Sutter Cinema
369 Sutter Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94108
369 Sutter Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94108
1 person
favorited this theater
Another of downtown San Francisco’s small theatres…The Sutter Cinema opened on May 22, 1970 as an adult movie theatre playing the American premiere of “ZAP”.
In 2008, it is occupied by the Barbizon Modeling and Acting Studio.
Contributed by
Garrett Murphy
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Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
Holiday again. What many don’t know about this particular piece of real estate is that it was originally The Forbidden City, a famous Chinese nightclub, in the 1930s and 40s! XOX ~ HOH
Just watching “Freebie and the Bean” (1974) starring Alan Arkin and James Caan. The Sutter Cinema can be seen clearly in one of the car chase scenes. Many other good views of SF in the film.
Holiday O'Hara! It’s been YEARS. I remember when Larry and John owned the place and when it burned down. What happened to Stormy Weather?? or Malakamore (sp?)What happened to Judy? Has she written any more books?
Darn, I wrote a bunch of stuff and it just went away and didn’t post. I’ll try again later.
This opened on May 22nd, 1970. Ad posted.
My late Father lived in a small apartment above that theatre at one time when it was a theatre. It felt very odd for me to go up the stairs thinking that he lived above an adult theater. When we first came to San Francisco in 1964, the building still had the Forbidden City marquee on the building. My Father always had the wanderlust and would move out of my Mother’s and go somewhere but this was the strangest place he ever lived.
Its funny how a picture can jar your memory years later. At the time it was running x rated films the theatre also had strippers working there for a time. I once knew someone who worked there as a stripper and she would do her sets and go and sit with men in the audience and get tips from them. I will have to ask her for details the next time we talk on the phone.
I worked there as the girl who sold tickets, popcorn, candy and coffee! It was the late 70’s. John and Larry owned it then. Mr Hofbrau was underneath the theatre and the the girls would go down there between sets to eat and have a drink. I worked at Mr Hofbrau first then went upstairs to work at the Sutter street theatre. Such memories!
Rialto Report on Lowell Pickett and Arlene Elster, the owners of the Sutter Cinema. This includes interviews with them, as well as history and some photos- even a cameo shot in “Freebie and the Bean”
https://www.therialtoreport.com/2023/02/12/arlene-elster/
Forbidden City, pictured above, was in the same upstairs space as the Sutter Cinema but used 363 Sutter as the address. This was a wildly popular nightclub from 1938 - 1970 attracting locals and tourists alike. Run by Charlie Low it was the most famous nightlife venue in the US to feature Asian American singers, dancers, strippers, and musicians and run by and staffed by Asian Americans. Appearing regularly were the “Chinese Sofie Tucker”, the “Chinese Frank Sinatra”, the “Chinese Sally Rand” and more who were all part of what was known as the “Chop Suey Circuit”. It was the inspiration for the novel Flower Drum Song which in turn became a stage musical and film. In 1989 Arthur Dong’s documentary Forbidden City USA was released chronicling this legendary venue. Those with library cards whose libraries are affiliated with Kanopy streaming, you can access the film for free here:
Forbidden City USA