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The Academy Theater

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7818 SE Stark St (at Southeast 78th Avenue)
Portland, OR 97215

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(503) 821-7849
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The Academy Theater - Portland, OR
The Academy Theater - Portland, OR
The Academy Theater - Portland, OR
The Academy Theater - Portland, OR
The Academy Theater - Portland, OR
Reviews
( 48 )
( 5 )
( 1 )
( 1 )
( 0 )

Best

This place is adorable- its blue lights jump out at you while you drive down Stark. The theatres are small, and the prices are more than reasonable- recently went up to $4. The mo...

Worst

We enjoy the Academy Theater for our cheep movies & beer but the last 3 visits we have noticed how unwanted our business is. The staff seems very annoyed that we are there, and t...

Really friendly people, My kids LOVE the babysitters 8/14/2006

This is a great place, the food is great, the prices are great but most importantly the babysitting is such an awesome offering. We are new to the area and don't have a babysitter yet. We have brought the kids here twice and they didn't want to leave either time. They had a different sitter both times and loved them both. If you are unsure of the quality childcare you would receive at a movie theatre, worry not. It will save you more money than if you had to pay someone to come to your house. It's really a great idea, I wish other places offered babysitting. more
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Still smells new! 7/25/2006

The space is lovely, the price is right, the food is good, the beer is cold, more
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Great Experience 7/20/2006

Beautiful theater, Great pizza and beer, Wonderful childcare area and attendant. When we picked up the kids after a 2 hour movie, they still weren't bored with the playroom! The cost of a movie and childcare comes to about the same price as a first-run ticket elsewhere, and there you can't get beer and Flying Pie pizza. Pros: proce, pizza, beer Cons: not the best movie selection more
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Love this theater! 7/20/2006

I love the price, and the small town feel of the Academy Theatre. We haven't used the child care yet, but the fact that they have it is very attractive. And it's just a family atmosphere in general -- for instance, when we were there the other day, the manager was carrying his child in a backpack! I love people who bring their kids to work. Pros: Price, location, ambience Cons: smaller screens, not-quite first run movies more
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Without a doubt the best movie pub in town! 7/13/2006

Thanks mainly to the local McMenamins chain, Portland has many pizza pubs to choose from. The Academy is the greatest of all of them. Beautifully renovated, this historic theater now offers $3 movies, pizza from Flying Pie (the best in town, conviently right next door) as well as a selection of beer, wine and standard theater food. They have awesome new seats that recline and have trays that go into the cupholders to hold all your food and drinks! Also, the sound is great- 100 times better than most "cheap" theaters. Personally, I'd rather see a movie here than anywhere else in Portland, and that includes first run theaters. Kudos to the Academy! Pros: Price, food, sound & picture quality Cons: None more
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Very Sweet 7/9/2006

Extremely friendly staff. cozy seats, nice atmosphere, good price. Pros: super nice staff, handy location, rocking pizza Cons: bland movie selection more
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Great price, great pizza and BABYSITTING!!!! 7/6/2006

I am from Oakland, California, and we have something similar. An independently owned theater that shows almost first run movies, serves pizza and allows little ones. But The Academy actually takes the kids for you and lets you watch the movie on your OWN!! The Parkway in Oakland just allows tiny tots into the theater. The Academy has taken a good idea, made it great and charges a very small fee. Plus the pizza is really good, the concession prices are really cheap and the people are nice. They also offer fresh fruit and other kid-friendly snacks for the little ones. I cannot recommend this place enough. The babysitting area is clean, well-stocked with a variety of age-appropriate toys and the sitter is also an owner and a mother herself. Go to The Academy, have a child-free movie, glass of wine and slice of great pizza, all while knowing your kid(s) is(are) safely in the same building having fun without you. Pros: Everything! Regualr prices cheaper than matinees at big theaters. Big, comfy seats! Cons: Nothing, really, except limited times for shows. more
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Elegent, inexpensive, wonderful 6/30/2006

Sometimes they run out of pizza--but that's because it's AWESOME. And when they do, they'll bring it to you. Better than Laurelhurst by FAR. Best Brew-n-view in the city, FWIW. Mellow, but grown up, and no Pizzacato pizza--this is the REAL THING. Lobby is nice, not crappy, and the management is wonderful. I'm blown away. Pros: Glam, mellow, comfortable Cons: Um... there must be some. more
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My home away from home, not really but I wish! 6/18/2006

This place is awesome! Beautiful decor, clean, cheap, great pizza & beer, healthy kid snacks, super friendly staff and most important (at least to me) childcare!! I've seen more movies in the last 2 months than I had the 3 years prior! I actually feel good about leaving my little in the playloft as the staff are so attentive, I have a hard time getting my little one to leave. Check this place out you won't be disappointed. Pros: Inexpensive, childcare, good food Cons: none more
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Perfect night out 6/7/2006

