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We live a few blocks from this Portland icon. It's easy to give people directions to our house - "turn south at the Bagdad" - since anyone who knows their way around Portland knows where it is.

I think it's such an interesting building, the way it spreads out and up; I count at least ten different roof lines. I marvel at the architecture, from just about any angle.

The Bagdad is another of the jewels of the McMenamin brothers, who I blipped about awhile back. It was built in 1927 by Universal Pictures. "Few expenses were spared to create the eastside movie palace. Capitalized in part by the deep pockets of its parent company, Universal Pictures, the Bagdad was called 'a triumph of artistry and craftsmanship.' In 1927, it stood as the city's largest theater outside the downtown area. Beyond its size, patrons marveled at the theater's gurgling fountain and grand colonnade in its foyer, along with the Bagdad's Middle-Eastern decor, right down to the Arabian-styled uniforms worn by the usherettes. Even the conductor selected to lead the Bagdad's orchestra was a musician of great prominence, having studied under Tchaikovsky." Read more of the history here.

The McMenamins took ownership in 1991. The Bagdad is still a hopping establishment, with second run movies and art and indie films, speaker events, the occasional concert and political and sports broadcasts, plus two eateries/bars and a cigar lounge. It also houses a couple of other business tenants, and they rent out space for private functions.

My most interesting experience in the Bagdad was watching What the Bleep Do We Know? there, which featured a scene inside the Bagdad. If you know this movie, it was a bit of a rabbit hole moment! I also vaguely remember wandering around a dark upstairs backstage-sort of area late one night with some friends. I don't remember how we got there, but I'm pretty sure it was verboten!

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