In the early 1950’s this was one of the biggest theaters to enjoy a Saturday Afternoon matinee. Then called, The Lowes Warfield it played many 1st run movies popular during that timeframe. One of the highlights was the 1954 Preimer showing of the movie “Dragnet” starring Jack Webb. Mr. Webb was present for the initial Saturday Afternoon showing before a packed house of screaming kids who favored his tv series by the same name. He briefly addressed the audience but for the Lowes to host such event was big news at the time.
In the early 1950’s Saturday Matinees were soldout with 4-hours of continuous black&white film entertaining moviegoers with the lastest Western, Crime drama or Comedy such as Abbott&Costello. Adults could sit in Lodge Section (last 10 rows) and smoke to there hearts desire, clouds of smoke would fill the auditorium. The theater was always clean and spotless, the concession counter was fully stocked and fresh butter popcorn was only 10cents a box. Wednesday nights, were spin-the-wheel night designed to pull more movie crowd to fill the seats. A local entertainer would spent 15 minutes between intermission giving away various gifts with winners taking home the prize of the night. Only problem was with 2-feature films showing, it would be after 11pm before the shows Let out. Unfortunately, She could not compete with television and officially closed on 22 December 1955 and demolished in 1958.
The Fox was the best looking theater and the largest in San Francisco. Frequently, I would enjoy a Saturday afternoon matinee which cost about 25 cents in the early 1950’s. You get get a soft drink, popcorn and candy for 50 cents. The Fox had so many levels to the balconey you could walk up three and four levels to the top of the world and the screen from the upper level looked like a small postage stamp. The Fox was a little displaced since most of Market street theaters were between seventh&fifth and market but she still had a strong following. When it came time to demolish her some city leaders dicussed using it for the SF Opera but that never materialized. In fact, it was during her final hours that they located some vagabond living in the attic who had been there sometime (if my memory recalls). It certainly was a San Francsico Treasure lost in time. We will never see another
Theater with her grandeur and charm!
In the early 1950’s I heard the local evening news discuss the latest thriller playing at the Larkin. The movie Diabolique was a French Film with subtitles that had the city talking. One Sunday afternoon we went to see the black & white movie which had some well thoughtout scenes that I will never forget.
I left a nightlight on for a week. It played at the Larkin for months. Decades later I happen to see it playing on TV but some scenes had been cut and I think it was given a different name. The Larkin was a vogue theater for its time but like many of San Francisco fine theaters gave way to television.
In the early 1950’s this was one of the biggest theaters to enjoy a Saturday Afternoon matinee. Then called, The Lowes Warfield it played many 1st run movies popular during that timeframe. One of the highlights was the 1954 Preimer showing of the movie “Dragnet” starring Jack Webb. Mr. Webb was present for the initial Saturday Afternoon showing before a packed house of screaming kids who favored his tv series by the same name. He briefly addressed the audience but for the Lowes to host such event was big news at the time.
In the early 1950’s Saturday Matinees were soldout with 4-hours of continuous black&white film entertaining moviegoers with the lastest Western, Crime drama or Comedy such as Abbott&Costello. Adults could sit in Lodge Section (last 10 rows) and smoke to there hearts desire, clouds of smoke would fill the auditorium. The theater was always clean and spotless, the concession counter was fully stocked and fresh butter popcorn was only 10cents a box. Wednesday nights, were spin-the-wheel night designed to pull more movie crowd to fill the seats. A local entertainer would spent 15 minutes between intermission giving away various gifts with winners taking home the prize of the night. Only problem was with 2-feature films showing, it would be after 11pm before the shows Let out. Unfortunately, She could not compete with television and officially closed on 22 December 1955 and demolished in 1958.
The Fox was the best looking theater and the largest in San Francisco. Frequently, I would enjoy a Saturday afternoon matinee which cost about 25 cents in the early 1950’s. You get get a soft drink, popcorn and candy for 50 cents. The Fox had so many levels to the balconey you could walk up three and four levels to the top of the world and the screen from the upper level looked like a small postage stamp. The Fox was a little displaced since most of Market street theaters were between seventh&fifth and market but she still had a strong following. When it came time to demolish her some city leaders dicussed using it for the SF Opera but that never materialized. In fact, it was during her final hours that they located some vagabond living in the attic who had been there sometime (if my memory recalls). It certainly was a San Francsico Treasure lost in time. We will never see another Theater with her grandeur and charm!
In the early 1950’s I heard the local evening news discuss the latest thriller playing at the Larkin. The movie Diabolique was a French Film with subtitles that had the city talking. One Sunday afternoon we went to see the black & white movie which had some well thoughtout scenes that I will never forget. I left a nightlight on for a week. It played at the Larkin for months. Decades later I happen to see it playing on TV but some scenes had been cut and I think it was given a different name. The Larkin was a vogue theater for its time but like many of San Francisco fine theaters gave way to television.