Page 2
February 6, 2019
Black
Business
Pioneer
Harvey Garnett, 82, Portland’s first
black theater owner, was the first per-
son to take out an advertisement when
the Portland Observer began publish-
ing in 1970. He was the proprietor of
then Alameda Cinema, now known as
the Alberta Rose Theatre.
Garnett, who is originally from
Waco, Texas and moved to Portland
photo by D anny p eterson /t he p ortlanD o bserver
Harvey “Mr. Alameda” Garnett, the first black movie theater owner in Portland, visits
the offices of the Portland Observer. The former owner of Alameda Cinema, now the
Alberta Rose, Garnett was also the first business owner to purchase advertising in the
Portland Observer in 1970, the black-owned newspaper’s first year of publication.
in 1945, ran Portland’s only African
American owned theater at the time.
In 1965, and co-owned by child-
hood friend Ron Leverett, the theater
screened second-run films, and later,
blaxploitation films like Shaft and Su-
perfly. In 1971, Garnett took full own-
ership of Alameda and screened the
now-classic In the Heat of the Night,
starring Sidney Poitier, as its first itera-
tion of a theater for new releases.
Garnett, who’s also known as “Mr.
Alameda,” was raised in a house near
present-day Legacy Emanuel Hospi-
tal on North Gantenbein Avenue and
told the Portland Observer he was also
the first African American to work for
Pepsi, in 1965. He also took ownership
of one of the few black-owned record
stores in town, Bop City, formerly lo-
cated on North Williams Avenue in
1968.
The
Week
in
Review
Police Faulted on Death
Rescue last
week
to
pause
en-
forcement of
new placard
warnings on
unreinforced
masonry
buildings un-
til further outreach by her office
is completed. Hardesty said she
wants to look at ways to better
support businesses and nonprof-
its in seismically upgrading their
buildings.
A new report by outside consul-
tants faulted Portland Police for
placing themselves in a dangerous
position with no available cover
when they shot and killed Quan-
ice Haynes, a 17-year-rold African
American burglary suspect two
years ago. The analysis said police
must strive to use cover, time and Vancouver to Build Army Ships
distance to their advantage when Portland shipbuilder Vigor In-
responding to potentially violent dustrial announced last week
that it will build a new class of
encounters.
Army landing craft ships in Van-
Mayor Targets Hate Groups
couver. As many as 36 of the
Citing a mor-
new vessels would be built over
al obligation
the next 10 years, eventually
to lead on the
adding 400 jobs and $1 billion
issue, Mayor
to the local economy, company
Ted Wheeler
officials said.
has put forth a
Employee Claims Retaliation
city ordinance
A black Multnomah County em-
condemning
ployee filed a $420,000 lawsuit
white suprem-
last week claiming the county
acy and alt
failed to foster a racially sensitive
right groups.
An hour and a half will be reserved workplace and that colleagues re-
for public testimony on Thursday, taliated against her after she com-
and then the council will vote on plained about a co-worker who
pinned up a “Blue Lives Matter”
whether to adopt the resolution.
flag in his office in 2017, an action
Masonry Placard Pause
seen as demeaning to the Black
City Commissioner Jo Ann Hard- Lives Movement for social jus-
esty directed Portland Fire and tice.
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e ditor :
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Office Manager/Classifieds:
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r ePorter /W eb e ditor :
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