Comments from gsmurph

Showing 76 - 100 of 329 comments

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Surf Theatre on Oct 11, 2005 at 10:58 am

Update on my earlier post—-I happened to be in the area, got a look, and yep, the Surf is indeed (still) a church.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Telenews Theatre on Sep 19, 2005 at 12:40 pm

The Telenews was an annex of a fairly grand (older, I believe) office building on Broadway and 19th Street which (though the theater itself is long since demolished) still stands, though vacant for quite some time.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Cine 7 Theatre on Sep 19, 2005 at 12:18 pm

One note of trivia about the Laurel’s vertical: When it became the Cine 7, the reel of film was replaced by an asterisk.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Oaks Theater on Sep 12, 2005 at 11:44 am

The Oaks opened September 15, 1925, in a gala that consisted of dedication speeches, a select photoplay program, a vaudeville segment(!, but then it did [and still does] have a stage fly tower), and a concert on the new $25,000 Geneva organ by organist Sebastian Apollo (the theater as a whole cost $200.000 to build). Originally Modified Moorish (or Spanish Colonial) in style, subsequent remodelings have given it an Art Moderne facade.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about New Book, Theatres of San Francisco, Released!!! on Sep 9, 2005 at 11:16 am

This is a long, long, overdue gem! I intend to get this as soon as possible.

Wonder if there’ll be something about the non-SF theatres in Tillmany’s files (such as in the East Bay)?

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Red Vic Movie House on Sep 8, 2005 at 1:01 pm

The Red Victorian opened July 14, 1980 at 1659 Haight Street (its original address prior to its move to the one listed above). The opening feature was “Casablanca.”

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Elmwood Theatre on Sep 4, 2005 at 1:24 pm

The Elmwood is up and running again, and its function should (obviously) be “Movies.”

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Rockridge Showcase West on Aug 24, 2005 at 1:46 am

I’m inclined to think not, RobertR—-Rockridge Showcase West’s marquee never had a circular sign saying “Cuisne of China” above it, and the cinema building was never used for a restaurant.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Elmwood Theatre on Aug 24, 2005 at 1:13 am

Good news—-the Elmwood reopens tonight (August 24), newly remodeled and upgraded!!!

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Garfield Theater on Aug 23, 2005 at 1:28 pm

OOPS—-meant to say Garfield’s, not Capri’s.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Garfield Theater on Aug 23, 2005 at 1:27 pm

Capri’s status should read “Closed/Demolished.”

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Surf Theatre on Aug 17, 2005 at 2:32 am

The Surf was turned into a church shortly after its closure; presumably it’s still operating in that capacity (though an update is clearly in need here).

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Sunset Theater on Aug 9, 2005 at 10:50 am

There’s a bit of an irony here in that when Rasputin annexed the former Sunset (perhaps aware of its past life as a theater), they installed a marquee that looks more like a movie-house marquee than any the Sunset ever had during its life as an actual movie house.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Eastmont Theatre on Jul 28, 2005 at 3:51 am

The Eastmont is at present in use as a pharmacy.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Foothill Theater on Jul 19, 2005 at 3:23 am

…but as the Foothill it seated 687.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Franklin Theatre on Jul 19, 2005 at 3:21 am

The Franklin Theater seated 813 people.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Regent Theatre on Jul 19, 2005 at 3:20 am

The Regent Theatre seated 286 people.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Parkside Theatre on Jul 5, 2005 at 5:50 am

I don’t know about Monterey’s Golden State, but one obvious thing the Parkside and the Fairfax had in common is that both were “L”-shaped theaters (though the Fairfax was considerably larger and had a mixed-use extension along the street parallel to the auditorium).

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Concerns Over Historic Alameda Theater Project on Jul 3, 2005 at 11:23 am

As a response (and suplement) to Ron Newman’s remarks concerning the Somerville Theatre at the top of these comments, another example, albeit considerably smaler-scale, of how plexing and historical cinema can mix closer to home is Michaan’s Orinda Theatre, where two screens were added not by dividing the original auditorium, but by converting a couple of adjacent buildings into two newer cinemas.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Hellman's Theatre on Jul 1, 2005 at 10:45 am

This site’s been an empty lot for awhile; the Hellman’s status is obviously “Closed/Demolished.”

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Cine Latino on Jun 26, 2005 at 10:45 am

That’s interesting! The Cine Latino and the Fruitvale (listed here as NEW FRUITVALE) were built just over a dozen years apart; apparently they had the same architect (whoever he/she/they were), or the architect of one was affiliated in some way woth that of the other.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Rialto Theatre on Jun 25, 2005 at 8:30 am

Correction—-this was actually the “second” Alameda.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Strand Theater on Jun 24, 2005 at 10:06 am

The Strand’s original name was the Hamblen; it became the Strand on December 31, 1918. When the Nasser Brothers opened the (current) Alameda Theatre on August 16, 1932, they closed the Strand, which remained closed until July 10, 1936. This, coupled with the closure mentioned in the previous post, indicates that the Strand had a rather checkered off-on existence.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Park Theater on Jun 24, 2005 at 9:54 am

Corrections to my earlier post—-the Park’s address was 1338 Park Street, and it and the Strand were not only several doors apart, but there were two buildings (plus [at least today] a walkway[!]) between them.

gsmurph
gsmurph commented about Alameda Theater (First) on Jun 24, 2005 at 9:51 am

The First Alameda is now a Supercuts salon.