Stanford Theatre

i would like some info on running classic movies. my wife and i are reopening an old movie theatre in our town (elizabeth penn.)and would appreciate any input. thank you

i'm learning how to write a proposal for one of my writing classes at school. i proposed opening a small, single screen movie theatre that only showed classic films and now i really want to do it, so if you could send me some information that would be great. for my class i need to have a budget so i know how much of a loan i should ask for, so if its possible to send me the costs of major budget items that would be really super. thanks a lot.

A bit of clarification: The original architects of the Stanford were Charles Peter Weeks and William Day. Other nearby theatres by them include the Fox California, San Jose (undergoing restoration/expansion), the Fox Peninsula, Burlingame (demolished), and the Fox Oakland (extant but closed).

The original painted decorations were by Power Studios, a firm later absorbed by Heinsbergen. Heinsbergen still had the original Power Studios color renderings of the decorative scheme in their files, and thus were brought in to restore the Stanford's colorful interior in 1989 to as close as possible to what had been there originally. The results are superb.

This is my favorite theater in the entire San Francisco Bay Area (with the exception of the Rafael) to go see classic movies presented in their original style and format.

David Packard has done an exceptional job in making the citizens of Palo Alto proud of this magnificent picture palace, and a popular place to go by cinema enthusiasts of all ages.

If only there were more theaters in America like the Stanford...

I live in San Francisco, and drive the 40 minutes or so to Palo Alto whenever possible to see films the way they were meant to be seen at the Stanford Theatre. David Packard not only runs the Stanford as a non-profit venue for old films, but I believe he is also the main financial supporter of the UCLA Film Archive.

The Stanford movie experience often includes Dave himself up on stage with a microphone telling the audience just how they were able to piece together the print he is about to show us, finding the best bits of film from many different prints all around the world and assembling them. And, on more than one occasion, he has done the assembly on the spot. When we recently watched The Wizard of Oz he told us that his own Technicolor print looked better in the color portion of the film, but the rented print looked better for the black and white intro ........ so he told us that they would be switching reels (seamlessly) when Dorothy reaches Oz. Another example was for my favorite film, "Gilda" staring Rita Hayworth. The UCLA Film Archive restoration hadn't quite been completed by the scheduled screening date (one that had been postponed for months), so he showed us what he had finished. As a result, we got to see a cleaner print than any other theatrical audience ever had (or will), since our print had been made directly from the negative.. WOW! And, since they were still working on it, the sound had to be played off of another recording. He cautioned us that the sync might slip during the screening, but everything was perfect. And what an amazingly clear picture! We were seeing incredible detail in a 50+ year old motion picture ....... the kind of skin detail you don't get in today's films.

So, THANK YOU David Packard for spending your fortune so wisely and philanthropically. We DO appreciate your efforts and perfectionism.

Hi! I'm from Chennai in India and I'm a big movie buff. I love watching classics and given a chance I'd do it all day! I'm now considering opening a theatre in my hometown to screen only classics.I believe there's a market for such a business at this point in time.Would you be able to provide me with some details on how I can go about this project? I would appreciate it if anyone who runs such a business can give me some advice.
Thanks.

A very quaint, but beautiful neighborhood theatre, that has been very carefully and lovingly restored, as any old theatre could hope to be. This theatre has one of the warmest and most welcoming lobbies, with it's vintage movie posters and tapestries hanging along the walls, and the smell of hot buttered popcorn wafting in the air.
The film presentations here are always first rate, and only the nicest prints are run. The 3-D festival in Spring 2000, was particularly memorable. Seeing a brand, new print of "Kiss Me Kate" in perfect, dual-projector 3-D and interlocked stereo sound goes down as one of my favorites movie-going experiences ever! May the Stanford keep going...it's a treasure for sure!

In July 2001, I attended a screening of the Harold LLoyd classic, "Safety Last" and a Buster Keaton short "One Week" at the Stanford THeatre. There was a line of people which was almost completely circling the block, waiting to see this silent picture! The prints were almost perfect and the comedy portrayed was timeless. The organist and the environment was as much of the show as the movies were! The theatre, which I think holds around 1000 patrons, was completely filled for this showing. Totally awesome and unforgettable!

