Thanks Steve for this fine photo. The Embassy Theatre had just been remodeled with new curtains and a great stereo surround system. Then the earthquake came and did some roof damage. This theatre could have been saved but the property owners tore It down fast almost overnight. Now It’s just a vacant lot. We need a good second run B grindhouse on Market ST these days. Bring back the Hub, Pix & Regal Theatres. The only cinema left on Market St is the semi new Cinemark Cinema 9 and they don’t even have a sign or marquee out front. The tourists have no idea a cinema is in the building at Powell & Market St. These old cinemas like the Embassy Theatre were proud to show you what they had playing on their marquee and poster cases. Thanks again for sharing the photo.
UA wrecked this nice theatre by installing a wall down the center. Now It has been returned to a big cinema downstairs and two small split theatres in the balcony. Check out this nice theatre next time you are in Santa Cruz CA. Thanks again rivest for the great memories.
Thanks Rivest for this old Santa Cruz ad. My family always went here in the summer months. They put in a nice size wide screen for CinemaScope® I think in 1954 or 1955. Thanks again
I wonder If they had a 70mm print or did they just use the roadshow ad? No reserved seats seems to let me think It was just a 35 mm showing in stereo on a big screen. Many theatres did this, they just ran the 70mm roadshow ad that said 70mm but they never had a 70mm set up. The public was fooled.
Robert** Why are you showing the same photo print 5 times???You waist space on this site by showing the same photo of a ad many times, once is all we need to see THANKS!
Thanks Bob for the video still frame photo. Yes they took the old Embassy down fast almost in the middle of the night. I think the roof earthquake repairs could have took place but the owners wanted a fast way out. Now many years later It’s just a empty lot next to the new ACT Strand Theatre. The Embassy had just had a small remodel done with curtains and stereo sound and was a great place to see second movies at a cheap price. SF has no bargain run B theatres now. It was a little seedy at times with all the street people but that is what made It fun like a old big grindhouse. Much larger then the next door Strand It had a nice size CinemaScope® screen, the huge balcony was never open much. You could hear the sound of wine bottles rolling down the aisles at most all shows plus many people from the street sleeping and snoring all the time. I had to wake up many people some of the times so I could enjoy the film better. The Embassy was the place to go to catch a film you missed and you had all the inside drama going on around you. Gone are these fun movie times in San Francisco CA.
Thanks Mike for posting. I’ll have to go down and take a look. Wow looks great can’t wait to see the old sign with the neon going!!!!!Lets hope the tag people don’t attack the sign.
Thanks John for the photo. Do you have any that show the big curved D-150 screen inside? The D-150 system that UA Theatres had was such a nice presentation.
These dome theatres are still open but ready to be demolished for a new mall and new theatres on the property in Sacramento. They were so nice till MR Syufy cut a few in half to make more money. You could hear all the sound from the other part of the dome. The seats also were not correct with the screen. He did this in Sacramento, San Jose, and Reno NV. The one Century 21 we hope will be saved is still in San Jose closed.
Thanks John for this great photo. UA Theatres tore this place down for $$ to build a Safeway store many years ago. If you go the property today the only thing that remains is part of the theatre outdoor fountain in the store parking lot. UA/Golden State/United CA Theatres had the nerve to book 35mm movies in mono sound most of the time and run a ad that said 70mm roadshow, this after the roadshows had played in SF in true 70mm stereo a few months before.
Thanks John & David for posting this classic old photo. So many of the Drive Inn’s in the early 50’s had this CinemaScope® semi curved add on built on the sides. Must have looked great on a scope print. I wonder If the ends looked in focus?
The small art theatre was in the basement and was run by Jack Tillmany for many years. The building is about to torn down for more condos. The entrance was from the little door in the middle of this photo. Thanks Bruce for all your SF photos from over 4 years ago. This small cinema used rear projection equipment.
This was the former'Forbidden City' Chinese night club in the 40’s thru the 60’s. Went porn till the 70’s. The building is now a Japanese place to eat. A great new book about all the Chinese night clubs in SF is now out called Forbidden City. The DVD has just been released on Blue Ray.
Former Music Hall art type cinema. I saw A W movie Bad in this place, almost across from the Larkin Theatre on Larkin ST in SF. The area is very seedy day or night.
I think this is the worst cinema still open in SF. Very tiny screens. Some people have a bigger screen in their home. They don’t even change the marquee on what is playing. Just keep the same thing up year after year. To lazy to climb a ladder. You will never hear any surround speakers on, they are placed a few here and there but not turned up. For new people trying to find the entrance good luck. No signage on how to get in. It’s way in the back left corner. They get good art films but I go to a better size theatre to see the DCP movies they are showing.
Thanks Steve for this fine photo. The Embassy Theatre had just been remodeled with new curtains and a great stereo surround system. Then the earthquake came and did some roof damage. This theatre could have been saved but the property owners tore It down fast almost overnight. Now It’s just a vacant lot. We need a good second run B grindhouse on Market ST these days. Bring back the Hub, Pix & Regal Theatres. The only cinema left on Market St is the semi new Cinemark Cinema 9 and they don’t even have a sign or marquee out front. The tourists have no idea a cinema is in the building at Powell & Market St. These old cinemas like the Embassy Theatre were proud to show you what they had playing on their marquee and poster cases. Thanks again for sharing the photo.