We went to The Academy and had a great experience. The atmosphere is beautiful, the theaters have great sound and visuals, plus they are extremely comfortable. The staff is exceptionally friendly and knowledgable, and not that it matters, but they are very attractive as well. The pizza from Flying Pie next door was delicious, and they have a varied selection of beer to fit any taste. All in all The Academy is a place I look forward to visiting again and again! Pros: beer, pizza, staff more
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Pleasantly surprised! 6/3/2006

My husband and I decided to check out the Academy Theater this afternoon. We both had a wonderful experience there. The tickets were inexpensive, the service was great, the food was delicious, the sound was good, the seats were extremely comfortable and the bathrooms were spotlessly clean. The screen could be a litte wider, but overall this is a great movie theater! Pros: great food, happy people, cleanliness more
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Great theater strongly recommended 6/1/2006

Out of all of the second run theaters in town, this is by far our favorite. The atmosphere is very nice. New chairs are both love seats and recline. Good movie selection and seems to have a fast rotation of movies. Great local beer selection, and flying pie pizza is awesome. Pros: Seats, Movie Rotation, Cost Cons: No pitchers more
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What a Find! 6/1/2006

These people have done it so much better than any other discount theater pub in the area. It's brand new. They only opened in March. The place is really nice on the inside, the movies are cheap, and the selection of movies and beer are great. They even have organic chocolate and other natural goodies. I love this place! They have free parking in the lot behind the theater which is nice because it's hard to find street parking. I don't have kids, but they offer babysitting too. Just step inside this place. It's in an up and coming neighborhood (Montavilla) so you may not be in the habit of going to this neighborhood...but just check it out. You'll be really surprised how nice it is to the eyes and the wallet. Pros: New comfy seats, Tray for everyseat, Parking Lot behind it more
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Wonderful visit. Very friendly employees. 5/28/2006

We had a wonderful experience seeing a movie tonight. It is great to see the return of a neighborhood theater. I look forward to many return visits and recommending friends and neighbors to support this new theater. It was great to see how busy the theater tonight. The atmosphere was what I remember from years ago when people went to a theater to watch a movie and respect those around them. Great experience. Pros: Price, Friendliness more
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Classy Upgrade to a neighborhood theater 5/27/2006

The Academy makes it a pleasure to attend films. Admission is a bargain and the food and beverage selections are a great option. The film selections are always interesting - a nice mix of art house and popular. The only thing that would be an improvement is finding parking immediately around the theater. But it isn't too hard to walk a few extra steps. Give it a try! Pros: Affordable, Comfortable, concessions Cons: parking more
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Awesome Experience - Highly Recommended 5/21/2006

What a great concept! Movies, beer, wine, pizza, sandwiches - all for cheap and all at the same time! Awesome! more
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The best little theatre in Portland 5/20/2006

I love it. It's clean and sooo 1940's and wonderful movies and wonderful peole. I love it. more
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holy smokes! 5/19/2006

fantastic place! very comfortable, good beers and food. they had to kick me out to make me leave. more
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Fabulous value at Academy Theater! 5/18/2006

The Academy Theater was recently reopened and given a beautifl facelift. This is not your ordinary 2nd run theater! Seats are far and away the most comfortable of any 2nd run theater in the city, in fact there is no theater anywhere in the city with seats as comfortable. Sound is awesome as well, and theaters are intimate so even on the smallest screen (of the three) vision is great. Pizza is available from next door's Flying Piue pizzeria, where they do not skimp on the toppings! Throw in the fact that they have babysitting, and for $3 a ticket, this is one of the best entertainment values the city has to offer. Go check it out! Pros: Inexpensive, Comfortable, Great concessions more
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Tres Bien Fait! 5/17/2006

What a refreshing change! From the moment we walked into The Academy Theater we were instantly taken with the fantastic restoration, fun atmosphere, great energy. Note: Very yummy food. Nice nod to family friendly fare and films as well. So nice to go somewhere an adult actually enjoys as much as their child! Equally cool sans bebe. Keep it coming! more
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Summer SALE!!!:
15% OFF all yearly plans
Use year15 at checkout. Expires 1/1/2021

Restored 1940s movie theater features re-released films inside 3 theaters with Dolby digital sound & stadium seating; baby-sitting available

Owner Message

  • Originally launched in 1948, the Academy Theater was a popular Montavilla destination until its closure in the 1970s. Over the following years, it fell into disrepair, but a full-scale $1m renovation was completed in 2006, including careful restoration of the glittering rounded lobby with its soaring, metallic two-story dome. Great attention was paid to every detail of the project. Using vintage photos from the original opening night, even the theater's signature marquee has been recreated to imbue the building with authentic 1940s charm.

    They also have babysitting for children 6mos to 7yrs! Call ahead and reserve.

Editorial

  • Restored 1940s movie theater features re-released films inside three theaters with Dolby digital sound and stadium seating; baby-sitting available

  • 7/6/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Vary
  • Payments: Master Card, American Express, Visa, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Montavilla, Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Program
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