Alexandria Theatre

Still one of the best seats in San Francisco. I always try to see first run films in the downstairs auditorium whenever possible. My last visit was with my 5yr old son to see "Finding Nemo". Beautiful house.

The Alexandria was a exclusive roadshow house in the 1960's and was one of the top theatres in SF. I saw "Oliver", "The French Connection", "Nicholas and Alexandra" and many more through the years. It would have been nice if a chain such as Landmark could have purchased the Alexandria because they would know what to do with this house. Regal looks like they are abandoning SF after picking up the UA Theatre Circuit. It would be nice if they sold it with a little concern what people in the City feel about there neigberhood theatres. The bigger the circuits get the less they care about regional areas. The City government should remember who cares about the City and who doesn't before awarding future building permits for future movie theatres in the future. SF was one of the last major cities in the country to be full of viable single screen theatres. It was not until the arrival of Amc and Sony in the 1990's that caused the death of many of these theares. Now San Francisco can be like any other City with megaplex theatres and no longer unique. I guess LA will be the only city left in the US With Deluxe first run theatre such as the "Chinese", "El Capitan","Cinerama Dome", "Fox Village", "Bruin", "National", "Crest" and a few others. Thank God SF has the "Castro" which is run by an independent who knows how to run these special theatres.brucec

I saw the Premiere of THE TOWERING INFERNO at this house.
Wonderful! Such a tragedy as it will probably not be saved.
The land is so valuable where it sits - I am fearful it will
be razed. A landmark that should be preserved. God Help
The Alexandria!

Unfortunately The Alexandria has run out of time as the doors will open for the last time on Febuary 16th, the last show will be at 4:15pm,I hope to see anyone who cares for the theatre there as i will be the Assistant Manager On Duty for the Final Shows...
R.I.P Alexandria(1923-2004)

vic -- is there any chance you can shoot some photos of the Alexandria's last show?

What are the circumstances surrounding its closure? Has someone purchased the Alexandria?

Well I have been here for "She's All That " in the main auditorium & the upstairs for the screening of "10 Things I Hate About You"...
It's a nice looking theater inside & out.

I didn't know until I tried to attend last week. How sad!

I just moved back into the neighborhood and looked forward to living near one of my favorite theatres. Now I find it's closed! Damn, not another multiplex or Starbucks, or god knows what modern horror.

A friend of mine who lives in that neighborhood said she hears
rumors that the ALEXANDRIA will be leveled for a large
3 level Chinese Restaurant/Parking Structure. What the heck
is going on here? Sad Sad Sad

It is a tragedy that we've lost such a grand art-deco palace.

I was there on closing day and was able to photograph the entire theatre inside and out. I created an on-line photo album at Yahoo Photos to share with everyone.

You can view the Photo Albums at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/alexandria_theatre

The Alex property was purchased by a group of Chinese businessmen who speak no English. Discussions with their realtor have gone nowhere but we do hope to save the fixtures and murals and find a home for them.
Some kind of retial and residential development is certain to be planned. They are rumored to have paid between 6-7 million dollars for the real estate. Saving the theater can't be economically justified.

I have been watching the weekly box office receipts for several years and first runs films were not doing well most of the time, grossing maybe 1/10 of the Metreon on opening weekend and falling fast from their.

Sadly, the Richmond district is not a big supporter of its own theaters. The Balboa and 4 Star will presumably see some increase in attendance though the Balboa plays arty product as did the 4 Star which has decided to cash in on the loss of the Alex by going first run.

The Four Star is a poor excuse for a 1st Run Venue.
As a single screen years ago - it had class and was
a fine old gal. Since it was rehabbed and cut into 2
screens - its AWFUL! I understand even 1st Run films
do only a fraction of the business in this house as they
do elsewhere in the Bay Area let alone San Francisco.
The demographic makeup of the Richmond has contributed to
the downfall of the Alexandria - sad but true - no support.

