1972 Portland, OR

1972 Portland, Oregon

[@lamarravery4094]

I wish I had filmed the downtown area back in the early 90s when I got a video camera. Downtown has changed so much since then. No more Meier and Frank's, no more Newberry's, or J.K. Gill stationary store. No more Waldenbooks. It makes me feel old.

[@randerson4383]

I remember all of that and cruising Broadway in my 1969 Z-28 Camaro. Not one homeless encampment, Portland was safe and beautiful.

[@julienielsen3746]

History. We didn't realize back then how nice it would be later onion we had filmed our cities back then to see how they changed. I'm from Salem. Grew up in Keizer. So many changes. I was 12 in 1972.

[@Cully97218]

Born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Born 1975 at Greeley Hospital. I miss my hometown. It was such a great place to be from until the mid to late 90’s. Then the outsiders with their known Oregonian perspectives moved in. I lived in the southwest and now Midwest for last 8 years. Last time I was there was 2015. I don’t miss the modern it Portland at all. I do miss Oregon though.

[@jordanr4744]

wow this is really cool. crazy how much the city’s changed

[@monkeyzrule4426]

I can recognize some buildings that I skate passed on my way to work... crazy

[@pearlmax]

The streets only ice over one every year or two, you can’t skate to work all that much..

[@monkeyzrule4426]

@@pearlmax ?? Wtf this PDX, OR it don’t freeze over much here lol

[@d.bcooper7819]

1:03 on the right is the two story parking garage that is now pioneer courthouse square

[@lamarravery4094]

Thanks, I don't remember what use to be there before Pioneer courthouse square. The square was built in 84 or 85, I believe. I've always known the square to be there. Remember Newberry's the 5 and 10 store? They finally closed that in 1992, and a Ross dress for less store stands in its place. My friend and I were in high school in 1990 and we use to go into Newberry's, it was like a portal into the past. So sad it's gone.

[@d.bcooper7819]

@@lamarravery4094 I do remember but I usually visited the Newberrys that was in the original Eastport Plaza Mall next to Tower Records.

[@metalslather]

@@d.bcooper7819 I still have records ( and cassettes ) that I bought at the Tower Records there. Been here since 75' our wonderful little city has gone to shit I'm afraid to say

[@ernestinewhite9632]

Back in the good old days of Portland.

[@4runner510]

Back when Portland was a cleaner city

[@jonbaker3728]

You didn't go downtown much in the 70's. It wasn't that welcoming.

[@brianochsner3632]

Thank you for the history video. I was born in 1980 in Milwaukie Oregon.

[@benjaminacosta2582]

that 70's, when Harbor Drive was Demolished!

[@laurentrobert4348]

Good morning ! I came across your video and I find it very touching. Over the years, I think you have a real historical treasure with this film. I am French and I'm writing a novel which takes place in Portland in the 70's. I am passionate about this decade that I unfortunately couldn't live and I am not far from selling my soul to the devil to live a single week of your youth at that time. Please can you answer several of my questions? Certain details would be useful for the writing of my book. - Do you remember the street or the neighborhood where the pawnshop Joe Levy was at 0:30 ? - Where is the revolving clock at 1:12? Is it still there? - The city buses that we see were red or orange? (because I have trouble distinguishing) If you can remember details like various places where young people liked to have fun or have a drink, don't hesitate to let me know ! Excuse me for asking so much of your memory but your testimony would be so enriching to me ... Thanks in advance MK Gehring.

[@Rosarium2007]

The original TriMet buses were orange and many were still used into the late 1980s / very early 1990s.

[@Rosarium2007]

The bail bondsmen Joe Levy appears in the video between what is now the old Multnomah County Courthouse and an office tower a block to the north. All the other buildings in the first bit are on the eastside of SW Fifth Avenue, and it is likely a bail bondsman’s office would be near the courthouse, so baring some film spicing I’d say Joe Levy was probably located on SW Fifth Avenue too, but probably on the west side of the street in a long gone building.

[@Rosarium2007]

Except the last few seconds of the video from one of the bridges it appears everything was Downtown with maybe a quick foray north of Burnside into Chinatown.

[@laurentrobert4348]

@@Rosarium2007 Dear Jan, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the informations you have given me. They will be very useful to me. May I ask you a personal question: did you live in Portland at that time? It will be in order to mention your name among those whom I would like to thank once the book is finished.

[@chrisbudai409]

The Tri-Met buses were orange and white

[@guignolfest]

Thank you @MKGehring!

[@dennisbenoist3385]

AW i didnt see Music Millinium in this video.

[@Gehringlady]

No, we were downtown. Music Millennium was on E Burnside where it still is today. At 2 minutes into this, you will see Longhair Music which was up on SW 9th between Taylor and Salmon.

[@lamarravery4094]

I didn't see Django's record store. Not sure if it was around in '72. I remember frequenting that establishment in the late '80s early '90s. It was so vintage back then. Just fun to go in and see the whole store. I think the last time I was there was 1999.

[@Gehringlady]

@@lamarravery4094 I believe Django Records didn’t open until 1973, a year after this video. Cool place.

[@dennisbenoist3385]

@@lamarravery4094 i was missing GI Joe's for a long time especially the one by delta park with the army fuel tanks sticking out of the ground. Last one to go was the one in lake oswego off of i-5, sad. Quility Pie and Der wiener schnitzel in N.W. part of town should have made it in there too. dad used to take us there in 73

[@lamarravery4094]

@@dennisbenoist3385 Yes, I miss G.I. Joe's, great store. We still have BI-mart, lol.

[@elizabethjondahl5729]

Wow. The year before I was born.

[@spoonkey]

Fucking old lady

[@belogio]

you could set this to music and you would have a pretty awesome indie music video

[@monkeyzrule4426]

I’ll credit you

[@KLEARSKITHEKREEPER]

Cool stuff

[@ryandouglass5131]

Hi, I'm creating a short video for a Portland non-profit radio station. Would it be ok if I used a few seconds of this footage in it?

[@Gehringlady]

Ryan Douglass Yes. Use as much as you’d like. I’d love it if you sent me a link to your finished project!

[@ryandouglass5131]

Thank you! Will do

[@moonbeam7702]

Who made this? The person who put it on KZbin?

[@Gehringlady]

Heather Cox Yes. I made it for a high school film class, way back when.

[@zagnit]

Wish it had sound...but very cool

[@pearlmax]

The was no sound in 1972

[@RemovedReality]

all these old head talking about how much better portland was back in the day talking out the ass. Portland was shit then and its about the same now.

[@nudnikjeff]

Jeez what kind of bullshit film is this¿