Hollywood Theatre, No. 3

A surprise addition, atop the marquee and barely visible to me as I sat on a bench in front of the theater, waiting for a friend so that we could go see "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." I've looked at a whole lot of other photos I've taken over the years of this marquee--the owl is not in any of them.

Whose eyes scare you the most? The one visible owl eye, all golden and huge? Or the deep-set, wide-opened eyes of that slightly smiling man's face behind the owl? Maybe it's the other man, in the blue circle with the with rim? He looks like he's been goosed by something--maybe the owl's sharp beak got to him before it "landed" on the edge.

The owl must be there to scare birds from landing on the edge of the marquee. However, even pre-owl, I cannot remember seeing evidence of birds on the marquee or on the sidewalk in front of the theater. What amazes me is that the small owl can be noticed by birds, considering the myriad details included in the colorful and ornate tower above the marquee. (More photos of it to come.)

I read online at the Oregon Historical Society's Web site, The Oregon History Project:
"The Hollywood was designed by the architectural firm of Bennes & Herzog of Portland. The style has been described as “Byzantine,” but is better characterized as Spanish Colonial Revival. It was constructed of poured concrete, but the entrance was topped by an elaborate tower of polychrome (colored) terra cotta with arched niches flanked by turned pillars. The two-story street side of the theater was capped by roof tiles that carried out the Spanish Colonial theme. Most theaters of this size were located in downtown areas, but the Hollywood was sited in a neighborhood shopping district that was well served by both streetcar and automobile."

It is very easy for me to get to the Hollywood on the 12 bus--it's just 20 blocks away from my street.

Hollywood Theatre, No. 2

Check yesterday's post for the first part of the story of how I became the proud owner of the movie poster for my favorite movie of 2012--The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Here's the man in the plaid shirt, with the window open, about to unpin the poster and take it back inside the lobby so that he can roll it up and then put a rubber band around it and hand it to me. I say, "Thank you, sir!"

I like the side story here--the lady gazing at the big, varying shades of red, plastic letters for the right ones to finish readying them to be placed up on the movie marquee. Can't you just see her brain running through the remaining letters and movie titles?

Hollywood Theatre, No. 1

Hollywood Theatre marquee the evening of September 6, 2012. In honor of probably my last time to see "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" in a theater. To tell you the truth, it was the third time I saw that fantabulous movie in a theater.

As I left the upstairs theater that night--the movie's last at the Hollywood--I wondered whether or not anyone had already begged to take home its poster hanging in the display window beside the front door. So, I quickly made my way down the curving, banked ramp and the few steps at the bottom, spied the poster still in the window, made a B-line for the cash register, and asked the guy there, "Whom should I beg for 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' poster in the window out front?"

He looked at me, looked out the front door, and replied, "See that man in the plaid shirt? He's the one." Within mere moments, that nice young man had listened to me beg, pulled the key from behind the register, unlocked the window, removed the poster, rolled it up, put a rubber band around it, handed it to me, and said, "I like knowing this is going to someone who really loves it!"

Not too many days later, my sons hung in on my closet door so that I can see it any ol' time I want. Hey, Lamont and Leland, I'll take a DVD of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" for my birthday!