The Esquire was originally built about 1892 as the Reliance Building, later Reliance Athletic Club; it was altered and became known as the American, was modernized in 1932 with new drapes and seats, and an Art Deco facade and reopened with a showing of “Forbidden,” staring Adolphe Menjou and Barbara Stanwyck. It became the Esquire August 31, 1939.
Closed by a (cigarette-caused) fire in the balcony June 28, 1940, the Esquire was repaired and reopened on August 30 that year with searchlights, Hollywood stars, and either (according to one historical document) “When the Daltons Rode” with Randolph Scott, or (according to an Oakland Tribune article) “When Tomorrow Comes” with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne, both of whom were reportedly among the stars at the reopening (possibly both films were shown that evening).
The Esquire was operated by Blumenfield Theatres, apparently for its entire run as a theater.
Again, according to Lee, the 4-Star seats a total of 249 people (not 365 as stated above, though that may have indeed been its seating capacity as a single-screen). Hate to nitpick like this but…
Nice touch of history from the Landmark website recommended by Lost Memory, but the site got one thing wrong—-the Albany was plexed at least five years prior to 1979 (I saw “Young Frankenstein” there in late 1974—-in the upstairs theater; meaning the theater was plexed no later than earlier that year).
According to signs beside the various theaters, Embarcadero Center Cinema seats a total of 953 people (which, come to think of it, comes rather close to the popularly-stated 1000).
Just noticed something—-in the second paragraph of the description, it says “Opened on October 36, 1928…” Obviously that should be “October 26, 1928(!).”
An issue of Architechural Digest (date uncertain, but probably late 1920’s-early 30’s [it was a page clipping]) listed the Fox Oakland’s (original) architect as Thomas W. Lamb. Possibly this was a confusion on the writer’s part, being that Lamb was the architect for San Francisco’s Fox (Weeks and Day are generally credited as the Fox Oakland’s architects, and A.A. Cantin as having done the 1935 renovation of the entrance and marquee), but the interior photos on the page were definitely of the Fox Oakland.
I passed the former Plaza over the weekend en route to an event in the area; the interior was in the midst of renovation, presumably for future retail, and the marquee was gone. The “Teatro” vertical was still there, but had been altered and modified (and still saying “Teatro;” possibly this is being incorporated into the new use, albeit in name only).
The UC, Gerald, was a much-loved (some would even say legendary) repertory house that opened June 30, 1917 and closed in 2001. It’s listed elsewhere in Cinema Treasures (which is a nice way of clarifying that the UC and the Berkeley were definitely not one and the same; the only things the two had in common were that they were in Downtown Berkeley [albeit on opposite ends], both were built in the same decade [the Berkeley being, despite its appearance, six years the elder], and most regrettably, both are now closed and, at least in the Berkeley’s case, gone forever.
The Rio opened as the Cory in 1913; among other names, it was called the Union prior to being named Rio on November 20, 1941. Later as the Toho Rio, it showed Japanese films, and after that became Metro II (after the nearby Metro Theater)in 1968; its last name was as the Mercury before closing in 1986.
Which sadly means that Act One & Two’s status should noe read “Closed.”
So, what was the Strand’s seating capacity—-1500 as stated by Joe Vogel, or 1400 according to the “Seats” listing above? Just wondering…
Central Cinema’s “Chain” should be listed as “Independent.”
The Esquire was originally built about 1892 as the Reliance Building, later Reliance Athletic Club; it was altered and became known as the American, was modernized in 1932 with new drapes and seats, and an Art Deco facade and reopened with a showing of “Forbidden,” staring Adolphe Menjou and Barbara Stanwyck. It became the Esquire August 31, 1939.
Closed by a (cigarette-caused) fire in the balcony June 28, 1940, the Esquire was repaired and reopened on August 30 that year with searchlights, Hollywood stars, and either (according to one historical document) “When the Daltons Rode” with Randolph Scott, or (according to an Oakland Tribune article) “When Tomorrow Comes” with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne, both of whom were reportedly among the stars at the reopening (possibly both films were shown that evening).
The Esquire was operated by Blumenfield Theatres, apparently for its entire run as a theater.
The Berkeley originally seated 1200 people prior to S. Charles Lee’s renovation, which brought down its saeting capacity to 779 as listed above.
The Campus Theatre was built in 1914.
Once more—-Orinda should be listed as a “Triplex” and its seating capacity adjusted to include that of the two additional cinemas.
Again, according to Lee, the 4-Star seats a total of 249 people (not 365 as stated above, though that may have indeed been its seating capacity as a single-screen). Hate to nitpick like this but…
Since WHEN has the 4-Star had a third screen? The Screens section should list “Twin” (as Frank Lee already pointed out), not “Triplex.”
The Kokusai opened as the Toho Theater July 31, 1971, changing its name to Kokusai a year later.
And something STILL must be done about that Landscape setting!!!!!
Nice touch of history from the Landmark website recommended by Lost Memory, but the site got one thing wrong—-the Albany was plexed at least five years prior to 1979 (I saw “Young Frankenstein” there in late 1974—-in the upstairs theater; meaning the theater was plexed no later than earlier that year).
According to signs beside the various theaters, Embarcadero Center Cinema seats a total of 953 people (which, come to think of it, comes rather close to the popularly-stated 1000).
One correction—-Embarcadero Center Cinema is on the top (Promenade, or third) level of One Embarcadero Center, not the ground level.
Hmmm…wonder what’ll happen to the Kabuki 8 and 1000 Van Ness?????
The UC was designed by Berkeley architect James W. Plachek.
Just noticed something—-in the second paragraph of the description, it says “Opened on October 36, 1928…” Obviously that should be “October 26, 1928(!).”
Uh, shouldn’t this theater’s status actually be “Closed” as a theater????
An issue of Architechural Digest (date uncertain, but probably late 1920’s-early 30’s [it was a page clipping]) listed the Fox Oakland’s (original) architect as Thomas W. Lamb. Possibly this was a confusion on the writer’s part, being that Lamb was the architect for San Francisco’s Fox (Weeks and Day are generally credited as the Fox Oakland’s architects, and A.A. Cantin as having done the 1935 renovation of the entrance and marquee), but the interior photos on the page were definitely of the Fox Oakland.
I passed the former Plaza over the weekend en route to an event in the area; the interior was in the midst of renovation, presumably for future retail, and the marquee was gone. The “Teatro” vertical was still there, but had been altered and modified (and still saying “Teatro;” possibly this is being incorporated into the new use, albeit in name only).
Whoever last updated this appears to have set it with Landscape rather than Portrait!!!!!
And we sail on and on to a police state…
The UC, Gerald, was a much-loved (some would even say legendary) repertory house that opened June 30, 1917 and closed in 2001. It’s listed elsewhere in Cinema Treasures (which is a nice way of clarifying that the UC and the Berkeley were definitely not one and the same; the only things the two had in common were that they were in Downtown Berkeley [albeit on opposite ends], both were built in the same decade [the Berkeley being, despite its appearance, six years the elder], and most regrettably, both are now closed and, at least in the Berkeley’s case, gone forever.
The Rio opened as the Cory in 1913; among other names, it was called the Union prior to being named Rio on November 20, 1941. Later as the Toho Rio, it showed Japanese films, and after that became Metro II (after the nearby Metro Theater)in 1968; its last name was as the Mercury before closing in 1986.
Update on my earlier post—-I happened to be in the area, got a look, and yep, the Surf is indeed (still) a church.