The Balboa on the other hand, is a neat little place to see
great double bills of arty and commercial film.

I read in the SF Chronicle that the SYUFY CHAIN is at it again.
Planning to build downtown on Market Street with an upscale
9 screen CineArts Complex that will attempt to destroy SF's
classic art venues run by Landmark Theatres. So upsetting to
see this happen - as SYUFY is stomping all over the Bay Area.

Well now, since the 4 Star has gone first run- Both the 4 Star and The Coronet are both showing "Taking Lives" this weekend....

The Richmond residents don't even have any choices in first run movies anymore.....stupid!

Thanks to Eric Hooper for his "last look" photos. The Coronet is next on UA/Regal's demolition list for the Richmond. It's sad that there are so few single screen theatres left in SF. TV/Video/DVD/Home theatre have all shortened the lives of our larger theatres as well as corporate neglect. As`nice as it was to sit in the downstairs Alexandria, the sound was "digital-mushy" and the upstairs theatre's sound systems never sounded like they'd been upgraded past the 70's. The only thing that will keep these large thatres open is crowds ($$$$$$) or owners who want to keep them open-or-creative programming (like the Castro).

Sadly true - when United Artists operated and triplexed the
ALEX they never put even stereo in the 2 upstairs auditoriums.
They are one speaker mono sound only. UA (and I worked for them
back when this house was triplexed) spent next to nothing on
their older theaters. They kept them literally pieced together
with bubblegum and paperclips. I managed theaters for them in the
bay area and my best friend ran the ALEX after it was TriPlexed.
We used to say of UA when they would multiplex an existing cinema
a "hatchet job" was about to take place - and IT DID!
Still - those of us who love movie houses do just that - LOVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT! Its just a shame that UA
was able to run their company like this for so so many years at the
publics expense.

I went to the 4 star Cinema only once. I was in worse shape than the Alexandria by far. I can say without hesitation that I will never go back there.

I used to go to the Alexandria at leat twice a month. I miss it greatly.

Mike C.

I can confirm when it closed in Feb. they were beginning to haul out seats, it doesnt look good, something must be done!

I understand the entire building will be going soon.
A mall I was told - chinese restaurants and chinese
retail center will be erected. We must enjoy what little
is left of the classic single screens in our fair city.

Representatives of the Planning Association of the Richmond and the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation recently met with the new owners of the Alexandria. While plans are not complete, the new owners are committed to retaining the historic theatre building and to retaining at least one theatre for movies upstairs (configuration to be determined). Their tentative plan is to build residential units on the adjacent parking lot with groundfloor retail in both the new building and within the Alexadria.

It was the Alexandria when it opened, and it was the Alexandria when
it closed; for 80 years it was the Alexandria, and by that name
it is still fondly recalled as you can read in the host of comments
above and below. Why can't Cinema Treasures eliminate the "UA" in front of its name, which is nothing but an artifact of corporate egotism, so it will show up at the top of the San Francisco list,
in the "A" category where it belongs? A lot of people may not look for it down among the "U"'s, and will probably think it's not listed at all.

If they wanted to redo do it as a tri-auditorium theatre they could still have left the lobby nice. It should be restored and show motion pictures again. Why can't they build nice stuff anymore? i mean who wants to look at the abstract-looking crap buildings that they build now. Why can't they build them like they did in the 20s and 30s and before?

United Artists has sunk to low levels since the days when it was started by Chaplin, Pickford, Fairbanks, and Griffith.
If they wanted to redo do it as a tri-auditorium theatre they could still have left the lobby nice. It should be restored and show motion pictures again. Why can't they build nice stuff anymore? i mean who wants to look at the abstract-looking crap buildings that they build now. Why can't they build them like they did in the 20s and 30s and before?

