Clinton Street Theater

Clinton Street Theater is a movie venue in southeast Portland with seating for around 300 people, showing independent films, documentaries, and special screenings throughout the week. The historic building houses multiple rooms designed for different types of film presentations and community gatherings.

The building opened as a cinema in 1915 and was renamed several times over the decades, operating as the 26th Avenue Theatre in 1945 and later as the Encore in 1969 before returning to its Clinton Street name. These name changes follow the shifts in the neighborhood and how the space served different communities over time.

The theater has hosted weekly screenings of Rocky Horror Picture Show since 1978, becoming a gathering place for Portland's film enthusiasts and independent cinema supporters. This recurring event defines much of how locals experience the venue and spend their evenings there.

The venue sits at the intersection of Clinton Street and 26th Avenue, making it easy to locate in the neighborhood. Parking can be tight in this area, so arriving early or using nearby street spots is worth planning for.

In 2022, the theater shifted to collective ownership with six co-owners who shape programming together and organize film festivals. This cooperative management approach is rare among commercial cinemas and influences how decisions are made about what to show.

Location: Portland

Inception: 1915

Official opening: 1915

Capacity: 300

Address: 2522 SE Clinton Street, Portland, OR 97202

Website: http://clintonsttheater.com

GPS coordinates: 45.50320,-122.64000

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:07