was young and The Lord of the Rings, not only because the movies were excellent, but also because the Bagdad experience is truly fun. In fact, McMenamin’s locations are usually great places to eat and drink. Some of my best experiences with friends, whether brainstorming art ideas or enjoying conversation, have occurred at various McMenamin’s locations.

The theater originally played films with live music conducted from the stage and it hosted vaudeville acts. The Oregon premier of “One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest” was screened here and Michael Douglass and Jack Nicholas both showed up for the event. That movie was, of course, filmed at the asylum in Salem, Oregon and is really a freaky place. Interestingly enough, before the opening of the Salem asylum, Portland had a renown insane asylum on the street that is now Hawthorne Boulevard. Hawthorne Blvd is the street on which the Bagdad Theater resides AND the asylum was just blocks from the building that houses the very first McMenamins pub – The Barley Mill Pub. That asylum no longer exists. (Thanks to the McMenamins magazine bulletin thing for that information).

McMenamins reopened the Bagdad in 1991 and it seems to be doing very well. It is certainly a beautiful building and a wonderful place to hang out for a few hours. If you don’t want to watch a movie, you can eat and drink in the restaurant area, which opens up into the sidewalks of Hawthorne Blvd. But that’s not all! McMenamins also opened Trump’s Hobbies and Backstage which are a part of the Bagdad building. At Trump’s Hobbies you can enjoy a small selection of cigars, hard liquor, and a small selection of McMenamins beer.

Backstage is a spectacular pool hall that is located directly behind the theater wall. I believe this is where performers would change or have props ready for the stage. There is still an original curtain backdrop from the 1940’s hanging on the wall.

As you can see from the below photos, Backstage is a beautiful space. There are also two smaller separate rooms with one pool table each if you need something a bit more secluded.