Dave Knows Portland

Revolution: DB Cooper (22 November 2014)

by Leave a Comment

Revolution DB Cooper (2014)For the fourth year in a row, the geeked out history folks at Kick Ass Oregon History give us the straight shit on the NW’s most famous hijacker. Revolution: DB Cooper takes place Saturday, 22 November 2014 at Turn! Turn! Turn! (8 NE Killingsworth).

Revolution: DB Cooper is the exploration of the themes of counter-culture actions found in the DB Cooper caper, explorations conducted beyond a speaking of historical words. Ransom notes cobbled from Playboy magazines, clues in film and grooves from vinyl might be used to help shed light to this 43 year old case. Or might not in the least, either.

The evening includes a presentation by Resident Historian Doug Kenck-Crispin examining the D.B. Cooper case evidence in light of the themes of revolution, beating the system, and even Cascadia.

Film scholar Jeff Jaeckle will lead a hypothetical (and completely unsubstantiated) tour through the movies D.B. Cooper may have watched in 1971 to psych himself up for the heist of the century.

You won’t want to miss the raffle, and some Historical Interpretation. Through Vinyl.

DJs Hern Pong and Tommy Gunn have been digging through crates of crates to reconstruct possible radio sets from 1971. Cascadia Soul Alliance will be putting on their best drinking caps to sonically place you back in a time when AM was king, and 8-tracks were not a website but rather tangible objects. In doing so they are doing their part in attempting to help get inside the head of a person many fellow Cascadians desire to identify with.

Admission is only $6. Turn! Turn! Turn! is a small venue though, so buy tickets in advance if you can. Visit OrHistory.com for all the details.

Made in Oregon: 16mm Industrial Films from the Pacific Northwest (12 November 2014)

by Leave a Comment

Made in OregonThe Oregon Historical Society presents Made in Oregon, an evening of 16mm films produced by local area businesses on Wednesday 12, November 2014 at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd).

From the vaults of the Oregon Historical Society comes Primarily from the 1960s through the early 1980s, these films were created as public service announcements, training films and as plain old goofy advertisements. Learn why it might make sense to open an Organ Grinder franchise, how Son of Hibachi makes the party or why Homer Groening thinks we can make the world a better place. Some of the local institutions that will grace the big screen with their weirdness include: The Organ Grinder, The Oregon Zoo, Tektronix, Jantzen Swimwear, Blitz Beer and more.

The screening begins at 7:30 PM, admission is $8. Advance tickets are available.

“The Wake of Vanport” Premier Screening (15 November 2014)

by Leave a Comment

Photos from The Sunday Oregonian, 13 December 1942

The Wake of Vanport, multimedia works produced by the 2014 Vanport Multimedia Project, will be publicly screened for the first time at 2 PM Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church (3138 N Vancouver Ave).

“The Wake of Vanport” honors the death of a city and the viewing of its history through the collection of Vanport stories told by the voices of those who lived there. It is also a celebration of life after loss. Vanport is a lost city of Oregon with a rich history for all Oregonians.

Discussions with the survivors and producers will follow the presentation, which is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

The Vanport Multimedia Project is a production of the North Portland Multimedia Training Center (NPMTC), which aims to to collect and archive oral history from individuals in the Portland African American community.

Stumptown Stories Celebrates Thanksgiving (10 November 2014)

by Leave a Comment

Stumptown Stories Celebrates Thanksgiving, the latest installment of the long running Stumptown Stories series takes place on Monday, November 10, 2014 at the Sellwood Public House (8132 SE 13th).

Presenters include Finn JD John, who will tell us about how Sylvester Pennoyer, Oregon’s nuttiest governor ever, became the Father of Thanksgiving — sort of and author JB Fisher who will tell us everything we want to know about P.L. Menefee, Oregon’s Turkey King. Joe Streckert (writer, podcaster, history nerd) will MC.

Doors open at 7 PM. This event is free! The Sellwood Pub offers great beer, a full bar, and tots! Sellwood Pub is 21 and over only.

D.B. Cooper 101 (19 November 2013)

by Leave a Comment

DB Cooper 101Join Kick Ass Oregon History‘s Ribald Resident Historian Doug Kenck-Crispin on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the Jack London bar (basement of the Rialto, SW 4th and Alder) for D.B. Cooper 101.

Get the Straight Shit on the only unsolved skyjacking in US aviation history at “DB Cooper 101″ … The Resident Historian will give you the who, what, where, when and how (maybe not the why . . .), and discuss some of the leading suspects in the case. In addition, we will watch a little film about 727s and some of the strange things they did over “Indochina” in the late 1960s, and maybe some other, as yet to be unnamed, film too! It will be a night for those who ask “Who is this DB Cooper guy?” to the self styled Cooper Sleuth, who knows most of the details by now (This is a pretty complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you’s.). AND we will have a Trivia Contest, with the winner receiving TWO tickets to the Washington State History Museum, which includes admission to their amazing COOPER exhibit! Hmmm . . . let’s see . . . “What drink special will the JLB run that night . . .???” So come on down and join us – you won’t want to miss this one!

21 and over only, the investigation begins at 7:30 p.m.

Visit OrHistory.com for more DB Cooper Month events and activities.