The Clinton Street Theater

What The Clinton Street Theater does

The Clinton Street Theater is an independent single-screen cinema and live-event venue operating at 2522 SE Clinton Street in Portland, Oregon since 1915. The venue is best known for running continuous weekly screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Saturday since April 1978 — over 48 years of unbroken programming supported by the resident Clinton Street Cabaret shadow-cast troupe — making it one of the longest-running cult film engagements globally. Beyond Rocky Horror, the theater operates a portfolio of curated screening series (Church of Film, Surrealist May, Hanabi, Pride) and hosts multiple annual film festivals including Queer Screams, Hanabi Japanese Film Festival, Filmed by Bike, Manhattan Short, and the PDX 48 Hour Film Project.

The underlying technology stack is conventional cinema infrastructure: standard digital screening plus a differentiated 16mm film projection capability that enables rare-format and archival programming. The venue is wheelchair accessible but does not have ADA-compliant restrooms. Ticketing runs through a Square-powered primary site (cstpdxtickets.square.site) with supplementary distribution on Eventbrite, TicketTomato, and Cult of Shows, plus an in-person box office and Google/iCal/Outlook calendar integrations for audience discovery.

The business model is event-driven ticket sales (typically $10 per standard screening, $10–$12 for Rocky Horror, $25–$40 for premium events and podcast tapings) supplemented by private event rentals for parties and corporate functions and a free email newsletter used primarily for marketing. Customer segments are local Portland film enthusiasts, LGBTQ+ patrons, and live-event attendees (drag shows, podcast recordings, variety performances). The BIPOC Affinity Tickets program offers free admission for underrepresented community members to Clinton Street Cabaret performances, with $2 per ticket contributed back to the Cabaret. Ownership is private with no disclosed parent company, funding rounds, or institutional investors.

Name

The Clinton Street Theater

Legal name

Clinton Street Theater

Website

https://cstpdx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Clinton Street Theater is a single-screen independent cinema and live-event venue in Portland, Oregon, hosting weekly Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings since 1978 alongside cult film series, annual film festivals, drag shows, and podcast tapings for local film enthusiasts and the LGBTQ+ community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Cinema

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADAKAB

Independent & Art-house Cinemas

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

SECONDARYMPADAKAJ

Private Screenings & Venue Rentals (Corporate, Parties)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

SECONDARYMPADAKAE

Special Event Screenings & Pop-up Cinemas

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

SECONDARYMPADAKAG

Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

SECONDARYTHAHAAAG

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Conference & Convention Venues (Convention Centers, Civic Centers)

Keywords

• Independent movie theater
• Cult film screenings
• Art house cinema
• Live event venue
• Film festival hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The primary revenue stream comes from ticket sales for film screenings, live performances, and special events. Ticket prices range from $10-40 depending on the event, with some events offering VIP and general admission tiers.
2. Private Event Rentals: The theater offers private event rentals for corporate events, private parties, and special occasions, providing an additional revenue stream.
3. Newsletter Subscription: Email newsletter subscription for event updates and announcements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Clinton Street Theater operates as a single-screen independent cinema and community event venue in Portland, Oregon, screening cult classics, international art-house films, and LGBTQ+ programming while hosting live events such as drag shows, podcast recordings, comedy performances, and film festivals. The theater sells individual event tickets and rents its space for private screenings, corporate functions, and parties.

