Elsinore Theatre

Opened on May 28, 1926 on the site of a former livery stable in downtown Salem, Oregon, the Elsinore Theatre was built in a style inspired by European castles, with a Gothic "nave and aisle" foyer design that the theatre describes as unique among theatres. It debuted as a silent film and vaudeville house, with an opening night screening of Cecil B. DeMille's "The Volga Boatman" accompanied by a Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. Over the decades the theatre's stage has hosted performers including Clark Gable, Ethel Barrymore, Harry Lauder, the John Philip Sousa Marine Band, Gregory Peck, and Itzhak Perlman. After falling into disrepair as a second-run movie house through the 1950s-70s, the Elsinore was revived by a preservation committee in the 1980s, converted into a performing arts venue in 1993, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. A $3.4 million "Return to Grandeur" restoration was completed in 2004, and the theatre celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. Today the Elsinore Theatre operates as a live event venue in the heart of downtown Salem, programming live music, comedy, dance, and holiday shows across genres, with restaurants within walking distance of the building.