Preservation attempts failed, and the theater was demolished in June 2023. It was said that they wanted to keep the marquee, but it was cost prohibitive.
@DavidZornig, the Palace Theater does not have a facebook page, the activities of the theater are on the Anson-Jones Museum page. Tried to edit comment but couldn’t so I deleted it.
The theater was purchased by a family and was renovating it to become a community center, with concerts and other events, with the intention of adding a parking structure next door. In February 2021, The National Park Service announced that the theater will be added onto the National Register of Historic Places. During the renovation they found a purse that was lost sixty years ago, and was returned to the original owner. Unfortunately, renovation stopped due to the owner having problems getting it done. The theater is completely gutted and no one knows at this time what is going to happen with it.
The theater has been sold to Bay Tech Charter School and will be renovated to include a gym, classrooms and offices while retaining much of the buildings architecture, scheduled for completion in Fall 2024.
In June of 1995, we were passing by the theater, and there were hundreds of people outside. It turned out to be the memorial service of actress Elizabeth Montgomery. So much traffic we just barely moved going by.
Today, on the SF Gate website, has an article with pictures of the vertical being removed for safety reasons, as it was unsecured and swaying in the wind.
In April 2019, a fire broke out in the theater, originating from the crawlspace close to the stage. Firefighters put the fire out which was contained inside the building. It wasn’t stated on how much interior damage was done. The exterior of this theater is very similar to the Plaza Theater in Oakland, and the Chabot in Castro Valley.
In the early 80’s the Market Street Cinema had great stage concerts of popular 80’s artists at the time. We went to one that had Devo, Oingo Boingo, and Romeo Void that was a great concert. Place was packed. Concerts there didn’t last long and the theater went to X rated movies with the marquee stating “balcony now open” Went inside to see the place and there was hardly anyone in there.
The “new policy” was the change from pornographic films to mainstream fare which was always a triple bill of blaxploitation, kung-fu and horror movies for ninety-nine cents. Attendance went up big time, and so did the trouble from the audience. It got so bad they hired a security guard, who on 7/19/1975, shot and killed a unruly customer in the lobby. Shortly after that incident, the theater reverted back to hardcore pornography and remained so until its closure.
The theater, located at 1505 E. Broadway, is now the Southland Books & Cafe. We went there a little over a year ago, and they were having Drag Queen Bingo. The interior was under remodeling but had lots of traces of it being a theater. No idea what it looks like now inside, I was told that the marquee is gone.
According to a posting on facebook back in 2017, a portion of the roof collapsed causing damage to equipment and was deemed inhabitable because of mold buildup.
Went to this theater when I was a little kid. If you sat in the middle of the auditorium and looked straight up at the ceiling, it looked like a upside down bug with this gold glowing body with the legs stretched to the walls lol. If I remember right the walls had zebras on their hind legs ready to stomp on a soldier ahead of it holding a spear and above the arch was a outline of a rose. Wonder what it looks like inside today.
The State has a great dining and banquet hall called “The State Room” which took the balcony and extended it, restoring the top of the roof line. It looks amazing.
The El Rey has a new life, as a event center and a banquet hall called “The Veranda”. The interior has been completely remodeled and looks elegant. Be interesting to see if the theater building will maintain the reputation of being haunted. Good to see that it is in use again.
The vertical sign of the Star Theater was saved after demolition. It was re-installed on the front of the building of what was called Star Upholstery, on East 14th Street in between 45th and 46th Avenue. At night it was well lit in all its glory. Through the years the sign just wore down, paint and all, to just a bare metal sign. The building has since been demolished.
Julio de Unamuno, referenced in the picture above, was the manager of the Star Theater. When the Star closed, he managed the Plaza on East 12th Street.
Good News! According to today’s San Francisco Chronicle, the Parkway will be re-opening as a marijuana dispensary which will include movies and “notoriously stoner friendly” events such as art shows, and concerts. It is said that the theater will reopen on or before January 2020.
The theater is now called “The Crossing” and is a church and has been for several years now. Their website and facebook page have great pictures of the interior.
Preservation attempts failed, and the theater was demolished in June 2023. It was said that they wanted to keep the marquee, but it was cost prohibitive.
@DavidZornig, the Palace Theater does not have a facebook page, the activities of the theater are on the Anson-Jones Museum page. Tried to edit comment but couldn’t so I deleted it.
