Comments from gsmurph

Showing 276 - 300 of 328 comments

gsmurph
gsmurph on Feb 11, 2004 at 6:44 am

The theater’s name is Calvin Simmons Theatre (Simmons spelled with two “m"s.)

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Granada Theatre on Feb 11, 2004 at 6:36 am

As noted above, the Granada seated 1314 people (obviously not 1 as listed under seats: (!)

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Berkeley Theatre on Feb 11, 2004 at 6:33 am

The Berkeley Theatre’s address was 2425 Shattuck Avenue. It was built in 1911 and closed in the late 1920’s; originally a theater with an “arched” front, it was extensively remodeled (and a vertical sign saying “Berkeley” added) and reopened in 1936; S. Charles Lee was the architect. A late ‘70’s renovation (the last before its closure) saw the removal of the vertical sign, and the “Berkeley” name added atop the marquee.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Balboa Theatre on Feb 5, 2004 at 4:03 am

Though the Balboa was originally a single-screen theater (one wonders what its auditorium and screen looked like as such), it was divided into two screens (about 1970’s?), and hence is now a duplex.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Serra Theater on Jan 27, 2004 at 9:29 am

The Serra has been demolished.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Downtown Theatre on Jan 24, 2004 at 1:26 pm

The Downtown Theatre closed for good about 1947.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Northside Theatre on Jan 24, 2004 at 1:23 pm

The Northside’s address was 1828 Euclid Avenue.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Pagoda Theatre on Jan 18, 2004 at 1:15 pm

The Pagoda Palace was a single-screen theater.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Elmwood Theatre on Jan 17, 2004 at 3:59 am

I’ve long felt to some degree that the Elmwood’s story after its 1988 fire is analogous in certain respects to that of Oakland’s New Fruitvale (q.v.) nearly two decades earlier, particularly in that both were operated by United Artists, which essentially stalled as long as it could to avoid reopening both theaters. Fortunately, the Elmwood can boast of a much happier ending to its tale of ordeal, and in a much shorter time as well.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Royal Theatre on Jan 17, 2004 at 3:46 am

Saw “Ed Wood” there when it played about 1994. Wonderful facade and lobby; HORRIBLE auditorium (especially the “proscenium”—-this was obviously a bastardization of an earlier, presumably grander one). Still, a terrible, terrible loss.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Palace Theatre on Jan 17, 2004 at 3:25 am

The former Palace Theater is home to the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Granada Theatre on Jan 17, 2004 at 3:17 am

The Granada has NOT been demolished; it has long been known as the Food King Market.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about New Peralta Theatre on Jan 4, 2004 at 3:54 am

A sign on the New Peralta reads WEST COAST KINGDOM—-MT. ZION SPIRITUAL TEMPLE—-apparently the church is, contrary to speculations in my initial post, still known as Mt. Zion.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Elmwood Theatre on Dec 9, 2003 at 11:25 am

P.S. to my earlier post: Ironically, the building that was nearly destroyed in the fire that that closed the Elmwood reopened far sooner than the theater (whose damage was less severe, though significant) did. Go figure.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Elmwood Theatre on Dec 9, 2003 at 11:22 am

The Strand was built in 1914 and became the Elmwood about 1949 after extensive remodeling. It ran as a single-screen until it was closed in October 1988 by a fire that had spread to it from the building next door. United Artists (its operator at the time) attempted to sell it to a developer set to either demolish or radically gut it; fortunately neighborhood and community opposition thwarted that curve ball, and the Elmwood survives today, the only major alteration done during its repairs being to convert the balcony to two smaller theaters.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Cannery Cinema on Dec 9, 2003 at 10:20 am

The Cannery opened and closed several times during its time as a theater. At one time between closings, it was a live theater.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Allendale Theatre on Dec 9, 2003 at 10:10 am

The Allendale was built about 1914 and closed (as a theater) in 1941.
Possibly it was remodeled later to include Art Deco elements.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Rivoli Theatre on Dec 9, 2003 at 9:59 am

Longs Drugs has just opened its store at the former Rivoli, and has indeed retained the theater remains. Much credit to them for doing so!

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about New Peralta Theatre on Dec 8, 2003 at 4:28 am

The New Peralta Theater was built in 1915 for Wallace Clark, a real estate magnate; the architect was Allen J. Yerrick. It was a Mission Revival-style theater that operated until 1953; soon afterwards it was converted into the Mt. Zion Spiritual Temple, a very prominent Black church (particularly in the 1960’s and 1970’s)founded by “King” Louis Narcisse. It remains a church today, though apparently not Mt. Zion.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Parkway Theater on Dec 8, 2003 at 4:19 am

The Parkway was very briefly called the Lake Merritt Theater (though the “Parkway” signage remained intact) during about late 1980’s).

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about New Fruitvale Theatre on Dec 6, 2003 at 12:15 pm

The Laurel/Cine 7/Victory Outreach is now listed under CINE 7 Theatre.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Plaza Theatre on Dec 2, 2003 at 10:33 am

An update to my November 20 comment: The Plaza’s marquee has been painted over, though it is still up and intact.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Neptune Theater on Dec 2, 2003 at 10:31 am

The Neptune Theater opened in 1920, was closed in 1962, and razed in 1972.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Plaza Theatre on Nov 20, 2003 at 3:45 am

The (still standing) Pix became known as the Plaza about 1962 and eventualy became known for Spanish-language movies, adopting a “Teatro” vertical sign in the late 1960’s, and continuing showing movies until about the late 1980’s-early 1990’s. Though since converted into a thrift store, both the “Plaza” marquee and the “Teatro” vertical sign still stand.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Piedmont Theatre on Nov 20, 2003 at 3:40 am

The Piedmont is actually a 1934 remodeling of a 1917 theater. Originally single-screened, it fell victim to changing trends and was plexed in the mid-1980’s (one of the last single-screens, at least in the Bay Area, to do so).