Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, Alabama played a an important part in the American Civil War, especially in the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Today it still looks out over the bay, but only serves as a reminder of history.

Ft. Gaines 300x225 Fort Gaines, Alabama Picture Photo

Ft. Gaines02 300x225 Fort Gaines, Alabama Picture Photo

Ft. Gaines03 300x225 Fort Gaines, Alabama Picture Photo

Ft. Gaines04 300x225 Fort Gaines, Alabama Picture Photo

On the same trip in Orlando Florida. Epcot Center!

Across the lake
Epcot Lake 300x225 Disneys Epcot Travel Pictures Picture Photo

Spaceship Earth
Planet Earth 300x225 Disneys Epcot Travel Pictures Picture Photo

And St. George killing the dragon
St. George 300x225 Disneys Epcot Travel Pictures Picture Photo

March, 2012 – In Orlando Florida again. Hit Disney World/Magic Kingdom up. Again. Not quite as artistic this time.

Big Thunder Mountain across from Tom Sawyer’s Island
Big Thunder Mountain 300x225 Disney Magic Kingdom, Orlando Florida Pictures Picture Photo

Cinderella’s Castle, with dancing going on in front!
Castle Dance 300x225 Disney Magic Kingdom, Orlando Florida Pictures Picture Photo

A random sign.
Do Not Bump 300x225 Disney Magic Kingdom, Orlando Florida Pictures Picture Photo

Topiary Mickey and Minnie
Mickey and Minnie 300x225 Disney Magic Kingdom, Orlando Florida Pictures Picture Photo

And the People Mover. Quite possibly still my favorite ride at Disney. Still rather upset that it’s shut down totally in Anaheim.
People Mover 300x225 Disney Magic Kingdom, Orlando Florida Pictures Picture Photo

The Clinton Street Theater in Portland, Oregon has been home to a Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast since 1978. But it’s history and unique place in Cinema Theater goes further back then that, making it the oldest continually operating theater west of the Mississippi.

Built at 808 1/2 Clinton Street in 1914, “The Clinton” was a Craftsman style theater that opened in 1915. Ed Soderstrom was manager of the brand new theater.

“Trouble” and general mischievousness started early at the Clinton. On February 1st, 1917 two boys, Charles Cain and Irvin Campbell were arrested for firing “torpedoes” during a dramatic Pistol Duel on screen at the theater. The realism of the boy’s toys made the crowd jump and several women scream. Keep in mind that this was the era of the “Silent Movie,” and such noises during the scene were unexpected to say the least.

Clinton 1 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

The boys were forced to make public apologies at the theater two nights in a row, and Mr. Soderstom promised to widely advertise the event.

On November 9th 1919, the Morning Oregonian reports that E. J. Potter and T. L. Monteith had just recently returned from military service and were taking over operation of the theater after Mr. Soderstom had left Portland. The theater had been closed for a couple of months at that point. But this marked a turning in the Clinton’s history. Instead of playing just “big features” (known as Full Feature Films today) they would also be playing “serials,” which are more like modern TV shows. A new episode came out every week and audiences would line up to catch their favorite series.

clinton2 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

Like all businesses, the Clinton had to keep up with the times and competitors. In November 1919, E.J. Potter gave away free turkeys (no word if they were alive or already butchered,) during Thanksgiving week. He also held free shows for kids and discovered that there were more grown-ups in the audience when the shows were free.

clinton3 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

The Great Radium Mystery also opened at the Clinton that Friday to great success.

A few years later, The Clinton participates in the Paramount Week Celebration, during the second week of September 1925.

clinton4 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

Just over a year later on November 26th, 1926, minor tragedy strikes as the cashier, Mrs. Pearl Potter is held at gun point and robbed of $90 while counting receipts at the theater.

clinton5 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

Despite the best efforts of four Portland Police Inspectors, the culprit is never found.

October 9th, 1927, Always on the forefront of bringing the newest in entertainment to the masses, the Clinton Theater enters the world of Vaudeville. Just call Mabel up and have her patch you into the theater up at SE 1178 if you’re interested.

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Only a month later, and proving that everything goes in circles once again, students of a Mrs. Fred L. Olson, put on shows at the Clinton in late November 1927. No word on how rowdy the show got or if anyone threw anything though.

Clinton7 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

No word on who De Pinto was, but “his” theater was playing “Messalina,” one of the greatest European Films shown, even in New York, on February 5th, 1928.

clinton8 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo
clinton9 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

De Pinto continued to advertise other films through out the rest of the month, including “The Better ‘Ole,” “Monte Cristo,” staring John Gilbert, John Barrymore’s (Drew Barrymore’s grandfather,) “Don Juan,” Victor Hugo’s master piece “Les Miserables,” and the somewhat racist, “The Chinese Parrot.” One must wonder if these masterpieces still lay forgotten in the theater or if they have been destroyed.

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Italian Tenor, Signore Emilio Staine was engaged to provide a prologue to Monte Cristo. Unfortunately Staine seems to have faded into obscurity soon afterwards.

April 17th, 1928, we read the exciting news that a bomb is found at the Clinton Theater! Luckily it was a false alarm. The “bomb” turned out to be a box installed by the P. E. P. Company (fore runner of Portland General Electric.)
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During the “Great Renumbering” of September 2, 1931, where all streets in Portland were renumbered to allow more houses per a block (increased from twenty to one hundred,) the Clinton Street Theater officially “moves” to it’s present address of 2522 SE Clinton Street, Portland, OR. The old address continues to be used for many more years though.

