Comments from gsmurph

Showing 101 - 125 of 328 comments

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Alameda Theatre on Jun 22, 2005 at 8:30 am

As long as they don’t plex it anymore than they already have, getting the true Alameda Theatre (and I only hesitate to say original because this is historicaly the “third” one) going again as a premier entertainment venue (movie house, performiing arts or whatever) should be the top priority.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Navajo Theatre on Jun 20, 2005 at 11:39 am

This was demolished long ago—-a parking lot (for a restaurant) has long been there.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about New Fillmore Theatre on Jun 20, 2005 at 11:31 am

Not sure about the theater, Robert Gippy, but Divisadero and Fillmore run several blocks parallel to each other and never connect with each other at any time along their lengths.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Rio Theater on Jun 16, 2005 at 8:36 am

The Rio opened August 12, 1943 and closed April 1, 1954.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Strand Theater on Jun 16, 2005 at 8:32 am

The Strand opened April 15, 1918. Closed for a time, it reopened on August 11, 1942; it closed for good in 1948.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Island Auto Movie on Jun 16, 2005 at 8:28 am

The Island Auto Movie opened June 29, 1950, within six weeks of the Alameda Auto Movie.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Alameda Auto Movie Drive-In on Jun 16, 2005 at 8:22 am

The Alameda Auto Movie Drive-In opened May 18, 1950; it closed November 6, 1968.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Twelfth Street Theater on May 31, 2005 at 12:48 pm

The Orpheum/Twelfth Street Theater was demolished about 1958 for a parking lot; as noted above, a wing of the Dellums Federal Building stands there today.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Elmwood Theatre on May 29, 2005 at 9:53 am

According to a memo posted on the ticket booth by the Elmwood Theater foundation and the operator, San Carlos Cinemas, flooding from a adjacent property last fall severely damagd the main auditorium’s seats, flooring and concrete base, necessating their removal and replacement. In addition, changes in the city requirements for masonry structures that necessated seismic retrofitting, coupled with delays involving insurance, permits and construction issues have resulted in a longer than expected closure for the theater. The foundation and San Carlos' projected date for reopening the Elmwood (at least as of this writing) is July 2005.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts on May 28, 2005 at 6:13 pm

This theater’s (and building’s) style is Renaissance Revival.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Alameda Theatre on May 21, 2005 at 9:16 pm

A pity no one among the civic leaders apparently considered a community theater similar to the Berkeley Community Theatre. There are certainly groups and companies who could have utilized such a venue, adjacent multiplex or no.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Rio Theater on May 21, 2005 at 9:11 pm

A card and stationary store operates there today.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about World Theater on May 15, 2005 at 9:00 am

One thing that must be inquired—-is this supposedly the listing for the “later” World Theatre? If so, then some of the above comments actually pertain not to this theater but to the original World Theatre, listed in Cinema Treasures as the VERDI (possibly to avoid confusion with this World), and which was torn down to make way for the mixed-use office building of which this theater was/is a part, and, as noted by Tillmany in the Verdi listing, the World listed here operated for another fifteen years before itself closing. Moreover, this World was known ONLY as the World, never by any other name.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Capitol Theater on May 7, 2005 at 10:12 am

Curiously, in many old newspaper theater listings (seldom known for their exactness to begin with), the Capitol’s location was stated as “Bancroft and Seminary” (Seminary Avenue being the nearest cross street to the Capitol; Bancroft Avenue being one block parallel to Foothill here). Possibly this was because one could easily see a prominent corner of the Capitol (“The Best in Photoplay Pictures” [which, as Gary Parks pointed out, could still be seen to its final days of existence even decades after it closed]) from that intersection. The above-listed address (as stated by William) is correct, however.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Hub Theater on May 7, 2005 at 9:55 am

Currently, the space formerly occupied by the Hub is part of a discount bookstore.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Castro Theatre on May 1, 2005 at 10:42 am

I’m as downhearted about the Castro as most everyone else, but let’s not cut off our nose to spite our (or their) face(s). If someone were to move all the festivals and the former Castro programming elsewhere, the Strand would be a po-o-o-o-or substitute—-how about the New Mission, the Harding, or the former Cine Latino instead? No sense replacing an architectural diamond (which was a big part of the Castro’s appeal with many festivalgoers all these years) with a lump of coal a fraction of the diamond’s size. (Of course, that’s assuming such a thing could be carried out.)

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall on Apr 27, 2005 at 10:06 am

This is terrible. Possibly the lobby/concession area’s relatively good condition may derive from its being overhauled and renovated about the early 1980’s during the heyday of the Meyer years (does he know of the UC’s current state?). Still, what a tragedy!

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Orinda Theatre on Apr 27, 2005 at 9:51 am

Though the Orinda was not physically split in the process of adding the two additional screens, it should probably be considered a “Triplex” and its seating capacity adjusted accordingly.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Melrose Theatre on Apr 23, 2005 at 10:51 am

The Melrose was demolished long ago—-the site is now the parking lot of a ‘60-ish building that I believe was some sort of state or county service building, but which is currently an auto parts store.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Telenews Theatre on Apr 20, 2005 at 10:56 am

The Telenews operated as the Globe from 1954 to 1956.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about New Fruitvale Theatre on Apr 19, 2005 at 2:01 pm

Thanks to MaDD and Robert Campbell for their insights on the Fruitvale. It was definitely a favorite of mine as well, though my own memories were rather vague (blame it on being all of eleven when that fire occured); my rememberance of its details are now sharper (though I could have sworn that clock was on the right side [chuckle]).

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about California Theatre on Apr 19, 2005 at 1:54 pm

Perhaps it’s just some peculiarity of mine, but I actually find the two balcony theaters more “classic” than the main one(!). Did the California ever have a proscenium—-or was it one of those “open-spaced” (for lack of a better term) live theatrs? Something for a real theater historian to ponder…

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Foothill Theater on Apr 19, 2005 at 12:54 pm

At least when it was the Studio 1, the Foothill seated 367 people.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Fairfax Theatre on Apr 19, 2005 at 12:48 pm

One thing to note when looking for the former Fairfax on BART—-it’s now pale green in color (it was pinkish-magenta when it was a theater and for quite a long time after it became a church as well).

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Cine 7 Theatre on Apr 19, 2005 at 12:39 pm

Speaking of Crawford’s Coffee Shop, I remember there was a clock to the left of the proscenium around which the words “CRAWFORD’S COFFEE SHOP” were boldly displayed.