Guild Theater
3825 Fifth Avenue,
San Diego,
CA
92103
3825 Fifth Avenue,
San Diego,
CA
92103
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I remember seeing Night Falls back in the mid 90’s at this theater and Howard’s End. This was a nice little theatre, that corporations like to destroy. It’s unfortunate that many cities don’t make these theatres non profit and continue showing movies as they were intended to be seen.
Renamed Guild on November 17th, 1961, showing art movies. Grand opening ad posted.
Opened on May 10th, 1913. Grand opening ad posted.
If memory serves me right, (and it might not..)I recall this CLASSIC, BEAUTIFUL little neighborhood theatre being called the HILLCREST, (for obvious reasons)in the 1950’s well into the ‘60’s; then, whoever took it over, cornered the foreign-movie market(pre-Landmark?)and re-named it “The Guild”, which angered me as I’m sure it also did the local Hillcrest folks…The theatre’s original design I remember, was similar to the Casino, way down the street, as well as the Strand, in Ocean Beach; all built around 1914, possibly around the same time as the 1st EXPO, which is logical… this way showing off not only downtown San Diego, but the NEW and NICELY laid out growing communities up the hill, and way out at the beach (with NEW Freshly-cemented streets, lighting by electricity, and extended rail transportation!) I remember they ran the Saturday KIDDIE MATINEE circuit, and then, later in the '60’s, titles like Kubricks’ “LOLITA”. I cannot find a decent PICTURE of this former landmark(no pun intended)as the “HILLCREST”. The historical society’s ONE photograph was taken up the street, BARELY recognizing the marquee which had BARELY enough room to spell out the title of a 1954 Victor Mature flick: “Chief Crazy Horse”!!
I went to this theater from the time it ran B horror movies during Saturday matinees in the 50s when I was in grade school until seeing “Juliet of the Spirits” during a weeknight when I was in high school. “The Monster that Challenged the Earth” and “The Incredible Shrinking Man” gave me chills for a long time.
I remember seeing “The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover” at the balcony of the Guild. It was a charming cinema. Much missed!
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” showed at the Guild for a number of years up until 1984, when it switched over to the Ken, where it ran for many years before switching to the Guild some time in the ‘90s. The last movie shown at the Guild was “Female Perversions,” which despite its title was not a throwback to the theater’s adult days, but a fairly good movie starring Tilda Swinton. (I attended the final showing.) The Guild closed the same night as Landmark’s Park Theater (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1563).
The “hut” is in fact on top of the building next to the Guild, not on top of either the old or new building.
I believe the original intent was to preserve the facade of the building, but it was determined to be unstable and not up to code. The current facade is a replacement.
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5tw0jn06l1qm4y66o1_1280.jpg
Are we sure the entire building was completely demolished? The presence of the “hut” on top of both buildings would indicate extensive remodeling, but total demolition seems a stretch.
Does anyone have pictures of the demolition?
Here are some views of the replacement building:
http://tinyurl.com/5orpky
http://tinyurl.com/5z2czf
Southwest Builder and Manufacturer of March 22nd, 1913, announced the issuing of the building permit for this theater. The owner of the theater was J.K. Stickney, the projected cost was $7500, and the building was described as being built of hollow clay tile (a commonly used construction material in early 20th century Southern California, but which was later found to be highly susceptible to damage in even moderate earthquakes, and very costly to retrofit- which may account for its having eventually been demolished rather than renovated.) The architect is not named, unfortunately.