Alhambra Theatre

The Alhambra Theatre was opened in 1926. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 Manual/6 Ranks theatre organ. It was closed in March 1974 to be twinned and reopened on July 24, 1974. In 1988, it was de-twinned into a single screen theatre again. The Alhambra Theatre was closed in 1997. Having met with a slightly more fortunate end than the more than 30 other single-screen theatres lost in San Francisco since 1980, the Alhambra Theatre found a new life as a Gorilla Sports gym, and from 2006 it had become a Crunch Fitness gym.

Amazingly, the interior and facade have both been preserved almost entirely, with a much-needed facelift. Fresh coats of paint and leafing in the house have this place looking better than it has in decades.

In the balcony you’ll find a surprise: all but the front few rows of seats have been removed and in their place, treadmills facing the theatre’s new screen. Management has said that plans for the future include hosting film exhibitions, though not with celluloid – the projection room has been converted to a Yoga Studio!

A startlingly vivid restored marquee still serves as a beacon to the inhabitants of this trendy area of Polk Street.

The current change of use is not the first to endanger this theatre – in October of 1930 a pipe bomb was discovered in its ticket booth.

Recent comments (view all 50 comments)

Mikeyisirish on August 5, 2012 at 4:33 pm

A few July 2012 photos can be seen here, here, here and here.

Will Dunklin on February 22, 2014 at 7:31 am

In June 1926 the Rudolph Wurlitzer company shipped a pipe organ to the Alhambra in San Francisco. It was Wurlitzer’s opus 1364, a style “D,” 2 manuals, 6 ranks in a single chamber: an unusually small organ for a theatre of this size and quality. It was removed around 1960 and supposedly still exists in a private residence.

RSM3853 on October 29, 2015 at 7:09 am

My research shows the Alhambra reopening as a twin during the week of July 24, 1974. “The Groove Tube” was featured in one auditorium (Alhambra I) and “Jeremiah Johnson” in the other (Alhambra II). Prior to this, the last first run opening I have found is “Man on a Swing” during the week of March 6, 1974, so I am guessing that the construction for twinning took place during the spring and early summer of 1974.

jordanlage on July 3, 2016 at 7:07 am

I remember being excited to see Altman’s “Buffalo Bill & the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s history Lesson” there in 1976 in one of the twin auditoriums. In fact, I was so stoked to see Paul Newman and Harvey Keitel in a film together, I endured two back-to-back showings. Pretty dull. Today, you won’t find many film buffs mentioning “Buffalo Bill” in the same breath as MASH, Nashville, The Player, Short Cuts, or Gosford Park. I was 13 in 1976 and in love with the movies was my excuse. Would have loved to have seen a good film there when it converted back to single screen.

CStefanic on March 21, 2018 at 12:11 pm

How’s the progress with this theatre? Anybody know?

rivest266 on August 12, 2018 at 3:47 pm

This reopened as a twin cinema on July 24th, 1974. Ad in the photo section.

terrywade on August 12, 2018 at 7:47 pm

The Alhambra when It was a single cinema had one of the largest curved CinemaScope® screens in San Francisco with curtains. Everyone was so shocked when the Blumenfelds put a wall in.

DavidZornig on April 27, 2019 at 7:12 pm

Alahambra is the first one pictured.

https://www.wired.com/story/americas-grand-movie-palaces-gallery/?fbclid=IwAR2A1U3TXQ5VTgV7OhxB-erz64aJSnXNK5lynSkrJyS8-DHIRQ0r_ZEMuJs

jwmovies on September 22, 2022 at 1:36 am

I saw the SF premieres of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (The reopening of a single screen and met Stan Winston annd Dennis Muren to boot!) and The Silence of the Lambs with my younger brother (World Premiere BTW!) Excellent theater! The acoustics were astounding! The concession stand awas tiny but who cares? The entire auditorium was bathed in emerald colors of various shades I kid you not! I remembered this one like the back of my hand! RIP old Al! You were one of the greatest cinemas in America! 😇😔

m00se1111 on May 14, 2023 at 11:48 am

YouTube video showing the inside of the Alhambra in it’s current life as a Crunch Fitness location

https://youtu.be/khdf46TVRzc