Beware of theatre mergers or takeovers the first thing to go is the real estate.Regal picked up the UA circuit for peanuts due to its bankruptcy and is selling off UA real estate and disposing of all single screens. UA took much better care of there theatres,if you can believe it, when they were based in San Francisco. Regal is based out of state and could care less about the assets that they purchased here in the city. Regal is the largest circuit in the US and many assets were picked up for bargain prices across the country. Edwards in Southern California also was picked up by Regal but most of there theatres were far superior to most of the UA theatres which is no surpise. Regal had no intention of keeping any of there theatres in San Francisco. Its ironic the newcomers AMC and Loew's displaced Blummenfiel and United Artists which operated in the city for decades. Outside of the downtown movie palaces the Alexandria and Coronet were one of the best theatres to see a film despite UA. The key exclusive run roadshow theatres of the 1950s and 1960's were the Orpheum,Golden Gate,United Artists which were downtown and the Coronet and Alexandria located in the Richmond district.I saw many films growing up at the Alexandria when it was a single screen but saw only the "Deer Hunter" after it was triplexed.brucec

Just this minute returned from checking out the theater. 11:43 pm 9/24/04 Everything is still closed up and the windows on the front doors are papered over but the lights in the lobby are still on and I was able to peek inside. It's still all intact, that's to say there's no sign of demolition. What appears to be the candy counter is still there and it looks like with restocking this could be a turn key operation. There is a sign in one of the windows that says "Store for lease" and indicates interested parties should call some bank (which I don't recall at the moment). Curious that they should involve a bank, perhaps the property was foreclosed upon?

Cahplin would be ashamed of what has become of his company

Yep, and I bet Chaplin would be ashamed too. LOL Couple of days ago I heard on the local news that there would be a 45 day moratorium on demolition of theaters in the city. Don't quite know what's going on behind the scenes but obviously something's up.

I wonder if Prop L has anything to do with the moratorium....
http://www.saveourtheatres.org/

Mr. Hooper, thanks so much for the photo's. I used to live in a studio apartment off 15th ave and Geary Blvd after doing time in the Army in the mid-sixties. I couldn't afford a TV so I'd save my extra cash and take in a movie at the Alexandria. "Oliver" etc. By the way......the studio apartment was $85.00 a month. Tee Hee.
Been living in Denver since 1972 and we've lost many of the old movie palaces. We've managed to hang onto the Paramount downtown and our Great Lady called the Mayan on South Broadway. It's owned by Landmark and show's art-films. It was once a huge single screen now its three. The two screens upstairs are extremely uncomfortable as your knees are in your face its soooo tight, not to mention the "rake" of the stairs to get to the rows of seats. I've seen many a patron take a tumble. Thanks again for the photo's. Bob in Denver.

I just heard its going to be demolished soon. Hence the quick 45 day moratorium. Something is a foot in San Francisco!

To paraphrase what was written in the NY Times upon the demolition of the grandiose Pennsylvania Railroad Station "In the future we will be judged not for what we've built, but for what we've torn down"

Stop complaining about it and call the newspapers, tv stations, chain yourself to it if you love it so much! Save this piece of history and PROTEST PEOPLE!!!

You have the power to make it happen! I would love to help but I live in New York.

I understand what you're saying, but the reality is that the value of real estate in SF is such that when the big dollar people are involved their act jack that can realistically be done to prevent them from their doing what they want. I'm from NYC and distinctly recall that in the '60s one of the few remaining 5th Ave mansions was torn down over a weekend in defiance of a court order. Case closed.

Please pardon my previous typos...what I meant to say was:
"when big dollar people are involved, there ain't jack...."

And that is even more reason to preserve it. Come up with a smear campaign that will make them appear to be corporate giants depriving the community of treasures. Handcuff yourselves to it if you must.

TRY!
It wont hurt.

Now that Proposition L has been rejected by San Francisco voters, are there any updates to report on the Alexandria or any other city theatres which had been facing (and now again may be facing)demolition or conversion for other uses?

