Elsinore Theatre
Elsinore Theatre
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
80 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
20
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Connie H
Salem, OR34 contributions
Sep 2014 • Family
It is totally restored and is absolutely gorgeous. Staffed for every occasion by the sweetest volunteers. Seating on the main floor is just OK - but the mezzanine seats are to die for! We attend performances and old time movies here several times a year. It is spectacular!!!
Written November 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr. Tim
Marana, AZ5,104 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
We go to the Elsinore Theater a few times a year for all kinds of shows. Might be ballet, rock n roll, country music, dancing, or just old classic movies. Last night was Neil Berg’s Rock 'N' Roll Decades which was absolutely amazing. Each musician/singer was world class and I feel very fortunate to see something worthy of Broadway in New York at our little historic theater in Salem. Thanks to Neil and his crew for choosing the Elsinore as the first place to debut his new show. At break time we talked to Charlotte one of the volunteers who is very nice and engaging. We always park right behind the theater for free and we go to Davincis next door for dinner. We love going to the Elsinore as it is a beautiful venue with reasonably priced events.
Written January 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stu C
Philomath, OR59 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
The people of Salem were smart to save this historic and beautiful venue. The inside is gorgeous. It is a pleasure to watch an old movie, plays or live music at The Elsinore. The seats are comfortable. There is good lighting and acoustics.
Written July 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
markers
Salem, Oregon164 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
Built in 1926, the Elsinore was -- and remains -- a delightful architectural wonder and a superb venue for a variety of entertainment events. After an early period which featured everything from silent movies to vaudeville acts to musical comedy, the theater fell into neglect and disrepair and by the early 1980s was almost demolished. Fortunately a grass roots movement saved the structure, and it was eventually lovingly restored to its previous grandeur. Built -- as its name suggests -- to resemble in a fanciful manner the Danish castle of Shakespeare's Prince Hamlet, the structure is rendered in a Tudor Gothic style. Today, this is most evident in the interior spaces, starting with the magnificent lobby, designed to resemble the great hall of a Gothic castle, flanked at both ends with 24-foot murals depicting scenes from Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth, with ornate sweeping staircases leading to the upper balconies. Inside the main hall, the intricate details of the walls, ceiling and stage arch are a marvel to behold. Needless to say, if attending an event at the Elsinore, it is well worth your while to arrive early and take in all this visual wonder. Many musical acts play the Elsinore -- I have seen everything from blues guitarist Joe Satriani to (just last night) Franz Haydn's oratorio The Creation -- and it is such a joy to experience music in this gorgeous environment. The acoustics are excellent, and though the seats are not the most comfortable and the spaces between rows too narrow, these minor annoyances are not enough to deter one from enjoying the opportunity to join the many thousands who over the years have enjoyed this wonderful space.
Written November 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda R
Salem, Oregon13 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
My husband and I took a friend and our 6 year old granddaughter to see "Popovich" at the Elsinore Theatre and it was absolutely the best show. Live animals including cats, dogs, goats, geese, doves, a parrot, and a miniature horse. All came from a rescue and were very well trained. The entire show was very entertaining and went by quickly. This person has shows in Las Vegas too at a much higher cost. Add all this to the fact that the Elsinore Theatre is a beautiful old building with much charm. I recommend it highly for not only this show but for all the productions they offer.
Written December 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kat-thryn
Portland Oregon27 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Watched the BBKing concert and staff were like police. I've never been to a concert where they were so distracting....! It's standard today for people to take a few casual shots of artists at concerts but the staff made a huge deal with a lady in front of me taking a shot on her phone and kept glaring at everyone in our section after that. It was unnerving and very distracting.
The theater is lovely the concert was good, but after paying so much for the tickets, it was a bit of a gut wrench to see the staff doing this and parading up and down telling people to stop taking photos.
I did not see anyone trying to record the show, but photos? Come on, that is what people do today.
I'll add that after the show, the band was still on the stage and although a number of people left about 50% of the audience was still there. BB King was hanging around with the band onstage still and the staff started going through the aisles picking up trash. A huge hint for us to leave....I mean the band was still facing the audience....! Anyway I had a empty aluminum can of filtered water and asked if I could put it in the trash can and the staff chastised me saying, "you are not allowed to bring any drinks up here except water, so remember that in the future" taking my can. I looked at her just as annoyed as she looked at me, and said, "why don't you look at the label? It IS water."
