Harding Theatre

The architects were Reid Bros. The original theme of the building was predominantly Gothic. As this is appropriate for a church, these features have been maintained. Last year, however, the church group elected to remove all the light fixtures (products of a 30s remodeling) and throw them away. Fortunately a local architectural salvage/antiques specialist heard of this and removed them himself. The fixtures, though sold and dispersed were at least saved from destruction. A pair of ceiling lights are intended to go to the Del Mar, Santa Cruz. A pair of restroom signs, to the State, Monterey.

There is a photo of the Harding Theater here:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8868.jpg

ALERT: Condo developers have obtained permits to demolish San Francisco's historic Harding Theater. Neighborhood merchants are lobbying to save the theater and adapt it for reuse. They will meet with the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, February 1, 2005, at City Hall, Room 244, One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street between Grove and McAllister Streets), San Francisco, 3:30 pm. (415) 568-3306.

For info: www.sfbg.com/39/17/x_alerts.html

This Supervisors meeting has been postponed to Tuesday, February 15 at 4 pm.

In a newspaper report (currently on display in the lobby of the Balboa Theater and built by the same promotor and architects) it states that the Harding opening night was May 8th 1926 (not April as given the opening header above). All other details, movie, star and builder/architect are correct.

UPDATE: The public hearing before the Board of Supervisors is now March 15, 2005 at 4:00 pm.

In a positive development for the Harding, the Board of Supervisors rescheduled the Feb. 15 hearing so that the Board can consider whether the Planning Commission complied with the state environmental quality act (CEQA). This and growing support from neighborhood and preservation organizations significantly improve the prospect that the project will be sent back to the Planning Commission for environmental review and community dialogue over the use of the theater.

The public hearing before the Board of Supervisors has been rescheduled for March 15, 2005 at 5:00 pm.

E-MAIL THE SUPERVISORS.
Copy/paste the following email addresses for the SF Board of Supervisors:

Tom.Ammiano@sfgov.org, Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org, Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org, Sophie.Maxwell@sfgov.org, Fiona.Ma@sfgov.org,
Michela.Alioto-Pier@sfgov.org, Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org, ross.mirkarimi@sfgov.org, Gerardo.Sandoval@sfgov.org, Jake.McGoldrick@sfgov.org, Chris.Daly@sfgov.org

Please BCC a copy to savedivistheater@gmail.com so that your support can be noted. Be sure to list your name and street address so that Supervisors know that your support is real.

SIGN OR PICK UP A PETITION OR FLYERS TO DISTRIBUTE:
Madrone Lounge-after 6pm (Fell/Divisadero)
The Film Yard (Fulton/Divis)
Distractions (Haight/Ashbury)

CONTACT
Call David Tornheim at
415-668-2353.

Central City Progressives
c/o David Tornheim
1890 Grove # 5,
San Francisco, CA 94117

A Robert-Morton organ Size 2/7 was installed in the Harding Theater in 1926.

From the SF Public Library website:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8869.jpg

One more:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8863.jpg

More photos of the Harding theatre can be seen on the pages of this awesome collection.

http://leftinthedark.info/

Anyone know what happened re demolition?
http://tinyurl.com/29rd7q

Save the Harding Theater website has some nice photos of this theater.

I live around the corner from this location. I walk by this theater every day and I would love for it to be a neighborhood theater. I'd never leave. When it was a church I used to sneak a peak in and see the chairs and stage.
It's all boarded up and, thankfully, the doorway was shut off from people sleeping in it.
This is one of those theaters where I'd love to see retro-programming and fun midnight films like they do at the CASTRO and CLAY theaters. Some day, maybe.

The hearing for saving the Harding Theatre is scheduled for September 25 at 1:30pm.

Info can be found here
http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/07/15/spotted_harding_theater_protest_already_planned.php

More info including photos at
http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/07/10/preservationists_unite_condos_for_the_harding_theater.php

The struggle to save The Harding Theatre continues into its fourth year. The latest plan of the developer would restore some of the auditorium but would eliminate the stage and replace it with eight condos and eight parking spots at the rear of the theatre. The front would also be altered. This proposal is being challanged in a hearing on August 27th 2008.

Here are several photos of the exterior and interior lobby and auditorium when it still functioned as a movie theatre

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8868.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8869.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8870.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8871.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8872.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8866.jpg

Just came across this today:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/29/BAS712K5PA.DTL&type=realestate

Scroll down to the end of this article to read about a 94 year old woman's memories of the Harding.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/18/BA7O12VPB1.DTL&hw=harding&sn=001&sc=1000

On November 13, 2008, all seven members of the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved an appeal by The Friends of 1800 historical preservation group regarding a developer's plans to demolish the back portion of the Harding Theater to build condominiums and make substantial modifications to the remainder. The next day, the developer announced his intention to sell the building.
For more info see: http://savetheharding.blogspot.com/
-and-Friends of 1800 site mentioned above.

Here is an undated photo of the Harding as an adult theater.

More on the possible condo-sation of the Harding....

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2009/09/01/nopas_harding_theater_condos_return_with_a_vengeance.php