A Glimpse of Portland’s Past Hidden in Plain Sight

As you stroll past The Works Cafe and Temple Street Parking Garage on your way to the Nickelodeon Cinemas to take in another round of the Barbie movie, you may not notice an intriguing stone object lying nearby amidst a small patch of greenery. Here lies the Face of Mirth; a lone remnant of the Elm Theatre, brought down for a surface parking lot over 70 years ago.

Face of Mirth present day. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dummaniosa/4508185059/

The Elm Theatre opened September 25, 1916 with a silent film double feature. Looking at the photo below, taken in 1920, we can see the Face of Mirth acting as the keystone of the theatre’s arch.

Below is another shot of the Elm Theatre and an advertisement for the grand opening. Apparently there was not an agreement as to the correct spelling of “theater” as the ad’s spelling differs from the “theatre” spelling on the marquee.