Product overview

The Clinton Street Theater is an independent movie theater and community space in Portland, Oregon, offering a diverse portfolio of film screenings and live events. The venue operates multiple ongoing screening series (The Rocky Horror Picture Show since 1978, Church of Film, and seasonal programming), hosts annual film festivals (Queer Screams, Hanabi Japanese Film Festival, Filmed by Bike), and provides private event rentals. The theater also supports resident performance troupes and community partners through venue access and curated programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Weekly Screening Series) Weekly cult film screenings that have been running since 1978, featuring audience participation, callbacks, props, and shadow cast performances by the Clinton Street Cabaret on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays of each month.
• Queer Screams Film Festival Annual LGBTQ+ horror film festival featuring international shorts, feature presentations, live drag performances, celebrity Q&As, and themed events like 70s Queer Prom.
• Hanabi Film Festival Annual Japanese film festival featuring classic and contemporary Japanese cinema with English subtitles, including new 4K restorations, West Coast premieres, and rare 16mm prints from the Nyback Archive/Astral Projections.
• Church of Film Series Curated ongoing series presenting international independent and art-house films, including Yugoslav New Wave, underground cinema, and rare restorations.
• Filmed by Bike Film Festival Portland-hosted edition of a touring film festival featuring the world's best bike movies, with multiple screening blocks and online Extended Play access.
• Twin Peaks Marathon Screenings Year-long celebration screening the complete Twin Peaks series on the big screen for the first time in history, featuring in-person special guest appearances and autograph signings.
• PDX 48 Hour Film Project Screening of short films created by Portland filmmakers in a 48-hour filmmaking competition, presented in multiple screening blocks.
• Private Event Rentals Rental of the theater space for private events including screenings, parties, and corporate functions.
• Podcast Live Tapings Hosting of live podcast recordings such as Wine & Crime Podcast, with VIP and general admission options for attendees.
• Melange: A Queer and P.O.C. Variety Show Monthly queer and people of color variety show featuring drag performances, hosted acts, and special ceremonies.
• Manhattan Short Film Festival Global short film festival with simultaneous screenings at 500+ venues worldwide, featuring audience voting for Best Film and Best Actor.
• Clinton Street Cabaret Performances Resident drag troupe performing shadow cast and theatrical elements at Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, with a BIPOC affinity ticket program offering free admission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Weekly Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings since April 1978
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Clinton Street CabaretcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 1978The Clinton Street Cabaret is a performing group that produces weekly shadow cast performances of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the theater. The partnership began with weekly screenings in April 1978 and continues today on 1st, 3rd, and occasionally 5th Saturdays of each month. $2 from every ticket sold for Cabaret shows supports the group. They also offer BIPOC affinity tickets free of charge for their performances.
• Filmed By Bike Film FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Filmed By Bike Film Festival, a touring film festival featuring the world's best bike movies, is hosted at the Clinton Street Theater. The theater serves as the primary venue for this annual event in Portland, Oregon.
• Oregon Cartoon ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Oregon Cartoon Project (OCP), a nonprofit supporting comic artists, cartoonists, animators, and artists in Oregon and the greater PNW area, partners with the theater for events like CANDIDS: A Comic Reading. OCP's Anne Elizabeth Richardson Artist-In-Residence program residents present work at the theater.
• The Denton DelinquentsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Denton Delinquents is a performing group that provides shadowcast performances for special Rocky Horror Picture Show and Repo! The Genetic Opera screenings at the theater.
• Twin Peaks Fan CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe theater hosts year-long Twin Peaks screenings with special guest appearances (Sherilyn Fenn, James Marshall) for autograph signings and photo opportunities, engaging the dedicated Twin Peaks fan community.
• Church of FilmcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch of Film is a recurring film series at the theater featuring curated independent, international, and cult films, including Yugoslav New Wave cinema and rare screenings.
• Queer Screams Film FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Queer Screams Film Festival is an annual event featuring LGBTQ+ horror cinema, drag performances, and special guests (Bryan Fuller, Nancy Allen), hosted at the theater each August.
• Manhattan Short Film FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Manhattan Short film festival, which takes place simultaneously in over 500 venues globally, screens at the theater, allowing local audiences to vote on best film and actor.
• PDX 48 Hour Film ProjectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe PDX 48 Hour Film Project, a local filmmaking competition, screens participant films at the theater, showcasing Portland talent across four screening blocks.
• Hanabi Film FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Hanabi Film Festival is a series at the theater featuring Japanese cinema, including rare 16mm screenings and restored prints from the Nyback Archive/Astral Projections.
• Japanese American Museum of OregonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Japanese American Museum of Oregon co-presents events at the theater, including Kinstukuroi, with panel discussions featuring filmmakers.
• WeSPARK Cancer Support CenterminorOthersWeSPARK Cancer Support Center is the beneficiary of charity portions of ticket sales from the Queer Screams 2026 Carrie screening event.
• Mothlight NWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMothlight NW, a filmmaker organization, presents rare 16mm screenings like Nathaniel Dorsky's Hours For Jerome at the theater.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Landmark Theatres: National chain specializing in independent and arthouse film exhibition across multiple markets; broader incumbent competitor in the indie/repertory cinema space.
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: National dine-in cinema chain with a strong cult/independent programming identity and themed events; broader incumbent that competes for the same cult/arthouse audience at scale.

Direct peers

• Coolidge Corner Theatre: Nonprofit arthouse cinema in Brookline, MA known for repertory programming, festivals, and community engagement; strong model and operational peer for an independent art-house/community theater.
• Hollywood Theatre: Portland nonprofit independent cinema offering curated repertory, cult, and special event programming; closest direct geographic and model peer for the Clinton Street Theater.
• IFC Center: Independent Manhattan arthouse cinema specializing in independent, international, and repertory film with a strong events program; directly comparable mission and programming mix.
• McMenamins Bagdad Theater: Historic single-screen Portland theater operated by McMenamins, programming second-run and cult films alongside live events; same city and comparable historic single-screen indie model.
• Laurelhurst Theater: Portland's other iconic independent single-screen neighborhood theater, showing second-run, cult, and family programming; competes directly for the same local audience.
• Metrograph: Boutique Manhattan cinema presenting new restorations, repertory, international, and cult programming alongside a restaurant/bar; strong comparable for premium independent film exhibition.
• The Egyptian Theatre: Historic single-screen theater hosting independent, repertory, and special event programming in a preserved venue; comparable historic-venue independent cinema model.

Others

• Aron's Records & Rock 'n' Roll Used Books (off-topic): N/A - placeholder removed; not a peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cstpdx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Clinton Street Theater