Roxie Cinema
3117 16th Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94103
3117 16th Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94103
20 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 39 of 39 comments
The Surf was converted into a church, not demolished.
The seats for the Roxie came from the Surf Theatre when it was demolished. These much newer seats (circa 1975) replaced the original circa 1915 seats, which were prone to collapse.
The Roxie has turned the corner and between the regular Roxie and the Little Roxie two doors away (the Dalva bar doorway is between them), and with the success of Roxie Releasing (which releases interesting movies abandoned by other distributors), the Roxie appears to be on firm footing for the first time in the 28 years it’s been a revival/independent cinema house. And it was the fundraising by interested filmgoers and neighbors in 2002 that saved the Roxie.
This was also one of the earliest theaters in San Francisco showing hard porn, starting in the late 1960’s and in some of their SF Chronicle ads, even advertised 35mm hardcore. (At the time they started, many of the other places showing hard porn at that time were theaters made out of converted storefronts and used 16mm projection.) In March 1976, it went to revival house programming.
Roxie’s roots seem to go back even further than 1912. It’s listed in an October 1909 San Francisco telephone directory as being operated by C. H. Brown. The name Poppy first appears in 1912; around 1918
it was known as the New 16th Street. (The Victoria down the street
had been the first 16th Street Theatre). In 1920, it was the Rex,
in 1926 the Gem, in 1930 the Gaiety, and, finally, in 1933 (or so)
the Roxie.
So whats going to happen to the original?
The long-planned “Little Roxie” has finaly opened, just up the block from the original.
I’m afraid I’ll have to agree with MST-SF. I’ve lived in the Mission for almost 20 years and the poor old Roxie just keeps getting grimmer and grimmer. Most of my movie-going pals avoid the place regardless of how badly they want to see the picture that’s showing. Good grief, a little paint and polish would go a long, long way! The “little Roxie” going in next door is taking forever to get up and going and I can’t see how spending money on a new auditorium will improve the old one. This place has interesting and challenging booking but must have rather inept managment. People want to go the movies in this neighboorhood, but they’d like to retain SOME sensation in their buttocks before the film is through. (Someone mentioned to me that the seats are from the old Surf Theatre!)
Be happy to have a full time revival house, in New York all of ours closed.
This place is a cramped, uncomfortable dump. Old and tired. It’s like watching a movie in a dank basement. I can’t recall having a bleaker moviegoing experience. An ambiance more than matched by the dark and intimidating neighborhood that surrounds it.
I’d rather take a midnight stroll through the Tenderloin.
A more convenient, comfortable, accommodating venue with the same programing would easily double the take and eliminate, or at least ameliorate, the ever-present specter of financial collapse that seems to plague this establishment.
Old doesn’t always mean good.
Let it go, man!
Lets hunt MICHAEL and make his house a concert hall instead.
Who ever heard of a symphony concert hall that seats less than 300 people?
Splendid projection booth with pair of Simplex E-7s and carbon Peerless Magnarcs – enjoyed my visit.
This jewel of a theater is in danger of closing. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the operators are four months behind on rent and may have to close if the matter is not resolved by April 16. They are having a save the theater benefit on April 7. If you are in the San Francisco area on this date, attend by all means. Not only is this the oldest operating theater in San Francisco(and in great shape too), but they have also been instrumental in getting many little known films exposed to the public that helped get them wide exposure. Some examples are: Red Rock West, Baise-Moi, Panic, Man Bites Dog, Tigerland, numerous documentaries, pre-Code Hollywood films, noir films of the 40’s & 50’s, and lots more. Save this theater now!!