Star Theater, Historic theater in Portland, United States
Star Theater is a theater building in downtown Portland, sitting at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Burnside Street, with seating for around 500 people. It operates today as a live music and performance venue, hosting concerts and a range of other events throughout the year.
The building opened in May 1911 as the Princess Theatre and was the first entertainment venue in downtown Portland built to meet newly established fire safety codes. Over the decades it changed its name and shifted from showing silent films to hosting a wider mix of live events.
The theater served as a hub for many types of live performance, from burlesque shows to concerts and theatrical productions. Today, the kinds of shows and how people use the space reflect its evolution from a simple movie house.
The Star Theater is in downtown Portland and easy to reach on foot from many central points in the city. It is worth checking the schedule in advance, as the programming changes often and covers a wide range of live formats.
Before changing hands in 2001, the building was owned by filmmaker Gus Van Sant, known for his work in independent cinema. That transfer of ownership brought a noticeable shift in the kinds of events the space began to host.
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