Hollywood Theatre Adding Beer and Wine Next Year

Add the Hollywood Theatre to the ranks of arthouses serving suds: The 1927 movie palace, run by the non-profit Film Action Oregon, has applied with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission for an alcohol license--and confirms that it will begin serving beer and wine with its independent films next year.

"I think [beer has] just become as standard as popcorn, particularly in Portland," says Film Action Oregon's new executive director Doug Whyte. "Customers expect a glass of beer or wine along with their movie."

The Hollywood Theatre is modeling its foray into brew viewing on Cinema 21, which added a three-keg tap in 2009. Like Cinema 21, the Hollywood Theatre shows first-run indie films, and hopes to obtain a similar exception to the OLCC's 21-and-up rules. "We want to be all-ages still," says Whyte.

The venue has recently been experimenting with serving Bridgeport ales on event licenses at Grindhouse Film Festival screenings and a few other night shows.

Theater pubs like the Laurelhurst and Academy theaters--and the many McMenamins venues--have flourished in Portland for two decades, showing second-run and repertory movies at discount prices, but only recently have first-run theaters begun a beer rush. The Hollywood joins Cinema 21, the Clinton Street Theater, Living Room Theaters, the St. Johns Twin Cinema & Pub and Vancouver's Cinetopia as first-run venues with beer among their concessions.