There is a full photo tour of the Alexandria's last day posted on Cinematour.com. Check it out!

Part of the history of a great motion picture theater is the films that played there. Listed below are the first-run films and major reissues that played at the Alexandria from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1975. Research is from microfilms of Variety as well as The San Francisco Chronicle. The dates listed are the Wednesday of the opening week since in those days most new films opened on Wednesdays, rather than Fridays as they do now. In the early 1960's the Alexandria was one of San Francisco's major houses for "roadshow" films, and subsequently, was DARK between engagements. Films from January 1, 1976 will be provided in subsequent postings.

01/01/60 DARK
05/18/60 Can-Can
10/26/60 The Alamo
02/08/61 Exodus
10/18/61 Breakfast at Tiffany's
12/20/61 El Cid
06/27/62 My Geisha
10/10/62 The Longest Day
02/27/63 To Kill a Mockingbird
06/26/63 Cleopatra
07/22/64 The Fall of the Roman Empire
09/02/64 I'd Rather Be Rich
09/23/64 Woman of Straw
10/14/64 Where Love Has Gone
11/04/64 Topkapi
12/23/64 Kiss Me, Stupid
02/10/65 How to Murder Your Wife
04/07/65 The Train
06/30/65 What's New, Pussycat?
09/01/65 Darling
09/29/65 Ship of Fools
11/24/65 King Rat
12/22/65 Boeing, Boeing
01/26/66 Lord Love a Duck
03/16/66 Viva, Maria!
03/30/66 The Group
06/22/66 The Russians are Coming...The Russians are Coming
08/03/66 Walk, Don't Run
10/05/66 Diabolique
10/26/66 The Fortune Cookie
12/21/66 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
02/15/67 The Deadly Affair
03/22/67 The Happening
05/03/67 Casino Royale
06/28/67 Woman Times Seven
08/09/67 Luv
09/06/67 The Tiger and the Pussycat
09/20/67 The Trip
12/20/67 Counterpoint/The Jokers
01/31/68 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
04/03/68 The Secret War of Harry Frigg
05/15/68 A Man for All Seasons/To Sir, With Love
06/19/68 Boom
07/17/68 Anzio
08/07/68 The Producers
10/09/68 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
12/18/68 Oliver!
10/15/69 Journey to the Far Side of the Sun
11/05/69 Thank You All Very Much/Lock Up Your Daughters
11/19/69 Don't Drink the Water
12/17/69 Viva, Max!
02/04/70 The Magic Christian
03/25/70 The Adventurers
05/13/70 Goodbye, Mr. Chips
06/03/70 Rider on the Rain
06/24/70 The Out-of-Towners
07/29/70 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
11/11/70 WUSA
12/23/70 Cromwell
02/17/71 My Fair Lady
03/31/71 Waterloo
06/23/71 The Anderson Tapes
08/18/71 The Love Machine
11/24/71 The French Connection
02/02/72 Nicholas and Alexandra
05/24/72 Confessions of a Police Captain
06/07/72 Patton
06/14/72 Hello, Dolly!
06/28/72 Last of the Red Hot Lovers
07/19/72 The Other
10/04/72 Doctor Zhivago
10/11/72 Gone With the Wind
10/18/72 2001: A Space Odyssey
10/25/72 The Valachi Papers
12/20/72 The Poseidon Adventure
04/11/73 Class of '44
05/23/73 Hitler: The Last 10 Days
06/27/73 The Friends of Eddie Coyle
08/08/73 The Mackintosh Man
09/19/73 The Stone Killer
10/24/73 Westworld
12/19/73 Papillon
03/27/74 The Three Musketeers
06/26/74 For Pete's Sake
08/07/74 Pink Floyd
08/21/74 California Split
09/18/74 Doctor Zhivago
10/16/74 The Odessa File
12/18/74 The Towering Inferno
05/21/75 The French Connection II
06/25/75 Bite the Bullet
09/24/75 Mysteries Beyond the Earth
10/08/75 Royal Flash
11/26/75 The Human Factor
12/25/75 Lucky Lady

By coincidence, I happen to have a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle dated Wed Nov 24, 1976, which according to the introduction to this theatre above, was the opening date of the Alexandria as a triple screen cinema.

