Castro Street Theatre

485 Castro Street,
San Francisco, CA 94114

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Nasser Bros. Theaters

Functions: Retail

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Castro Street Theatre

The Castro Street Theatre, an early neighborhood nickelodeon operated by Nasser Bros., opened on December 21, 1910. All seating was on a single floor. It was closed on June 21, 1922, the night before the Nasser Bros. opened their much larger, and grander Castro Theatre (q.v.), which still operates today as San Francisco’s most revered surviving movie palace.

Meantime, the little Castro Street Theatre a few doors to the South, survives too, in its own way, as Cliff’s Variety Store, another neighborhood “institution” with its original 1910 arched ceiling still intact.

Contributed by Tillmany

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

cosmo
cosmo on August 14, 2004 at 6:56 am

I was a projectionist at the Castro Theater on and off for 32years. It is a great theater to work,because you had to know all formats of projection. From silents to 3D to wide screen. It was great fun, and I miss it.

moviesmovies
moviesmovies on July 13, 2005 at 9:09 pm

Saw Portuguese films here during a festival in the ‘70s.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on July 13, 2005 at 10:46 pm

Cosmo, Carl C, your comments could not possibly refer to this theatre, which closed in 1922. Where you should have posted them is on the Castro Theatre site. Click here to find it. The newer Castro Theatre that you want was built in 1922, a short distance away from the Castro Street Theatre that this site refers to.

moviesmovies
moviesmovies on July 19, 2005 at 11:50 am

correction made Gerald. Thank You.

cosmo
cosmo on September 28, 2005 at 4:25 am

I stand corrected also thanks Gerald.
cosmo

JackFritscher
JackFritscher on October 6, 2008 at 4:15 am

For a great 1990s photo of the still thriving and contemporary gay-leaning Castro Theater, see the art design cover of the new book “Gay San Francisco” at www.JackFritscher.com or www.Amazon.com Author Fritscher met his lover, and now legal spouse, Mark Hemry, under the marquee of the Castro Theater on May 22, 1978, the first night after the White Night Riot and the first birthday for Harvey Milk (actually held on Castro Street) after his assassination by Dan White. Spouses Fritscher and Hemry. San Francisco residents and eyewitness since 1970, are specialists in reporting the untold Tales of the City in their 2008 book “Gay San Francisco.”

chrisjones
chrisjones on September 24, 2010 at 1:04 am

Hey Jack, I read your book and found it fascinating as now spend a great deal of time in the city, formally from London… However, you’ve got the wrong theater here – it’s the Castro Theater site you need… Sorry to nitpick – once again, enjoyed the book a lot. What an interesting life you’ve led.

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