The Aladdin Theater began as Geller's Theatre, a vaudeville house in the late 20's playing host to the likes of Jack Benny. Through the middle decades of the century it served as a family movie emporium, and in the 70's and 80's it was a porn institution (the number one exhibitor of the X-rated classic Deep Throat). In late 1993 Steve Reischman and Sally Custer (then of promotions company Showman, Inc.) renovated the old hall into the shining light of Portland music venues.
The Aladdin Theater is a 620 capacity venue that has won numerous awards as Portland's favorite live music venue. From quiet "listening" shows such as RAY DAVIES (The Kinks) and LEO KOTTKE, to loud "rock-out" shows like SLEATER-KINNEY and BLONDE REDHEAD, the Aladdin has been likened to "music church" and has become a must-play venue on the way up for many of today's hottest acts. JEFF BUCKLEY, MACY GRAY, ERYKAH BADU, STEVE EARLE, PAULA COLE, BEN HARPER, DIDO, LUCINDA WILLIAMS, NELLY FURTADO, STRING CHEESE INCIDENT, NORAH JONES, BETH ORTON, KELLER WILLIAMS, RYAN ADAMS, POE, DIANA KRALL, GILLIAN WELCH and RUFUS WAINWRIGHT are just a few of the acts in recent years that have spring boarded from Aladdin into large theaters, amphitheatres, and arenas.
Acts that normally play larger concert halls have found the Aladdin to be a perfect situation for them to play in a more intimate environment: BRIAN WILSON (The Beach Boys), DAVID CROSBY (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young), RICHARD THOMPSON, JOHN HIATT, JOHN PRINE, BECK, EMMYLOU HARRIS, EVERCLEAR, ROGER HODGSON (Supertramp), TRAGICALLY HIP, NILS LOFGREN (Crazy Horse/E. Street Band), and INDIGO GIRLS.
And the Aladdin has become a home away from home for the finest acts in jazz, blues, world music, pop, bluegrass, roots and everything in between: MACEO PARKER, MARC COHN, SUZANNE VEGA, JOAN OSBORNE, DAVID GRISMAN QUINTET, BILLY BRAGG, PSYCHEDELIC FURS, J.J. CALE, PATTY GRIFFIN, HENRY ROLLINS, KARL DENSON'S TINY UNIVERSE, YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, JOHNNY WINTER, DAVID BROMBERG, PAT METHENY, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, CHICK COREA, MARIANNE FAITHFUL, ROBBEN FORD, WARREN ZEVON, JONATHA BROOKE, YOUSSOU N'DOUR, DAR WILLIAMS, LEON REDBONE, THE FLATLANDERS, FEMI KUTI, MIRIAM MAKEBA, RALPH STANLEY, DEL McCOURY BAND and NANCI GRIFFITH.
Former employee Mark Adler became the proud owner of The Aladdin in 2001 and is committed to keeping the Aladdin flame burning for many years to come with a dedication to remaining not only a place that artists love to play, but as a place that music fans come to listen.
---www.aladdin-theater.com
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