Films advertised on this date were;
Screen 1. "Shout at the Devil" + "Hard Times"
Screen 2. "Super Bug, Super Agent" + "Magic Christmas Tree"
Screen 3. "Singing in the Rain" + "The Wizard of Oz"

Evening shows only with the main feature showing twice, commencing at 6:30pm.

Don't see many theatres listed as having Egyptian style and it's GONE! So sad! :-(

While the theater is indeed closed, it is NOT gone....just drove by it last night (today is 2/11/05 Friday). Everything is still intact and even the neon parking lot sign is still lit.

Interesting…BUT some of these bookings are incorrect as I remember seeing the following at a different Theatre…

DR. ZHIVAGO…….Orpheum (reserved seats)

MY FAIR LADY….. Coronet (reserved seats)

HELLO, DOLLY….. Cinema 21 (reserved seats)

2001; SPACE………Coronet (reserved seats)

TOWERING INFERNO..Parkside regular policy



Somebody gave someone the incorrect info….they may have played SUB RUN, but not first run because I remember buying the tickets in advance (to the reserved ones) and seeing them at the above mentioned Theatres.

Dr. Zhivago: released in 1965 but re-released in the 70's when it played here.

Likewise:
My Fair Lady released 1964
Hello, Dolly released 1969
2001: released 1968 and advertised as a Cinerama film
Towering Inferno: released 1974 and appears to have played first run but as it was in wide release could have played 2 houses.

The post states that some of the listed films are reissues.

One more comment:

The '70's was a sad decade for films as evidenced by the many reissues and the lackluster first run bookings. Only a few such as French Connection and California Split stand out.

Any news to report on the present state of and how the future of the Alexandria stands?

Drove by just the other day. The theatre is still just standing there doing nothing. Sure, the store fronts are rented (they've got to pay that $6 million mortgage somehow), but why not just leave it open showing movies? Why just leave it closed not doing anything? What a waste.

Here are the bookings for Jeffery's post above.

"My Fair Lady" opened at the Coronet Oct. 30th 1964
"Dr. Zhivago" opened at the Orpheum Feb. 10th 1966
"2001" opened at the Golden Gate June 20th 1968
moved over to the Penthouse Nov. 11, 1969
opened at the Coronet April 29, 1970
"Hello Dolly" opened at the Cinema 21 Dec. 18th, 1969
"Tower Inferno" opened at the Parkside & Alexandria Dec. 20th 1974

Here the 70MM engagements from Michael's list, 1958 thru 1981. Some early dates include the North California premiere dates.

"South Pacific" July 1st, 1958
"Can-Can" May 18th, 1960
"The Alamo" Oct. 26th, 1960
"Exodus" Feb. 8th, 1961
"El Cid" Dec. 20th, 1961
"Cleopatra" June 26th, 1963
"Oliver!" Dec. 19th, 1968
"Patton" June 9th, 1970 (it opened Mar. 5th @ Golden Gate)
MGM FABULOUS FOUR ENGAGEMENT
"Dr. Zhivago" Sept. 22 thru Nov. 2 1971
"Gone With The Wind" Nov. 3 thru Nov. 9th 1971
"2001" Nov. 10 thru 16, 1971
"Ryan's Daughter" Nov. 17 thru 23, 1971 (First time in SF in 70MM)
"Nicholas & Alexandra" Feb. 2nd, 1972
"The Poseidon Adventure" Dec. 22, 1973
"The Towering Inferno" Dec. 20th, 1974 (with the Parkside)
"Lucky Lady" Dec. 25th 1975
"Logan's Run" June 23, 1976
"Sleeping Beauty" Nov. 9th, 1979 (Re-Issue)
"Alien" June 5th, 1981 (Re-Issue)

Well, The Alex is still standing there, and nothing has changed since it 'closed'. Only change is that the store fronts have been rented out. They could have continued operating it as a theatre all this time, making more $$ to finally eventually convert it into condos or whatever their plans are for it. What a waste...

