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Favorite Classic Movie Theaters in the West

These old-school venues channel vintage Hollywood with glorious architecture and ice-cold cocktails.

Portland's Bagdad Theater & Pub interior during movie screening
Portland's Bagdad Theater & Pub.
Kathleen Nyberg / McMenamins

"A bright neon sign and a traditional box office front the Columbia Theatre in St. Helens, Oregon. This place is an absolute classic." —Dana Marble

"I love the Egyptian Theatre in downtown Boise. It shows crowdpleasing hits like Footloose and Top Gun, and audience participation is a must. The staff holds costume contests, and it's perfectly normal—and expected—for everyone to yell out their favorite lines from the movie." —Danielle Moats

"Years ago, locals raised funds on Kickstarter to restore the marquee of the Hollywood Theatre, a beautiful 1920s movie palace in northeast Portland. The Hollywood also opened a branch at the airport that screens short works by Oregon filmmakers." —Andrea Dobson

"We love the Sun Valley Opera House. The Idaho theater was built in 1937, and it hasn't lost an ounce of old-style charm. It sometimes screens the 1941 classic Sun Valley Serenade—free of charge. Even though we live nearby, it's still a treat to see a show here!" —Susie Lambert

"The Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto, Califonia, brings back childhood memories. After we watched the original Mary Poppins, we would walk down University Avenue to Baskin-Robbins for ice cream— 25 cents a scoop!" —Cindy Wright

"The single-screen theater in Albany, Oregon, the Pix, has lived many lives: as a stable, a store, and finally a movie house. There's a display of themed film memorabilia in the lobby; walking in, you feel like you're stepping back to the golden age of cinema." —Patty Evans

Editor's Pick: At Portland's Bagdad Theater & Pub, murals dot the lobby, where bartenders serve fresh-shaken martinis. Inside, velvet curtains cascade down the walls, and intricate lamps cast a warm glow over the house.

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