Grand Lake Theatre

3200 Grand Avenue,
Oakland, CA 94610

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Showing 76 - 86 of 86 comments

bruceanthony
bruceanthony on October 20, 2003 at 6:50 pm

The Grand Lake was one of two Roadshow houses in the East BAy during the 1960’s. I Saw Ben Hur, How The West Was Won, Dr. Zhivago, The SandPebbles, Magnificient Men in There Flying Machines, Camelot, Grand Prix during there reserved seat engagements. The theatre had a major renovation by National General During the engagement of The Sand Pebbles. When the exclusive Runs dissapreared the Grand Lake showed all ist Run Disney product in the 1970’s. The theatre was in excellent shape . I return to the Grand Lake and see many films over the years but I still miss the balcony. It is my favorite theatre in the Bay Area to see a film.

Wanda
Wanda on February 20, 2003 at 12:34 am

Thank you so much for the “Democratically Elected Presidents' Day” marquee, as well as many of the previous ones. To whom does the public owe a hearty thank you for speaking out in a way that pleases so many?

linsfo
linsfo on January 26, 2003 at 10:11 pm

The mural in the lobby says it was from a bank building in “upstate New York”. Does anyone know which bank and in what city?

Also upstate New York is Syracuse to some people and Albany to others. That is why I want to know which upstate New York city it is from. I am from Syracuse.

GaryParks
GaryParks on December 20, 2002 at 3:49 pm

Architects of the Grand Lake were the Reid Bros. This was the largest theatre they designed, although several of their others came close. Also, there were many other theatres in the Bay Area which once had rooftop signs as the Grand Lake has. The only other surviving rooftop sign is on the Parkway, Oakland. Some others which once had them are the FAIRFAX, Oakland (blown down in a windstorm—Fairfax is now a church), IRVING, San Francisco (demolished), FOX PENINSULA, Burlingame (demolished). There were others as well.

GaryParks
GaryParks on December 20, 2002 at 3:44 pm

The plush curtain in the main auditorium is originally from the long-ago-lost San Francisco Fox. Actually what you see is about the central one-third and bottom two-thirds of it, the Grand Lake having a much smaller proscenium. The remaining parts of the Fox curtain were carefully de-stitched and now embellish the panels of acoustical fabric between the columns along the auditorium sidewalls.

JOSECRUZ
JOSECRUZ on December 6, 2002 at 2:33 am

HI MY NAME IS JOSE CRUZ I,M A 25 YEAR OLD CHECANO FROM EAST OAKLAND I,M A PROUD OAKLANDER THE GRAND LAKE THEATER IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE THEATER I THINK IT,S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TEATER IN ALL OF NORTHERN CALIFAS IT HAS THAT OLD SCHOOL CHARM THAT THESE MODERN THEATERS DON,T HAVE

Donald John Long
Donald John Long on November 18, 2002 at 8:52 pm

This and the Paramount Theatre are the two grandest and most glorious cinema palaces in all of Oakland, and surrounding cities.

I’ll never forget going to see the premiere of “E.T.” here in 1982, when the manager, Allan Mischaun (excuse me if it’s misspelled!) was promoting Spielberg’s movie on John Stanley’s “Creature Features” TV show on KTVU Channel 2. I’ve since gone back whenever I’m in the Oakland area to enjoy its plush lobby, grand staircases up to the balcony, and overall cinema ambience, so much lacking in theaters today.

FloydPerryJr
FloydPerryJr on December 10, 2001 at 9:27 pm

There used to be a time when you can see a movie on the Big main screen from the balcony but today that is another auditorium. I am not against adding more screens by building an adjacent auditorium but I am against altering any part of the main original auditorium.

HenryandJeremy
HenryandJeremy on August 27, 2001 at 6:47 pm

The Grand Lake Theatre is a jewel!!! It never fails to delight me everytime I drive by it on my way home. Like the exterior facade, the interior is another beautiful sight to behold. Every that plays there is good simply because the experience is so rewarding.

sjshappee
sjshappee on August 4, 2001 at 5:07 am

The Grand Lake is still the best theatre in Oakland. On Saturday nights, in the big downstairs theatre, they still play the ‘Mighty Wurlitzer’ – it’s a great theatre!

TomDavis
TomDavis on June 17, 2001 at 3:32 pm

I lived in Oakland for years and attended the Grand Lake many, many times when it was still a single-screen operation. On one occasion I had the privilege of playing its renowned pipe organ.

The huge sign is spectacular and dominates the neighborhood.