Yep, and the strange thing is all the lights that still burn at night.....even the neon parking lot sign is lit.

When I was a child, my family traveled from our hometown in Merced for 2 hours to attend the opening of The Sound of Music at the Alexandria Theatre in San Francisco. The tickets were a skyhigh $5 each but we were happy to pay for the experience of the movie and the theatre. It was a memory I will not forget.

Nice color daytime photo of the Alexandria.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/California%20Theatres/AlexandriaTheatre5400GearyBlvd.jpg

Hey Chuck1231, there's a problem with that link. Would love to see the photo. I just learned that this theater closed. I live in L.A. now, but grew up in San Francisco. I went to elementary school at Argonne, just blocks away from '82 to '87. I think I saw Never Ending Story at this theater. I know I saw other films there, but can't quite remember what. I hope this theater can be saved from demolition. Not only that, of course, I hope this piece of history can be put back into action. Theaters such as this one should be considered national historical landmarks.

Here are lots of photos of this theater. Click on each photo to enlarge.

All hail Cinematour.com. We really took a lot of photo's that day (the last operating day), and we really tried to capture the feel of the theatre. Looking at the photos, I remember being in there just like it was yesterday. :-)

Recent photo:

http://www.photoeditinc.com/pr/740524464/Photo%20Edit_THE201CC_002_001.jpg

Here is another large photo of the Alexandria Theater.

From the SF Public Library website:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8540.jpg

1942:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8536.jpg

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8542.jpg

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8543.jpg

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8544.jpg

1927:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8537.jpg

1923:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8539.jpg

wow. i cannot belive I never went to this theater. I lived in San Francisco from 1982 to 2001, but I lived on Nob Hill and really went as far as the coronet and Bridge cinemas to see films. I never realized the Alexandria looked like this as it always seemed so hidden away and that far down Geary was not in my circle. If it was playing at the Alexandria, it was playing also at the Metro or Regency or Kabuku or that place on Van Ness across from the Regency. I have always loved older Theatres but simply had no idea of the beauty of this one.

I was pissed when I drove by the Alexandria and saw that it's boarded up. I only saw one movie there - "One Night Stand" with Wesley Snipes back in 1997 - but it was one of the gems in the city. Sadly now the Coronet is gone. Say goodbye to quality and hello to crammed multi-plexes.

i'm just hoping someone some day can reopen the Alexandria again as a movie theater, thats what it's ment to be. I worked there for 6yrs and was there the day it closed and i really do hope to one day see the doors reopen. Thats one thing really missing from this City and thats our neighborhood theaters, they are all vanishing and i find that truely sad.

As long as it's still standing, there's still hope... With all the drama going on with the AMC's right now, and with the Four Star, you never know...

This is the theater I really miss because it reminded me so much of the Granada Theater in Reno, NV. I loved the main auditorium so much! I thought it was beautiful. I would make special Saturday trips just to be here no matter what was playing - the 38 Geary was always fast and constant so getting to and fro was no problem. The place smelled like freshly popped popcorn (the new multiplexes DON'T).
I saw ALIEN 3, DARK CITY, THE CORE, HANNIBAL, DANTE'S PEAK...all great Saturday afternoons spent here. I would never jump theaters - I would go right down to the box office and pay for another film. That's how much I loved this place.
Greatly missed.

it's a shame with whats going on with theaters in San Francisco.

The Alexandria is now a YMCA.

