Alexandria Theatre
5400 Geary Boulevard,
San Francisco,
CA
94121
5400 Geary Boulevard,
San Francisco,
CA
94121
18 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 105 comments
I just heard its going to be demolished soon. Hence the quick 45 day moratorium. Something is a foot in San Francisco!
Mr. Hooper, thanks so much for the photo’s. I used to live in a studio apartment off 15th ave and Geary Blvd after doing time in the Army in the mid-sixties. I couldn’t afford a TV so I’d save my extra cash and take in a movie at the Alexandria. “Oliver” etc. By the way……the studio apartment was $85.00 a month. Tee Hee.
Been living in Denver since 1972 and we’ve lost many of the old movie palaces. We’ve managed to hang onto the Paramount downtown and our Great Lady called the Mayan on South Broadway. It’s owned by Landmark and show’s art-films. It was once a huge single screen now its three. The two screens upstairs are extremely uncomfortable as your knees are in your face its soooo tight, not to mention the “rake” of the stairs to get to the rows of seats. I’ve seen many a patron take a tumble. Thanks again for the photo’s. Bob in Denver.
I wonder if Prop L has anything to do with the moratorium….
http://www.saveourtheatres.org/
Yep, and I bet Chaplin would be ashamed too. LOL Couple of days ago I heard on the local news that there would be a 45 day moratorium on demolition of theaters in the city. Don’t quite know what’s going on behind the scenes but obviously something’s up.
Cahplin would be ashamed of what has become of his company
Just this minute returned from checking out the theater. 11:43 pm 9/24/04 Everything is still closed up and the windows on the front doors are papered over but the lights in the lobby are still on and I was able to peek inside. It’s still all intact, that’s to say there’s no sign of demolition. What appears to be the candy counter is still there and it looks like with restocking this could be a turn key operation. There is a sign in one of the windows that says “Store for lease” and indicates interested parties should call some bank (which I don’t recall at the moment). Curious that they should involve a bank, perhaps the property was foreclosed upon?
Beware of theatre mergers or takeovers the first thing to go is the real estate.Regal picked up the UA circuit for peanuts due to its bankruptcy and is selling off UA real estate and disposing of all single screens. UA took much better care of there theatres,if you can believe it, when they were based in San Francisco. Regal is based out of state and could care less about the assets that they purchased here in the city. Regal is the largest circuit in the US and many assets were picked up for bargain prices across the country. Edwards in Southern California also was picked up by Regal but most of there theatres were far superior to most of the UA theatres which is no surpise. Regal had no intention of keeping any of there theatres in San Francisco. Its ironic the newcomers AMC and Loew’s displaced Blummenfiel and United Artists which operated in the city for decades. Outside of the downtown movie palaces the Alexandria and Coronet were one of the best theatres to see a film despite UA. The key exclusive run roadshow theatres of the 1950s and 1960’s were the Orpheum,Golden Gate,United Artists which were downtown and the Coronet and Alexandria located in the Richmond district.I saw many films growing up at the Alexandria when it was a single screen but saw only the “Deer Hunter” after it was triplexed.brucec
United Artists has sunk to low levels since the days when it was started by Chaplin, Pickford, Fairbanks, and Griffith.
If they wanted to redo do it as a tri-auditorium theatre they could still have left the lobby nice. It should be restored and show motion pictures again. Why can’t they build nice stuff anymore? i mean who wants to look at the abstract-looking crap buildings that they build now. Why can’t they build them like they did in the 20s and 30s and before?
If they wanted to redo do it as a tri-auditorium theatre they could still have left the lobby nice. It should be restored and show motion pictures again. Why can’t they build nice stuff anymore? i mean who wants to look at the abstract-looking crap buildings that they build now. Why can’t they build them like they did in the 20s and 30s and before?
It was the Alexandria when it opened, and it was the Alexandria when
it closed; for 80 years it was the Alexandria, and by that name
it is still fondly recalled as you can read in the host of comments
above and below. Why can’t Cinema Treasures eliminate the “UA” in front of its name, which is nothing but an artifact of corporate egotism, so it will show up at the top of the San Francisco list,
in the “A” category where it belongs? A lot of people may not look for it down among the “U”’s, and will probably think it’s not listed at all.
Representatives of the Planning Association of the Richmond and the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation recently met with the new owners of the Alexandria. While plans are not complete, the new owners are committed to retaining the historic theatre building and to retaining at least one theatre for movies upstairs (configuration to be determined). Their tentative plan is to build residential units on the adjacent parking lot with groundfloor retail in both the new building and within the Alexadria.
