Tamalpais Theatre
328 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard,
San Anselmo,
CA
94960
328 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard,
San Anselmo,
CA
94960
1 person
favorited this theater
Opened in 1924-25 as the Tamalpais Community Playhouse. It became a movie house a year later as the Tamalpais Theatre and included a $25,000 organ. It was operated until 1976 by the Blumenfeld Theatre chain and from 1976 until closing in 1989 by Pacific Theatres.
The 1,086-seat auditorium was demolished after the Tamalpais Theatre closed to make way for a parking lot. The remaining interior was gutted, with the lower level becoming retail space and the upper floor becoming offices. The facade was restored and is now used to announce community events.
Contributed by
frenchjr25, David Guastavino
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
A correction to the above —-
The Tam Theatre, as the locals new it, was originally opened in 1924-25 as the Tamalpais Community Playhouse, and one year later, became the Tamalpais Theatre and was operated as a movie theatre until its closing in 1989. It was built and operated for most of its existence by the Blumenfeld Theatre circuit of San Francisco, and later (from 1976 until its closing) by Pacific Theatres of Los Angeles. The theatre was named after a local geological landmark, Mount Tamalpais, which dominates views for most of central and southern Marin County, north of San Francisco.
It seated 1086, all on one main floor, with about 250 of these seats, located at the back of the theare, being rocking-back loges (cost 50 cents extra to sit in them when I was a kid!)
Prior to demolition, the auditorium chandeliers visible in the photo were salvaged. I remeber seeing them sitting in the lobby as demolition of the auditorium commenced.
Here is a recent photo of the building that housed the former Tamalpais Theater.
Harold G stoner was the Architect of Tamalpais Theatre. He was my Grandfather.
Here are photos from 1970, 1980 and 1986:
http://tinyurl.com/pj86sq
http://tinyurl.com/pa2fws
http://tinyurl.com/pzzdkz
http://tinyurl.com/qusq6s