Alameda Theatre
2317 Central Avenue,
Alameda,
CA
94501
2317 Central Avenue,
Alameda,
CA
94501
24 people
favorited this theater
The Alameda Theatre originally opened in 1932 with a seating capacity of 2,168. It closed in the 1980’s as a triplex theatre. It was later used as a gymnastics studio.
In 2005, plans were proposed to renovate and re-open the theatre. The original auditorium has reverted back to one space, with seven additional screens built next to the theatre, designed by the architectural firm The Henry Architects. The Alameda Theatre re-opened May 21, 2008.
Contributed by
Owen Smith
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Recent comments (view all 142 comments)
2009 photo of the Alameda Theatre.
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I’ve posted information and photos from several recent visits:
1/21/2010
¾/2010
3/18/2010
3/24/2010
4/15/2010
Wil thanks for the great photos, I really like the B&W for their clarity.
Thanks for your photos Will— they are fabulous! Wish we could get them substituted for the photo at the top of this page.
Some 2008 photos of the Alameda Theatre courtesy Julia
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Re: Curtain from the Alameda Business Update 10/25/2010:
The Theatre’s original, elaborately handpainted
screen curtains were central to its
design when it opened in the 1930’s.
Eventually, the right-hand stage curtain fell
into disrepair, sustaining irreparable water
damage. When the Restoration Project began
in 2000, replacement fabric was used to
complete the curtain.
This year, the City and Alameda
Entertainment Associates’ Kyle Conner began
a search for the right fabric – and the right
artist – to recreate the lost curtain piece.
Among several candidates for the job, Bay
Area artist Beate Bruhl was chosen to copy the
fabric’s intricate design and paint it onto new
fabric. Ms. Bruhl had worked with the crew to
gold-leaf the Theatre during its 2008
See Theatre
Curtain continued:
restoration and was well acquainted with
its needs. She had soon prepared a
stencil of the design to be transferred
onto new fabric.
Theatre operator Conner collaborated
with local upholsterer Jimmy Luque to
find the perfect curtain fabric,
eventually selecting Turkish velvet.
After Ms. Bruhl creates a newly painted
curtain panel and it is attached to the
existing curtain, the curtain will be back
to itself again.
To learn more about the historic
Alameda Theatre, visit
http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/theater/
The restoration of the original Alameda Theatre to a single screen and the addition of seven additional screens was designed by the Seattle firm The Henry Architects. Their cinema projects slide show includes four photos of the Alameda Cinema.
A few 2011 photos can be seen here and here.
Out in Alameda, the city “IN” the bay is the number 7 choice in the Bay Area’s Top Ten list in the SF Weekly publication. I’ve never had the pleasure to visit. Hopefully on an upcoming visit.
A great night time photo is featured in the link below.
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2012/08/top_10_bay_area_movie_theaters.php