Regency I

San Francisco, CA

1320 Van Ness Avenue

, San Francisco, CA, United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	800
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

The Regency opened on December 22, 1967, with "The Birds, the Bees and the Italians". Built in 1911 as the Scottish Rite Temple, it had been remodelled into a theatre by Blumenfeld Enterprises, and reigned as one of San Francisco leading first run theatres for thirty years.

With lots of problems which made it less than user friendly (stairs up to the entrance could not be accommodated by the disabled; limited waiting room inside made it necessary for crowds to line up outside on Van Ness Avenue, despite inclement weather; a narrow proscenium meant top masking had to lowered to provide a proper wide screen ratio; a flat floor meant sight line problems for those sitting in back; and, to make matters worse, the manager and her daughter/assistant had a little too much attitude for their own good), blockbuster films meant turnaway audiences year in and year out, despite, rather than because of, the venue.

Maybe to a trekkie, martyrdom made seeing "Star Trek: the Motion Picture" all the more pleasurable, but by the mid-1990's the Regency's (and its manager's days as Queen of Van Ness Avenue were definitely over, and it closed forever on November 7, 1998.

Contributed by Jack Tillmany

YOUR COMMENTS

The Scottish Rite Temple and the Avalon Ballroom, formerly Regency II), were subsequently renamed the Regency Center.

posted by gsmurph on Jun 9, 2004 at 2:20am

I saw "Top Gun" here in 1986, the only time I was ever there, and remember the Regency I as an very attractive place, despite the descriptive comments above.

posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Aug 7, 2004 at 5:43pm

Saw many movies there as Ilived a couple of blocks away on Octavia. Never cared much for that theater as the seats were uncomfortable and you had to look over people's heads to see the screen.

posted by Baby Jane on Nov 14, 2004 at 12:07pm

Saw many great movies at the Regency, including "Fantasia" and "E.T.". Was a great place to see movies, but sadly run out of business by the more modern Galaxy Theater and the AMC 1000 up the street.

posted by BLFT on Aug 3, 2005 at 4:43pm

I worked at the Regency 1 in the summer of 1991. Mrs. S., the old woman who managed the place from its opening, was the meanest human being I had ever met. She mocked and degraded her staff almost daily; was she the boss till the end? She must've been 75 by 1998! Would love to know what became of her as well as Anita and Ana (her two friendly assistants when I worked there; Mrs. S.'s daughter was not always her assistant).

posted by George75 on Jul 12, 2006 at 3:33pm

Pearl Stimmel (1922-2006) was the "manager with an attitude" at the Regency 1. I believe she retired in 1993. Her assistant Anita went home to North Dakota. I have no idea what became of Ana.

posted by George75 on Feb 16, 2007 at 8:14am

It was a beautiful theatre interior wise.. It was green and white as I remember. The walls were green with White moldings, and there were several chandeliers hanging from the ceiling in the main auditorium.

My first movie here was E.T. when I first moved to San Francisco in 1982. I so remember lining up on Van Ness and around the corner as the description above says. I miss that theatre.

posted by Aerick on Mar 23, 2008 at 3:34am

I worked at the Regency 1 in summer '97 and Mrs Stimmel was still working there, at least part time during the day. I worked nights so didn't actually work with her but she was always nice to me whenever we spoke and was a real character. I returned while on vacation in summer '98 and she was still there, recognised me and let me in for free to see a movie (The Truman Show). I have very fond memories of the theatre, sad to see it closed. Con Air, Face Off and GI Jane were running the summer I worked there. Winona Ryder came in one night with friends to see GI Jane!

posted by richardm on Jun 29, 2008 at 8:56am

1986 Photo

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 27, 2009 at 12:55pm

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