For some reason the pay phones at the Clinton Theater are disconnected in Feburary of 1933. The matter goes to court for $6000 in damages, and $1000 in attorney fees.

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By Christmas 1940, a Hugh F. McKee seems to be manager of the Clinton. He later reports a theft of $23 from the box office on March 23, 1943.

clinton13 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

Tragedy hits the Theater again, this time a fire in one of the upstairs apartments. The September 22nd, 1941 Oregonian reports that the fire was caused by a back fire from an oil burner in the building’s central heating plant. Damages to the theater amount to $750.

clinton16 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo
clinton15 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

By 1943, the Theater has been renamed to the 26th Avenue Theatre. Although it continues to be known as the Clinton though for several more years in various publications.

The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hurner who live only a few blocks away also manage the 26th Avenue Theater.

clinton19 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

Unfortunately, another fire causes $9500 worth of damage to the building, including smoke damage to the 26th Avenue Theater.

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January 7th, 1954 sees the Theater till robbed again (referred to as the Clinton.) This time of $35. The boy, who already has a record, turns himself in an hour later directly to the new manager Glen Himmel.

clinton17 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

clinton21 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo
Start of another tradition at the Clinton.

The theater reopens February 2nd, 1969 as the Encore, joining five other theaters in Portland as a location for art and foreign films. But there are no advertisements of any movies playing at the theater between late 1969 and early 1975.

During this time it was running porn movies, and the Clinton Neighborhood wasn’t the best of areas.

By November 26th, 1975, the theater had reopened as the Clinton Street Theater again. A group of six, aged 23-30 were continuing the tradition of the theater’s art house days, and also as a dollar theater.

clinton18 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

By 1977 the theater was playing host to bands such as the Multnomah Rhythm Ensemble, photos and poetry about Guatemala by Zoe Best, and played movies benefits for various charities.

In April 1978, the first Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast played at the Clinton, and it’s been down hill since then. The show had already been playing for quite some time at the Clinton, but the exact date is unknown at this time. Keep in mind that Rocky Horror first opened in theaters August 14, 1975.

Interesting enough, in 1979, Rocky Horror Picture Show was already keeping the theater alive as the primary source of revenue.

clinton22 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

During the next several decades, the Clinton Street Theater continued to put on benefits, Poetry readings, concerts, Photography exhibits, concerts, documentaries, and rare and unusual films.

And of course, the weirdness that is Rocky Horror Picture Show as this article from October 5, 1987 shows.

clinton23 History of the Clinton Street Theater Picture Photo

From 1999 to 2002, Film Archivist, Dennis Nyback owned the Clinton Street Theater. Many interesting movies were shown during Mr. Nyback’s time and the theater resurged in popularity with Rocky Horror Picture show again at the fore front.

The theater is now owned by Seth and Nicola Sonstein who purchased it in the Fall of 2003.

Over the years the Clinton Street Theater has played host to celebrities such as Chuck Pahlhinuk, Tom Potter, John Waters, Lloyd Kaufman (owner of Troma Entertainment,) and Gus Van Sant.

During my recent trip to Atlanta, I found myself with several hours to kill before my flight. So I decided to stop by the Zoo. This ended up being a pretty good choice as I ended up having almost the entire zoo to myself. It was early morning, but there was some sort of kid’s program going on. All the children were down at the other end of the Zoo and I was able to get some up close shots while the animals were just starting to wake up and become active.

Flamingos 1024x768 At the Atlanta Zoo Picture Photo

Komodo Dragon 1024x768 At the Atlanta Zoo Picture Photo

Panda 1024x768 At the Atlanta Zoo Picture Photo

Red Panda 1024x768 At the Atlanta Zoo Picture Photo

This morning I get a SPAM email from olena@bid-high-therank.com

The email reads:

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Here’s what their website looks like:

high rank 300x225 Website Design SPAM Picture Photo

That’s right, their site is totally blank. My website is obviously really terrible if a web design company with a blank website thinks they can make mine better.

your room is a window onto your sou 300x199 Awesome Bedroom Setup Picture Photo

Wouldn’t you like this in your house?

Taken in July 1968. Not sure of the location, although it was in with a collection of slides from British Columbia.

img757 300x239 35mm Slide   Couple on Beach Picture Photo

Drop in Time 300x225 Drop in Time Picture Photo

One of the really nice things about Philadelphia is the sheer amount of Public Art scattered all over the city.

This is a statue of Revolutionary era General Tadeusz Kosciuszko from Poland
General Tadeusz Kosciuszko 300x225 Art in Philadelphia Picture Photo

This statue commemorates General Washington. A couple of the smaller statues are below.

Washington Monument 300x225 Art in Philadelphia Picture Photo

Buffalo 300x225 Art in Philadelphia Picture Photo

Elk Statue 300x225 Art in Philadelphia Picture Photo

Art Museum 300x225 Art in Philadelphia Picture Photo

Umbrealla Man 300x225 Art in Philadelphia Picture Photo
We have this same statue in Portland too.

Love Sign 300x225 Art in Philadelphia Picture Photo