A very good seven-page article about the STANFORD appeared in "Americana" magazine of April 1990, and is replete with photos, both modern ones in color, and vintage in black and white. Most areas of the theatre are shown as well as a portrait of David Packard. The article well describes his loving attention to the details of accurate and complete restoration. Likely the magazine is at some libraries (ask your local librarian to check the Union List of Serials to determine who has it) or it may be available as a back issue for sale from the publisher through their web site; search for it on www.Google.com

The Stanford Theatre occasionally has former movie stars in attendance. When "The Birds" and "Marnie" were being shown, Tippi
Hedren was in the audience. She answered questions from the audience.
One patron asked her if she thought Alfred Hitchcock was a happy man.
She replied no at first but then added "who the hell knows what happy
is." The theatre was sold out the night she appeared. I remember wait
ing in a long line to get in. Eva Marie Saint also appeared when "North
By Northwest" was screened. I believe Alice Faye also was there when
her films were shown.

Some time in the early 1990s I went to the Stanford Theatre and saw the Scarlet Empress (1934) starring Marlene Dietrich. My friends and I sat in the balcony, and that evening was a peak experience for me. The theater's decor was magnificent. The film was a pristine, gorgeous print, and the movie itself was pretty good, too. I got on the Stanford's mailing list, even though I don't live in California. I sent them donations, and they sent me their schedules for a couple of years. If I lived in California I would go there often.

On 21 July 2004, David Packard announced to the audience at the Stanford theater in Palo Alto, California, that his foundation will be issuing "That Certain Thing" (1928) on DVD, with a musical score compiled and performed by Dennis James, recorded using the Stanford's Mighty Wurlitzer organ. This will be the first time this film has ever been issued on DVD or video, and the first film to be issued, in a non-theatrical format, by the Stanford Theater Foundation.

Newer photo. Note link to theater homepage near top of this page:
http://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/index.html

try again

http://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/usa/images/usa_paloalto_stanford.jpg

Home page:
http://www.stanfordtheatre.org/

Discovering this theater in the Summer of '99 was a dream come true for me. I can't top what's already been said about the beauty and physical charm of the theater itself, but for me, it's the finest movie house in California, if not the entire country. It's allowed me to compress a lifetime of film study into just a few years. I was drop-dead astounded when I first came to understand what this place is, what it stands for and who stands behind it. It was an absolute thrill getting to meet Eva Marie Saint, chat for a moment and get her autograph. She's a very warm, down to earth lady, and the years have been very kind to her. My wife and I were completely blown away by Charlie Chaplin's "The Gold Rush" -- astonished by the ingenuity of the set pieces and delighted with the pathos associated with the little tramp. The organist played brilliantly. Standing ovation at the close of the show. Now I understand why Chaplin is considered the granddaddy of all cinema. Thank heaven for David Packard. His efforts have brought the experience into sharp focus by helping us understand, in several dimensions, what personally experiencing the golden age of cinema really is. And why it was the golden age. To call this place a treasure is an understatement in the extreme.

Ken Zowal
Fremont, California
kz1967@sbc.com

I discovered the Stanford as a great date theatre when I was in High School. In 2002, I found the Silent FIlm series and realised for the first time why old timers would always say tha the third row was the best palce to watch a silent because you got the wind from teh pipes
Chris

I am a reporter writing a story about the Stanford Theatre. Does anyone out there have any memories of times spent there they'd care to share? Or willing to talk about how they've compensated for its dark screen all these months? Please email me at swykes@mercurynews.com - as soon as possible. Thank you so much!

This is a B/W photo of the Stanford Theater.

Nice color photo of the exterior of the Stanford.
http://www.mes-eng.com/mes/Photos/stanth2.JPG
Beautiful interior photo
http://www.mes-eng.com/mes/Photos/stanth1.JPG

Here is a closeup of the Stanford marquee lit up.

A photograph of the foyer taken in 1997:
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/89841228/

Another foyer view:
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/89841341/

Proscenium view:
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/89841313/

Auditorium side-wall from balcony:
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/89841273/

Auditorium ceiling:
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/89841244/

This is another photo of the Stanford Theater.

Here is a recent 2006 photo of the Stanford theater.

This is a recent 2006 night view of the Stanford Theater.

Here is another recent photo of the Stanford Theater.