I'll spend my money in Corvallis or Portland next time. Salem, you're small town peanuts....!
The theater is lovely the concert was good, but after paying so much for the tickets, it was a bit of a gut wrench to see the staff doing this and parading up and down telling people to stop taking photos.
I did not see anyone trying to record the show, but photos? Come on, that is what people do today.
I'll add that after the show, the band was still on the stage and although a number of people left about 50% of the audience was still there. BB King was hanging around with the band onstage still and the staff started going through the aisles picking up trash. A huge hint for us to leave....I mean the band was still facing the audience....! Anyway I had a empty aluminum can of filtered water and asked if I could put it in the trash can and the staff chastised me saying, "you are not allowed to bring any drinks up here except water, so remember that in the future" taking my can. I looked at her just as annoyed as she looked at me, and said, "why don't you look at the label? It IS water."
I'll spend my money in Corvallis or Portland next time. Salem, you're small town peanuts....!
Written March 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cari C
Salem, OR2 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
We attended the Menopause Musical January 30, 2014. We were told these were good seats but the Center seats row C (last row) was even with row B and we could not see over Row B's heads. We missed some of the show and had to sit with the seat in the up position to make us taller. This was not comfortable. Even with the seat up, we still could not see everything. Another group sitting in same row moved to the outer seats just so they could see better. Although the seats themselves are comfortable, I would suggest DO Not sit in these seats. They cost the same as the seat on the ground level. I was very disappointed. Also, the Usher was an elderly lady who would not let you sit back down during the show if you had to get up and use the restroom. She made you wait until the show changed scenes. Not like you interrupting anyone going back to your seats. You did spend $60.00 on the ticket and it is Menopause, so if you have to pea the scene was all about have to go NOW. LOL
Written January 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eleanor M
Salem, OR23 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
We watched A Children's Nutcracker by American Ballet Academy. Our seats were on the mezzanine level. Every seat at this level has an amazing view and acoustics are excellent. The seats themselves are updated and are more roomy and comfortable than the building's original seats in the balcony level which are wooden and narrow. The stage and lobby are absolutely gorgeous. Remember to look up at the ceilings, and framing around the stage, there are awesome details that you don't want to miss.
Two drawbacks: the bathrooms are downstairs with no elevators for handicap access; at intermission cigarette smoke from outside the main entrance gets vented in to the downstairs lobby around the bathrooms. These are not big deals if you don't have to make your way downstairs.
If you have a chance to visit this historical building you will not be disappointed!
Two drawbacks: the bathrooms are downstairs with no elevators for handicap access; at intermission cigarette smoke from outside the main entrance gets vented in to the downstairs lobby around the bathrooms. These are not big deals if you don't have to make your way downstairs.
If you have a chance to visit this historical building you will not be disappointed!
Written December 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gunny75
Sheridan, OR81 contributions
Feb 2013 • Family
I have watched movies, attended film festivals, watched concerts, and listened to lectures at the Elsinore. The architecture and decorations are from a time long ago. They have showings of older movies on a regular basis.
Written April 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oregonyessir
Philomath, OR90 contributions
Oct 2019
A few years ago the powers that be, including many well heeled donors banded together to pump over three million into this place instead of razing it for parking. Amen..... It is a terrific venue for many different kinds of events. We have seen two huge musical acts, and sat Balcony first row, and mezzanine second row. The building is a treat. sound ditto. As impressed as we were, we signed up for one of the special guided tours they offer on Sundays. Ho boy. Five bucks to have an intimate and complete tour from the stage and dressing rooms to the tip top of the balcony, there is so much to see and appreciate in the updated restrooms and restored stain glass. Got for it.
Written October 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jilljohnson2017
Harrisburg, Oregon
Thinking about buying tickets to a concert there, what are the best seats?
Written March 22, 2017
stay far away from the balcony,wooden unpadded seats designed by the marqiux de sade
Written September 14, 2019
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