Seavue Twin Theater
514 Palmetto Avenue,
Pacifica,
CA
94044
514 Palmetto Avenue,
Pacifica,
CA
94044
6 people
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As a Sunset District kid in 1970’s, this was a convenient theater to drive and park for my mom. I don’t remember what I saw, but it was probably the latest Disney movie. I do remember going to the Mcdonalds across the street after.
The interior of the theater looks very similar to the Granada in Morgan Hill.
This opened on May 23rd, 1951. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
Hi Sturgeon – The posting for this theatre originally stated it was located in Pacific Manor. The reason for my post above was that theaters on CT are listed by city, not neighborhoods. BTW, I live nearby also (in SF).
I live here again, having grown up here in Linda Mar. Pacific Manor is a district in the north end of Pacifica, not just a shopping area. The Seavue was in Pacific Manor. Period. It is now a Walgreens and in my opinion it’s a damn shame the city did not step in and save the movie palace of my childhood, where I saw all the great monster movies and Sci-Fi and comedy films in the ‘50’s.
The city this demolished theater was located in is Pacifica, California 94044, not Pacific Manor. According to the city of Pacifica’s website Pacific Manor is a shopping district (or neighborhood) of Pacifica which has 11 shopping districts.
My first love lived in Linda Mar and on our first date after returning home after the trip where we met, we went to the Seavue to see Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet in 1975. She was an incurable romantic and loved this screen version of Romeo and Juliet. Great memories, both of her and our first date. She was taken by breast cancer, but she, our first date, and this theater will live on in my memories until I see her again.
Went there in the 60’s and early 70’s. There wasn’t much for kids to do in Pacifica, so the SeaVue was usually packed. It was kind of run down and dirty then, but on Saturdays in the mid 60’s, you could see a western or a comedy and get stale popcorn and a drink…all for about $.50. One time, maybe about ‘67 or '68, they had a live band play there in the afternoon…Sopwith Camel it was called…big stuff for Pacifica.
This was a part of my history too. I worked there in 1991-92 and it was a great little theatre. I remember one night I found a box of old trailers and I spliced all of them together to make a 2 hour print full of old trailers. Not many theatres around like that anymore where one could do something like that.
Went there just once to see A View to a Kill. The Goonies was playing in the other theater, There were only 3 other people there besides us. The people that ran the place was really friendly. Inside the auditorium reminded me of a airplane hanger, the ceiling was all white and looked like either steel beams or wooden ones holding the roof up. It was really clean inside.
I was the assistant manager at the Seavue for a couple years in the early 90’s and I can say it was a great place to work. The locals were great people. I made not a few friends there. We used to love going out onto the little deck off of the projection booth near the sign. You could also access the roof from there and it was a great place to watch the sun go down over the Pacific. I used to curse Silver Screen for being so damn frugal, but looking back I’m amazed they were able to keep it open as long as they did. There were plenty of late shows with 2 or 3 people in the audience and some nights we just shut her down because no one came. We used to run a survey to see where our guest were from and some came from far down the coast to see our films. It was a Pacifica institution, but what can you do? Nothing lasts forever. Good bye Seavue…
In October of 1977 Transmedia Entertainment brought in a twenty-six year old man named Jeff Chapman to manage the Seavue. Jeff came from Norman, OK, where he had worked for Video Independent Theatres. While at the Seavue Jeff increased ticket sales greatly through creative use of clever advertising gimmicks. Jeff was tall, lanky, handsome, and had a soft twang in his speech. At first locals teased him for his drawl, but it didn’t take too long before everyone embraced him due to his wittiness and marvelous sense of humor.
Alas, in less than a year Transamerica had lured Jeff away from theatre management with a job offer that included weekends and holidays off, and a much better pay package.
Sad how many theaters have disappeared over the years. On the other hand, if this were not the case, there would be no need for the CT website.
I remember this theatre very well and was sad to hear of its closure and demolition.
