Strand American Conservatory Theater (ACT)

October 26th, 1917 grand opening ad as Jewel posted.

Renovation of the Strand proceeds apace. It is still at the heavy construction stage, but is starting to move toward the more white-glove aspects of the process. The large theatre has had its new concrete risers for seating, as well as the balcony, framed and poured. It is now possible to get a good idea of how the space will appear. Restoration work on the original auditorium ceiling and sidewalls has not begun yet, but they are still there, with their simple cornice moldings and ornamented ventilation grilles preserved. Lest anyone be disappointed that there is no historic proscenium visible in the reconfigured house, be assured that there was nothing back of the later screen left to restore. The plaster of the proscenium all fell off the concrete in the Loma Prieta Quake, and had simply been covered by a quick troweling of plain plaster. The new proscenium is quite a few feet forward of the old, though structurally, the old one still exists in concrete form. Speaking now of the forward portion of the building, the views out the upper story windows of the Market Street scene are going to be wonderful. Originally this vantage point was available only to the people who lived and worked in the Strand, now many people will get to enjoy the view.

Strand1978, where can I view your film? I would LOVE to see it.

The familiar neon STRAND letters from the marquee are being refurbished at an offsite location, but will be back for an encore at the theatre.

A 2012 photo can be seen here.

I heard about ACT taking over the building. Although I know some fans would love The Strand to be reborn as a revival house, I’m glad that they’ll be life back into it.

I renovated the Strand in 1977, and operated and programmed it until the late eighties. I’m appearing at Yerba Buena Center on February 16, 2012 for a screening of a film I directed (in 1968) called “Meat Rack” (which features many Market Street theatres) and hope to also talk about my experiences with the Strand. -Mike Thomas

In the early 80s my primary way to visit SF was by bus, and the old Greyhound station was at 7th and Market. I mostly visited for concerts but occasionally would go to see movies at the art houses, and went to the Strand a few times. They had the best theatre calendars I can remember (which were an art form unto themselves). I hope it can be saved before it’s gone forever.

Then I hear it. A sound from above, the second level.
“Click … click, click … click, click, click.”
I look up. I see a haze of smoke sixty feet up hovering near the ceiling. The ceiling lights shine through the haze, creating a hellish orange glow. Then I realize what the sound is- it’s the sound of dozens of lighters firing off.
I hear a woman’s “Ahhh … ughhh … ahhh!” not from the movie, but a live voice from above. Then I hear a man’s voice: “Yeahhh take it all bitch!”
I look up. There' s something peaking over the second floor railing above. My eyes focus. Those are a chick‘s breasts flopping over the railing. Somebody unseen is pounding her from behind. This is unrestrained chaos, blatantly defying the laws of decent civilization. I love it.
I return to the lobby. The Indian guy’s reading a magazine and doesn’t look up. Above him is a sign: “No Smoking, No Drugs, No Lewd Conduct- No Exceptions!” I walk up two flights of stairs to the upper level and push through the ratty red curtain.
I can’t see. There’s no additional lighting beyond the residual light from the movie screen below. My eyes adjust slightly, but it’s still like walking in a dark tomb. I trip on a step. The air smells different somehow, I can guess the reason, a blend of crack smoke and stale semen. I reach the top where the theater seats stop and there are two rows of metal benches like you’d find at a high school football game. In the darkness, I stumble over someone who’s on the floor with their legs sticking into the aisle. He or she doesn’t move.
“I’m very sorry, please excuse me,” I say wondering whether the legs belong to someone who’s dead or dying

• Excerpt, Memo to File from Hell by Nick Andrea (Copyright 2011)

Back in San Francisco a few weeks back and I notice The Strand is still there. Is there any attempt whatsoever being made to ‘save it’? I find it curious that it hasn’t been levelled as it’s been destitute for so long.

There is now scaffolding erected on the front of THE STRAND. The ground level is also boarded off. Something being done with the building, perhaps????

I remember seeing a triple bill in 85' which included a French movie but I don’t remember the name. It was about a love triangle between 2 men and a woman, the problem was the woman became so obsessed with sex that she would pick up strangers and after she was done having sex with them she would lock them in her bedroom where they turned into a big monster; created by and to serve her lust. I wish I could remember the name of that movie. It would be definitely fun to see those triple features again.