The theater has been turned into “Celia’s Boutique their facebook page has a great video showing the new interior.
The theater was purchased by a family and was renovating it to become a community center, with concerts and other events, with the intention of adding a parking structure next door. In February 2021, The National Park Service announced that the theater will be added onto the National Register of Historic Places. During the renovation they found a purse that was lost sixty years ago, and was returned to the original owner. Unfortunately, renovation stopped due to the owner having problems getting it done. The theater is completely gutted and no one knows at this time what is going to happen with it.
The theater has been sold to Bay Tech Charter School and will be renovated to include a gym, classrooms and offices while retaining much of the buildings architecture, scheduled for completion in Fall 2024.
In June of 1995, we were passing by the theater, and there were hundreds of people outside. It turned out to be the memorial service of actress Elizabeth Montgomery. So much traffic we just barely moved going by.
Today, on the SF Gate website, has an article with pictures of the vertical being removed for safety reasons, as it was unsecured and swaying in the wind.
In April 2019, a fire broke out in the theater, originating from the crawlspace close to the stage. Firefighters put the fire out which was contained inside the building. It wasn’t stated on how much interior damage was done. The exterior of this theater is very similar to the Plaza Theater in Oakland, and the Chabot in Castro Valley.
Unfortunately, the theater was destroyed by fire on 5/27/2022. The church who owns the building hasn’t stated if they plan to rebuild.
The theater is now a paint store/furniture store.
The theater, located at 603 Cliff Avenue, is now a club called Tony O’s. Before that it was a bowling alley.
In the early 80’s the Market Street Cinema had great stage concerts of popular 80’s artists at the time. We went to one that had Devo, Oingo Boingo, and Romeo Void that was a great concert. Place was packed. Concerts there didn’t last long and the theater went to X rated movies with the marquee stating “balcony now open” Went inside to see the place and there was hardly anyone in there.
The “new policy” was the change from pornographic films to mainstream fare which was always a triple bill of blaxploitation, kung-fu and horror movies for ninety-nine cents. Attendance went up big time, and so did the trouble from the audience. It got so bad they hired a security guard, who on 7/19/1975, shot and killed a unruly customer in the lobby. Shortly after that incident, the theater reverted back to hardcore pornography and remained so until its closure.
The theater, located at 1505 E. Broadway, is now the Southland Books & Cafe. We went there a little over a year ago, and they were having Drag Queen Bingo. The interior was under remodeling but had lots of traces of it being a theater. No idea what it looks like now inside, I was told that the marquee is gone.
The Tower theater has two sister theaters, the Ritz in Hayward and the Sunset in Lodi. They are all identical.
According to a posting on facebook back in 2017, a portion of the roof collapsed causing damage to equipment and was deemed inhabitable because of mold buildup.
Went to this theater when I was a little kid. If you sat in the middle of the auditorium and looked straight up at the ceiling, it looked like a upside down bug with this gold glowing body with the legs stretched to the walls lol. If I remember right the walls had zebras on their hind legs ready to stomp on a soldier ahead of it holding a spear and above the arch was a outline of a rose. Wonder what it looks like inside today.
I believe this picture is from the Granada on Market St. In 1923, the Granada on Mission St. was called the Excelsior.
The Royalettes girl group of the 60’s who had several hits, named themselves after this theater.
The State has a great dining and banquet hall called “The State Room” which took the balcony and extended it, restoring the top of the roof line. It looks amazing.
The El Rey has a new life, as a event center and a banquet hall called “The Veranda”. The interior has been completely remodeled and looks elegant. Be interesting to see if the theater building will maintain the reputation of being haunted. Good to see that it is in use again.
The vertical sign of the Star Theater was saved after demolition. It was re-installed on the front of the building of what was called Star Upholstery, on East 14th Street in between 45th and 46th Avenue. At night it was well lit in all its glory. Through the years the sign just wore down, paint and all, to just a bare metal sign. The building has since been demolished.
Julio de Unamuno, referenced in the picture above, was the manager of the Star Theater. When the Star closed, he managed the Plaza on East 12th Street.
Good News! According to today’s San Francisco Chronicle, the Parkway will be re-opening as a marijuana dispensary which will include movies and “notoriously stoner friendly” events such as art shows, and concerts. It is said that the theater will reopen on or before January 2020.
The theater is now called “The Crossing” and is a church and has been for several years now. Their website and facebook page have great pictures of the interior.