On Feb 24, 2004 the final version of the plan goes before the San Mateo Planning Commission.
On March 15, 2004 the proposal for the demolition of the Palm goes before the San Mateo City Council.
According to the Feb 11, 2004 meeting minutes, there are some weak voices proposing the Palm Theater be declared a historical building. Concerns about increased traffic and parking problems seem to be more important to local residents.
According to the 1/27/04 San Mateo Planning Department website “Public hearings for the planning application are anticipated in February 2004.”
I’m sure that potential profits behind the proposed housing complex will over-ride any concern about preserving a bit a local history. The theater is pretty rundown (inside and out) and is too off-the-beaten-path for a possible revival house rejuvenation. My guess â€" the developers will win and the Palm will be no more by Summer 2004.
I’ll try and get a photo for posting here. It has a nice green PALM neon sign outside and there are some very interesting etched-glass palm frond motif panels around the front entrance. The inside is pitch black, but I was able to make out some kind of bas-reliefs on the walls. I’m sure the movie projector is gone, since a video projector displays the xxx rated movies. It’s pretty seedy inside, but it’s still sad to see the place go.
San Francisco Chronicle article Wed Jan.7, 2004:
In part -
San Francisco’s Vogue Theater, one of the city’s last remaining single-screen movie houses, is on the market and will probably be sold to a local developer who plans to convert the one-story building into retail space or tear it down and build a mix of housing and retail on the Sacramento Street site.
…
The Vogue, which is currently showing “Cold Mountain,‘’ is one of a handful of venerable San Francisco neighborhood theaters being sold by the Regal Entertainment Group of Knoxville, Tenn., the nation’s biggest movie theater chain.
…
Another bid was recently submitted by a group of local investors who want to maintain the Vogue as a movie theater. The group includes San Francisco Giants vice president and general counsel Jack Bair and Alfonso Felder, the Giants' director of administration and president of the nonprofit San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation, which aims to save local theaters.
The Strand theater in Modesto opened in 1921, at a cost of $250,000. The theater had 1,800 seats, crystal chandeliers and murals in the lobby, rich carpets, a stage, orchestra pit, and a Wurlitzer pipe organ.
During its run, the Strand hosted silent films, vaudeville, plays, talkies, and community functions. Like so many of the downtown theaters, it slowly grew old and seedy. In 1971, the fire marshal closed the Strand. In 1984, talk of restoration ended when a fire closed the Strand for good.
Overzealous urban renewal leveled most of downtown Modesto, including both the Stand and the nearby Covell theater. Currently, there is a brand new Brenden Theatre18 where the Strand used to stand.
Update on proposed Palm Theater demolition.
On Feb 24, 2004 the final version of the plan goes before the San Mateo Planning Commission.
On March 15, 2004 the proposal for the demolition of the Palm goes before the San Mateo City Council.
According to the Feb 11, 2004 meeting minutes, there are some weak voices proposing the Palm Theater be declared a historical building. Concerns about increased traffic and parking problems seem to be more important to local residents.
According to the 1/27/04 San Mateo Planning Department website “Public hearings for the planning application are anticipated in February 2004.”
I’m sure that potential profits behind the proposed housing complex will over-ride any concern about preserving a bit a local history. The theater is pretty rundown (inside and out) and is too off-the-beaten-path for a possible revival house rejuvenation. My guess â€" the developers will win and the Palm will be no more by Summer 2004.
I’ll try and get a photo for posting here. It has a nice green PALM neon sign outside and there are some very interesting etched-glass palm frond motif panels around the front entrance. The inside is pitch black, but I was able to make out some kind of bas-reliefs on the walls. I’m sure the movie projector is gone, since a video projector displays the xxx rated movies. It’s pretty seedy inside, but it’s still sad to see the place go.
San Francisco Chronicle article Wed Jan.7, 2004:
In part -
San Francisco’s Vogue Theater, one of the city’s last remaining single-screen movie houses, is on the market and will probably be sold to a local developer who plans to convert the one-story building into retail space or tear it down and build a mix of housing and retail on the Sacramento Street site.
…
The Vogue, which is currently showing “Cold Mountain,‘’ is one of a handful of venerable San Francisco neighborhood theaters being sold by the Regal Entertainment Group of Knoxville, Tenn., the nation’s biggest movie theater chain.
…
Another bid was recently submitted by a group of local investors who want to maintain the Vogue as a movie theater. The group includes San Francisco Giants vice president and general counsel Jack Bair and Alfonso Felder, the Giants' director of administration and president of the nonprofit San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation, which aims to save local theaters.
The Strand theater in Modesto opened in 1921, at a cost of $250,000. The theater had 1,800 seats, crystal chandeliers and murals in the lobby, rich carpets, a stage, orchestra pit, and a Wurlitzer pipe organ.
During its run, the Strand hosted silent films, vaudeville, plays, talkies, and community functions. Like so many of the downtown theaters, it slowly grew old and seedy. In 1971, the fire marshal closed the Strand. In 1984, talk of restoration ended when a fire closed the Strand for good.
Overzealous urban renewal leveled most of downtown Modesto, including both the Stand and the nearby Covell theater. Currently, there is a brand new Brenden Theatre18 where the Strand used to stand.