The new second screen on the right was way smaller then the giant wide screen at this Drive In with a new name.
UA wrecked this nice theatre by installing a wall down the center. Now It has been returned to a big cinema downstairs and two small split theatres in the balcony. Check out this nice theatre next time you are in Santa Cruz CA. Thanks again rivest for the great memories.
Thanks Rivest for this old Santa Cruz ad. My family always went here in the summer months. They put in a nice size wide screen for CinemaScope® I think in 1954 or 1955. Thanks again
Looks like a nice size theatre. Now closed because of the tragedy last night.
Does anyone know the date in Dec 1968 that the Fruitvale Theatre caught fire? Thanks
Thanks Cliff—Wow to see this film on the giant curved D-150 screen at this theatre must have been great!!!No more D-150 cinemas around these days.
No word If they were shown in 70mm ????
I wonder If they had a 70mm print or did they just use the roadshow ad? No reserved seats seems to let me think It was just a 35 mm showing in stereo on a big screen. Many theatres did this, they just ran the 70mm roadshow ad that said 70mm but they never had a 70mm set up. The public was fooled.
Robert** Why are you showing the same photo print 5 times???You waist space on this site by showing the same photo of a ad many times, once is all we need to see THANKS!
Thanks Bob for the video still frame photo. Yes they took the old Embassy down fast almost in the middle of the night. I think the roof earthquake repairs could have took place but the owners wanted a fast way out. Now many years later It’s just a empty lot next to the new ACT Strand Theatre. The Embassy had just had a small remodel done with curtains and stereo sound and was a great place to see second movies at a cheap price. SF has no bargain run B theatres now. It was a little seedy at times with all the street people but that is what made It fun like a old big grindhouse. Much larger then the next door Strand It had a nice size CinemaScope® screen, the huge balcony was never open much. You could hear the sound of wine bottles rolling down the aisles at most all shows plus many people from the street sleeping and snoring all the time. I had to wake up many people some of the times so I could enjoy the film better. The Embassy was the place to go to catch a film you missed and you had all the inside drama going on around you. Gone are these fun movie times in San Francisco CA.
Thanks for the info. Hope to go on a future THS Conclave. Stay COOL hope the AC is working in some of these great old theatres.
Thanks Mike for posting. I’ll have to go down and take a look. Wow looks great can’t wait to see the old sign with the neon going!!!!!Lets hope the tag people don’t attack the sign.
Since this photo was taken the New Mission will soon be open again. The new neon marque will light again in a few weeks.
Thanks John for the photo. Do you have any that show the big curved D-150 screen inside? The D-150 system that UA Theatres had was such a nice presentation.
These dome theatres are still open but ready to be demolished for a new mall and new theatres on the property in Sacramento. They were so nice till MR Syufy cut a few in half to make more money. You could hear all the sound from the other part of the dome. The seats also were not correct with the screen. He did this in Sacramento, San Jose, and Reno NV. The one Century 21 we hope will be saved is still in San Jose closed.
Thanks John for this great photo. UA Theatres tore this place down for $$ to build a Safeway store many years ago. If you go the property today the only thing that remains is part of the theatre outdoor fountain in the store parking lot. UA/Golden State/United CA Theatres had the nerve to book 35mm movies in mono sound most of the time and run a ad that said 70mm roadshow, this after the roadshows had played in SF in true 70mm stereo a few months before.
Thanks John & David for posting this classic old photo. So many of the Drive Inn’s in the early 50’s had this CinemaScope® semi curved add on built on the sides. Must have looked great on a scope print. I wonder If the ends looked in focus?
The small art theatre was in the basement and was run by Jack Tillmany for many years. The building is about to torn down for more condos. The entrance was from the little door in the middle of this photo. Thanks Bruce for all your SF photos from over 4 years ago. This small cinema used rear projection equipment.
The Strand will soon be the new ACT Strand Theatre. Fully brought back from the dead for live performance on Market ST in SF.
This was the former'Forbidden City' Chinese night club in the 40’s thru the 60’s. Went porn till the 70’s. The building is now a Japanese place to eat. A great new book about all the Chinese night clubs in SF is now out called Forbidden City. The DVD has just been released on Blue Ray.
Former Music Hall art type cinema. I saw A W movie Bad in this place, almost across from the Larkin Theatre on Larkin ST in SF. The area is very seedy day or night.
Former art cinema Larkin Theatre now a girl porn theatre.
I think this is the worst cinema still open in SF. Very tiny screens. Some people have a bigger screen in their home. They don’t even change the marquee on what is playing. Just keep the same thing up year after year. To lazy to climb a ladder. You will never hear any surround speakers on, they are placed a few here and there but not turned up. For new people trying to find the entrance good luck. No signage on how to get in. It’s way in the back left corner. They get good art films but I go to a better size theatre to see the DCP movies they are showing.
Original home in SF for CINERAMA® The big curved screen is gone but at least the theatre is still in use.