This is from the Modesto Bee, 11/10/53:

Showhouse Aide Admits Hoax In Holdup Report

Gerald Taylor, assistant manager of the Stanford Theater, has admitted his report of a $400 holdup Sunday night was a hoax, Police Captain Guy Wathen reported. Taylor and an ex-boxer companion,
Enrico Morris, have been booked at city jail on suspicion of grand theft, Wathen said yesterday. In his report to police, Taylor said a gun was pressed to his back as he was changing lights on the theater marquee. He said a gunman forced him to open a safe and then fled with the money in three bank sacks.

Under questioning, Wathen said Taylor broke down and confessed that he had taken the money and given it to Morris, who was sitting in a nearby car. Wathen said $290 of the stolen money has been recovered from a Greyhound bus depot safety box. Morris, who fought four heavyweight fights under the name of Ric Garro in 1949, admitted spending $40, said Wathen. Some $70 is still missing.

This is a 2007 close-up view of the Stanford Theater.

My Mother, Ferol Tarantino managed this theatre from 1971 thru when Mann theatres sold in the early 80's, It was a nice theatre then, it played mainly Black films to rough patrons, every once in a while at the time It was National General Theatres it wa booked with all Disney Films, i remember when "DUMBO" was released the theatre was sold out every day, that was the first time they ever used the upstairs balcony. otherwise it was locked so you could get in it I use to hide in the grills on the sides of the walls , It had a great grand piano back stage never was used the organ was already removed,I have the inventory that FOX WEST COAST THEATRES had for the theatre , It was originally called the FOX stanford, if i new how to download the black and white 8 x 10 photos of the theatre I would, I have the orignal photos from the opening of the theatre I also have the doormans box, it is very art deco. If David Packard would like the photos and the doorman's box, go ahead and contact me i would be happy to give them to him. I am a fan of movie palaces, i grew up in the theatre business, I worked with my Mom at all of the theatres that Ted Mann closed and sold on the Peninsula, The Fox Burlingame, San Mateo Theatre 3rd ave, the Carlos Theatre on San carlos Ave, the Fox Redwood city, Fox Skyline, in San Bruno, the Laurel Theatre, San carlos,Manor Theatre 25th ave San Mateo, Millbrae in Millbrae, State Theatre SSF, Serra theatre Daly City, Now those were the days..

Mr. Tarantino,
it would be great if those original BW photos could be enjoyed by everyone! You can find my email by clicking on my name. I'd be happy to scan them, place them on my flickr site, link those photos to this site as I did with the San Francisco Metro photos, and mail your originals back to you.
Or, maybe somebody in S.F. area can do so?

I'm not sure the email appears properly by clicking my name, so here it is: HowardBHaas@aol.com

This is a recent interior photo.

A recent night view of the marquee can be seen here.

Here is the marquee during the day.

I doubt if Cary Grant would appreciate the co-billing with Marilyn in Monkey Business. Marilyn was in one scene, if I recall correctly.

Here is a November 1965 ad from the San Mateo Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2826tv

Interesting reading on the robbery hoax (see above). The police captain was my grandfather, Guy O. Wathen.

This website has some photos of the Stanford Theater and the book store. The photos on the sides of the page can be expanded by clicking on them.

This is a 2008 marquee photo. Try to contain your excitement.

Lucile Packard spelled her first name with only one "L"

In 1987, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation purchased the theatre (located in downtown Palo Alto, California) to preserve the historic building and provide a proper setting for exhibiting films from Hollywood's Golden Age.

This is a recent interior view.

Here is a July 2008 night view.

Another 2008 photo can be seen here.

This is for the marquee people.

I am the manager of the Stanford Theatre Foundation; we run the Stanford Theatre. I would like to contact John Tarentino. He mentioned in a post above that his mother used to manage the Stanford in the 1970s, and they have some materials that we might be interested in. We would be VERY interested in the materials he mentions. I can be reached by e-mail at cyndim@packhum.org

Here is a recent shot of the Stanford at night.

A Nitrate film fire Thursday night 10 minutes into the film "Cover Girl" at the Stanford Theatre, forcing evacuation and temporary closure of the theatre.

http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=3710

1982 Photo

1984 Photo

1986 Photo

1986 Night Photo

This photo is labeled as being the Varsity Theater but it is actually the Stanford Theater in 1931.

Here is an August 2009 photo.

This is a nice 2009 night photo.

The Stanford by far if the finest theatre in the Nation to watch classic film. I wish every City was had a theatre such as the Stanford. My favorite theatre chain of all time was Fox West Coast which ran the Stanford for many years.brucec