I grew up on the Presidio,( 1976-81 ) and used to sneak through a hole in the fence that put you on 15th ave. and Lake, rather than go all the way around to the Lincoln/25th ave. entrance. Through the summers of 1976-'77 my buddies and I saw many films at the Coliseum, the Coronet, and the Alexandria. The Alexandria was a particular favorite place because of the Atari Gand prix game in the lobby. I remember seeing the Sorcerer, A bridge to far, a double feature of both the Godfather and the GodfatherII !, and more that I can't recall at the moment. The last film I saw there was The adventures of Yellow dog in 1994. A few years ago I was walking in the richmond, and was devastated to see the coliseum just after they finished a phase, the building was gutted, no insides, no roof just the outside walls, I just stopped and stared, just seeing it like that ...and just like now as I'm typing this,it made me cry. It made me remember not only the films I saw there, but also the buddies and girlfriends I went there with. Remember the line in the classic film Vertigo that the tycoon said to James Stewart's character " The things that mean San Francisco to me are quickly disappearing " I guess this happens to all of us who live long enough.

I just drove by last night and saw that the marquee refers to the YMCA around the corner.....the theater itself is NOT the YMCA. Just thought I'd pass that on.

Thank you ANTKNEE for verifying that info.

oh ok. I just drove by during my visit to San Francisco last month. Weather was bad, so I wasn't on foot much.

Thank you for clarifying this, I appreciate it.

My photograph of the ALEXANDRIA http://www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/202076872/

AWESOME PHOTO DAN. Thanks for sharing!

A closer look at the ALEXANDRIA.

www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/360065718

Here is a 2007 b/w photo of the Alexandria Theater.

When Mike Todd died the TODD-AO big curved screen went with him. Like the Alex in SF they did not have the big curved Todd-Ao screen that the Coronet had up the street. Seems it had a small curve? They had in the adds TODD-AO but it was mainly flat. The Coronet removed the great curved Todd-Ao curved screen after Oklahoma and Around the World. Heard the My Fair Lady 70mm people didn't want the curve look at the Coronet. To bad the curved curtains stayed up till it closed but a smaller scope screen was put in. Maybe they will do at the Sf Alexandria what is being done at the Cinema 21 (Marina) put in a store on the bottom with a theatre upstairs?

While I was stationed in Monterey in 1966/7, I saw "The Bible" at the United Artists on Market Street. At the time it seemed as if there too a deep curve screen had been replaced by a smaller one on a flat track.

The United Artists in downtown SF never had a curved scrren for it's roadshow 70mm movies. I saw The Bible a D150 film at the UA on a flat large 70mm screen. Same at the Alexandria it had a 70mm screen that had a small curve to it, not the Todd-Ao full wrap around curve. To bad the Alexandria showed most of the Todd-Ao prints on a almost flat screen.Can you imagine seeing the movie Cleopatra on a big curved screen inside the Alexandria. I had to see it run flat when it played at this great SF roadshow house. Right theatre to show this film in, you felt like you were on the Nile.

This is a recent photo of the Alexandria Theater.

At least it's still standing... there's still hope. Unlike the Coronet R.I.P.

A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 698 style H 3M was installed in the Alexandria Theater on 9/10/1923.

Still standing! Got out and had a good look around the exterior over the weekend. Was able to see into the lobby area where lights are left on. It's a mess in there, but no signs of a demolition at this point. Why is this not a historic building? The place is a gem!

James and Merritt Reid were the architects for the Alexandria Theater.

Here is a 2008 photo.

Here's another 2008 photo (cc-by license).

This is another recent photo.

Think about it. All this time it's just been sitting there, they could have been showing movies...

Another photo is here.

The Alexandria in 1996 & 1997:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34152329@N06/3473522279/in/set-72157617054310351/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34152329@N06/3473522285/in/set-72157617054310351/

1980 Photo

1986 Photo

1986 Night Photo

Here are two more 1986 day photos:

Photo1

Photo2

These photos are great! Keep them coming.

Here is another 1986 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ma7po3