Magic Lantern, as a female I was always too scared to go inside the theatre itself to peek at the historical building. I once walked in there with a girlfriend and saw the mirrors and the deco bathroom signs, and the old fashioned built in phone booth cubbyhole. We talked to the guy at the ticket counter inside, and there was a cool porthole style opening to another room, like a window behind him and it was pink and green also if I recall. But I never got any further, it was too seedy. I would love to see your photos of the inside of the theatre since I never got to.
I guess what I saw getting wrecked wasn’t the Palm mirrors!! I am very happy to hear that!! I guess it must have been the twisted ruin of the locked cases that once held signs for coming attractions.
I stood awestruck today as the wrecking ball hit the Palm Theatre over and over again. I was saddened that the mirrored palm facade was left intact for the wrecking ball to destroy. A pile of wooden rubble and the back wall was all that stood before I took off. It was so sad to see another of our historical structures die when there are so many empty apartments as it is. There is a hole there now, and it looks so strange to me. I imagine there will be a gaping ugly structure soon enough. I’m a ten year San Mateo and drove by this site every day, often on my bike. Patrons never bothered me and I always felt safe. There were even days when I would just park across the street to eat my lunch and look at the building, although I’d be the first to admit it has seen better days!! But I will miss that little bit of neon, that swirling front tile entrance, and the look of history on the horizon. Palm Theatre, rest in peace.
Magic Lantern, as a female I was always too scared to go inside the theatre itself to peek at the historical building. I once walked in there with a girlfriend and saw the mirrors and the deco bathroom signs, and the old fashioned built in phone booth cubbyhole. We talked to the guy at the ticket counter inside, and there was a cool porthole style opening to another room, like a window behind him and it was pink and green also if I recall. But I never got any further, it was too seedy. I would love to see your photos of the inside of the theatre since I never got to.
I guess what I saw getting wrecked wasn’t the Palm mirrors!! I am very happy to hear that!! I guess it must have been the twisted ruin of the locked cases that once held signs for coming attractions.
I stood awestruck today as the wrecking ball hit the Palm Theatre over and over again. I was saddened that the mirrored palm facade was left intact for the wrecking ball to destroy. A pile of wooden rubble and the back wall was all that stood before I took off. It was so sad to see another of our historical structures die when there are so many empty apartments as it is. There is a hole there now, and it looks so strange to me. I imagine there will be a gaping ugly structure soon enough. I’m a ten year San Mateo and drove by this site every day, often on my bike. Patrons never bothered me and I always felt safe. There were even days when I would just park across the street to eat my lunch and look at the building, although I’d be the first to admit it has seen better days!! But I will miss that little bit of neon, that swirling front tile entrance, and the look of history on the horizon. Palm Theatre, rest in peace.