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Curran Theatre

San Francisco, CA

445 Geary Street

, San Francisco, CA 94102 United States

(map)

415.551.2000

Status:	Open
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Live Performances, Stage Shows
Seats:	1758
Chain:	Independent

Architect:	Alfred Henry Jacobs
Firm:	Unknown

The Curran opened on September 10, 1922. It was built at a cost of $800,000 by Curran and Schubert; Alfred Henry Jacobs was the architect.

For eighty uninterrupted years, the Curran has served San Francisco theater-goers with top of the line legitimate productions, most recently the incredibly long running Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera.

Did the Curran every show a film? Yes! In 1925, the film version of "Phantom of the Opera", starring the legendary Lon Chaney was screened at the Curran, thereby qualifying it for inclusion in this project.

But what does that matter? The Curran is a beautifully maintained architectural treasure, still operated according to the highest imagineable standards, a living example of San Francisco's theatrical and architectural heritage.

Related Websites

Curran Theatre (Official)

Contributed by tillmany

YOUR COMMENTS

The renowned and legendary American satiric standup comedian, Lenny Bruce, did a show at the Curran Theater the night of Sunday November 19 1961. The show is available on a 2 CD set.

posted by Peter.K on May 12, 2004 at 2:52pm

Screens: Definitely "Single Screen!"

posted by gsmurph on Jun 27, 2004 at 10:55am

"All About Eve" was filmed here. The cast took the train up from Hollywood quickly since there was a production break at the Curran and it rained the four days of shooting. The cast stayed at the famous St. Francis Hotel across the street (or with friends) andthe Curran looks "Old Broadway" enough to satisfy even Eve Harrington! Great place to see a show!

posted by TaxiMan on Jan 8, 2005 at 1:51pm

When was "All About Eve" filmed at the Curran, TaxiMan ? Please comment. Thanks.

posted by Peter.K on Jan 10, 2005 at 2:22pm

"All About Eve" was released in 1950 so I am supposing that production toook place about four or five months before release (maybe longer, but post production in those days didn't take as long as today). The famous scene in which Eve Harrington waits outside the stage door for Margot Channing (Bette Davis) in the rain and is taken up to meet her by Margo's companion (Thelma Ritter) was filmed in the actual alley/stage door entryway between the Curran and the famous Clift Hotel next door. Another famous scene featuring Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis was filmed in the Curran's lobby. It still looks remarkably the same. Bette took home the Oscar for her performance and I believe that this is the film that Bette Davis first met Gary Merril. They fell in love (it shows) and married after release. If you haven't seen the film, do so. "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night..."

posted by TaxiMan on Jan 13, 2005 at 1:56pm

Thanks, TaxiMan !

posted by Peter.K on Jan 13, 2005 at 2:25pm

There is a photo of the Curran Theatre here:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8663.jpg

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 13, 2005 at 5:05pm

Well, thanks for the photo, Lost Memory! That looks as if it were taken about the period in which "All About Eve" was filmed! How great!

posted by TaxiMan on Jan 14, 2005 at 1:52pm

Just another thought here, that photo also depicts Geary Street and the Geary Theatre next door to the Curran, now home to American Conservatory Theatre) as two-way (it's one-way now and has the distinction of having the 38 Geary Municipal Railway bus line, the heaviest-trafficked line in America, by the way; then it had the Muni streetcar lines A and B with service to Golden Gate Park and beyond. San Francisco has the first and oldest, civic-owned transport in America, since 1912.

posted by TaxiMan on Jan 14, 2005 at 1:59pm

recent photo:
http://www.galen-frysinger.ws/us/unionsquare08.jpg

posted by TC on Sep 13, 2005 at 2:30am

From the SF Public Library website:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8661.jpg

posted by ken mc on Oct 28, 2005 at 5:44pm

This is a recent photo of the Curran Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on May 3, 2006 at 2:21pm

The theater cashier was shot and killed in a holdup in 1933:

San Francisco Dec. 27 – A hanging verdict was returned early this morning against Edward Anderson, 25, confessed slayer of Hewlett Tarr in a theater box office holdup. Anderson insisted throughout the trial that he had not intended to kill Tarr, Curran theater cashier, but through his unfamiliarity with his gun, it accidentally discharged as he pointed it at the cashier through the grillwork of the cashier box office window.

posted by ken mc on Feb 3, 2007 at 3:34pm

Some recent photos of the Curran Theater can be seen here, here and here.

posted by Lost Memory on Feb 6, 2007 at 5:23am

Curran Theater photo

posted by Lost Memory on Feb 3, 2009 at 7:32pm

Thanks, LM.

posted by Peter.K on Feb 4, 2009 at 8:14am

Here is the Curran in 1981.

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 26, 2009 at 4:22pm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26541422@N04/sets/72157618016463553/
some exterior curran shots

and here are some shots of the neighboring Geary, not on this site but much more interesting exterior
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26541422@N04/sets/72157618017829141/

posted by iatse311 on May 13, 2009 at 3:05pm

This is a June 1961 flyer for the Curran Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Aug 7, 2009 at 9:21am

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