Regency I
1320 Van Ness Avenue,
San Francisco,
CA
1320 Van Ness Avenue,
San Francisco,
CA
3 people
favorited this theater
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
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 11 comments)
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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!
1986 Photo
Does Any one know what" in the building NOW?
It’s being used for live shows as well as banquets.