In 1992 we were on vacation from the UK and were touring California and Nevada. We stayed at Rockaway Bay while visiting San Fransisco. One evening we went to this theatre to see ‘Sister Act’. We were the only two customers in the theatre.In fact we were the only two customers in the building as there was no one in ‘Buffy ,The Vampire Slayer’ which was showing in the second cinema. What we remember most was the couple who ran the theatre.They would probably be in their late 50’s or early 60’s.They seemed genuinely pleased to see us. The lady sold the tickets and concessions, the gentleman was the projectionist.They kept the theatre open just for us two to watch the movie. When we left at the end of the show, they were both at the doors to say goodnight to us. Whenever we see ‘Sister Act’ now, we always remember that night in the Seavue at Pacifica and the lovely couple who made us feel so welcome.
In regards to the above press release that a Walgreens would replace the “razed” Seavue Theatre, isn’t that just wonderful, I could not think of a better replacement.
This press release from March 2008 confirms that the Seavue was razed to make way for a Walgreens. You can still see the theater on Google maps, until they update the photos. Status should be closed/demoished.
http://tinyurl.com/6mojxs
Some comments from the KATHLEEN HUTLEY, formerly of Valley Mar; Saturday afternoon at the movies included 2 films, Movietone Newsreel and one or two cartoons in a single screen theater.
“Seascape” murals were painted on the walls and a traveler curtain was always used between programs. Smoking was permitted at the evening presentation in the side rows only!
The Seaview presented some live shows in the 1950’s featuring magicians on their small stage. Those were the days and fondly remembered by countless Pacificans!
As for organist ANTON LeVEY (RE: robXV notes of Aug 28, 2007)… Anton, was also known as “Tony.” He was the only Caliope player for the City of San Francisco parades. He had electrifying brown eyes, was a Hypnotist, had a pet tarantula spider plus a lion in his back yard. He gave me his black Cadillac and taught DON HUTLEY, my father, how to play the pipe organ. WHAT A MAN!!!
I am sorry to report that the theatre has been razed; it is now a dirt lot.
How sad.
Anton LaVey’s future wife Diane Hegarty was an usherette as this theater at the time they met. Her boss, the theater manager, took her out to Mori’s Point, and there she met the organist, Anton LaVey.
Was there ever talk about tyurning it into a Landmark Theater? ISTM that it would be a perfect Arthouse theater, and the people in the area definitely would love that.
Also— is the Walgreens plan still going through? last time I heard the neghborhood was resisiting.
I spent my childhood at the Seavue, taking in as many $1 double features as I possibly could – consequently, I saw LABYRINTH, FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF, HOWARD THE DUCK, SPACEBALLS and HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS about twenty times each, played more Yie Ar Kung-Fu and ate more Red Vines than any human ought to.
I’m extremely sad it’s closed and that no other kids can have the same sort of experiences I had there.
I used to work at the theater in the early 90’s and it was a nice little community hub. The locals were loyal and the neighborhood was friendly. Too sad too see the erosion of the neighborhood theaters. Very sad. I guess change is a constant.
I understand the landlords want a retail chain to come in and
rehab the space. Friends told me —– the property owner
wants a “TRADER JOES” operation to take over and no more
theater! Very Very Sad.
Maybe a non-profit organization needs to operate/support the theatre since business-wise it can’t exist on its own against a big-chain.
Most people aren’t aware of the issues of monopoly/big chains etc vs independents, small businesses… It’s just price and convenience….
Other theaters put out of business by Syufy(aka Century Theaters) over the years:
Fremont Hub 8 (and prior to that the Fox Fremont theater that was on that same site)
United Artists 6 in Hayward
AMC Milpitas 10 (since reopened by a different firm as a discount house)
UA Pavilion 8 in downtown San Jose (the failure of this theater largely had to do with Century locking up bookings for most of the major first-run films—This also hurt the Fremont Hub 8 as well)