I understand the entire building will be going soon.
A mall I was told – chinese restaurants and chinese
retail center will be erected. We must enjoy what little
is left of the classic single screens in our fair city.
I can confirm when it closed in Feb. they were beginning to haul out seats, it doesnt look good, something must be done!
I went to the 4 star Cinema only once. I was in worse shape than the Alexandria by far. I can say without hesitation that I will never go back there.
I used to go to the Alexandria at leat twice a month. I miss it greatly.
Mike C.
Sadly true – when United Artists operated and triplexed the
ALEX they never put even stereo in the 2 upstairs auditoriums.
They are one speaker mono sound only. UA (and I worked for them
back when this house was triplexed) spent next to nothing on
their older theaters. They kept them literally pieced together
with bubblegum and paperclips. I managed theaters for them in the
bay area and my best friend ran the ALEX after it was TriPlexed.
We used to say of UA when they would multiplex an existing cinema
a “hatchet job” was about to take place – and IT DID!
Still – those of us who love movie houses do just that – LOVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT! Its just a shame that UA
was able to run their company like this for so so many years at the
publics expense.
Thanks to Eric Hooper for his “last look” photos. The Coronet is next on UA/Regal’s demolition list for the Richmond. It’s sad that there are so few single screen theatres left in SF. TV/Video/DVD/Home theatre have all shortened the lives of our larger theatres as well as corporate neglect. As`nice as it was to sit in the downstairs Alexandria, the sound was “digital-mushy” and the upstairs theatre’s sound systems never sounded like they’d been upgraded past the 70’s. The only thing that will keep these large thatres open is crowds ($$$$$$) or owners who want to keep them open-or-creative programming (like the Castro).
Well now, since the 4 Star has gone first run- Both the 4 Star and The Coronet are both showing “Taking Lives” this weekend….
The Richmond residents don’t even have any choices in first run movies anymore…..stupid!
The Four Star is a poor excuse for a 1st Run Venue.
As a single screen years ago – it had class and was
a fine old gal. Since it was rehabbed and cut into 2
screens – its AWFUL! I understand even 1st Run films
do only a fraction of the business in this house as they
do elsewhere in the Bay Area let alone San Francisco.
The demographic makeup of the Richmond has contributed to
the downfall of the Alexandria – sad but true – no support.
The Balboa on the other hand, is a neat little place to see
great double bills of arty and commercial film.
I read in the SF Chronicle that the SYUFY CHAIN is at it again.
Planning to build downtown on Market Street with an upscale
9 screen CineArts Complex that will attempt to destroy SF's
classic art venues run by Landmark Theatres. So upsetting to
see this happen – as SYUFY is stomping all over the Bay Area.
The Alex property was purchased by a group of Chinese businessmen who speak no English. Discussions with their realtor have gone nowhere but we do hope to save the fixtures and murals and find a home for them.
Some kind of retial and residential development is certain to be planned. They are rumored to have paid between 6-7 million dollars for the real estate. Saving the theater can’t be economically justified.
I have been watching the weekly box office receipts for several years and first runs films were not doing well most of the time, grossing maybe 1/10 of the Metreon on opening weekend and falling fast from their.
Sadly, the Richmond district is not a big supporter of its own theaters. The Balboa and 4 Star will presumably see some increase in attendance though the Balboa plays arty product as did the 4 Star which has decided to cash in on the loss of the Alex by going first run.
It is a tragedy that we’ve lost such a grand art-deco palace.
I was there on closing day and was able to photograph the entire theatre inside and out. I created an on-line photo album at Yahoo Photos to share with everyone.
You can view the Photo Albums at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/alexandria_theatre
A friend of mine who lives in that neighborhood said she hears
rumors that the ALEXANDRIA will be leveled for a large
3 level Chinese Restaurant/Parking Structure. What the heck
is going on here? Sad Sad Sad
I just moved back into the neighborhood and looked forward to living near one of my favorite theatres. Now I find it’s closed! Damn, not another multiplex or Starbucks, or god knows what modern horror.
I didn’t know until I tried to attend last week. How sad!
Well I have been here for “She’s All That ” in the main auditorium & the upstairs for the screening of “10 Things I Hate About You”…
It’s a nice looking theater inside & out.
What are the circumstances surrounding its closure? Has someone purchased the Alexandria?