425 NW Glisan

The “Tom Kat” Theatre

In the 1972 City Directory directory, John Tidyman operated at least three adult theaters in Old Town including the Old Chelsea on Northwest Fifth Avenue, the Tom Kat Theater on Northwest Glisan Street and the New Paris Theater on Southwest Third Avenue.

Prior was known as Beaver Hall – see Beaver Hall under Halls.

Per http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5148: Old Chelsea Tri Cinema 514 NW 5th Avenue,  Portland, OR 97209  The most notorious theater in Portland in the 1970s. It showed straight porn in cinemas 1 and 2 and gay porn in cinema 3. It was downtown in the sleaziest area of the city. Contributed by David DeCoteauAfter entering the theater, you were greeted by a regular theater; seats, a stage, and a screen. During the evening, male strippers would perform on stage and in the audience. Behind the screen was an orgy room that anyone could participate in.

Nickie/Nikkie was a drag queen who ran the Tom Kat and several events [fund raisers etc.] were held here as well. Nickie/Nikkie performed at Darcelle XV in plays see Darcelle XV plays. The ads below are from 1971-1979.

Ad to the left is from The Oregonian, August 12, 1972.

It is unclear when the building was torn down, but this photo taken in 2022 shows that the space is now a parking lot.