Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand Avenue,
Oakland,
CA
94610
3200 Grand Avenue,
Oakland,
CA
94610
38 people
favorited this theater
Built in 1926 with 1,700 seats in its single auditorium, Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater still shows first run movies.
Built as a vaudeville and silent movie house before switching to an all-movies format, the Grand Lake Theater was bought and sold five times from 1926 to 1980. The most recent owner, Renaissance Rialto Inc., purchased the Grand Lake Theater in 1980 and spent $3.5 million renovating the worn movie palace.
Part of the original renovation in 1980 also added a second screen in the theater’s balcony and the theater has added two more screens with a total seating capacity over 1,600. Despite the changes, the Grand Lake Theater has retained the charm of its original appearance and its original illuminated roof top sign.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 98 comments)
Here are some 1986 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Photo3
Photo4
Here is a photo from around the time of the opening:
http://tinyurl.com/nxravg
Recently went and there is a new gold curtain in the main auditorium. It looks terrible. :–( What happened to the other (red) curtain?
Maximum occupancy signs above each auditorium door currently list the following:
1. Downstairs: 626.
2. Upstairs: 449.
3. Egyptian: 235.
4. Moorish: 161.
That puts the total seating at 1471.
2010 close up photo of the Grand Lake marquee.
View link
Thank you, Chuck, for an absolutely FABULOUS PHOTOGRAPH. It’s the best I’ve seen since joining CT a long time ago!
How about the recently restored awesome Oakland Fox in/outside please?
Other photographers PLEASE take regarding the above note and let’s get some totally different angles as well as some interior shots, too!
I’ve posted information and photos from two recent visits:
1/15/2010
3/3/2010
An article about the Grand Lake and its determined owner from the San Francisco Chronicle’s website: View link
Hurrah for the Grand Lake supporting the General Strike!
Here’s a recent photo of the Grand Lake Theatre:
http://www.thewholeearthisfilledwithhisglory.com/theaters/035a.html