Metro Theatre

An associate friend of mine, who is a professional promoter and owns two theaters, is looking for a classic/historical theater to buy in which to present concerts in San Francisco.

My memory tells me that the Metro was once a vaudeville house so possibly there are dressing rooms etc, still exsisting and what dimensions are the stage. Is there a tower to fly the screen?

Also, will someone please update me with a seating count, in-house operational equipment and a contact name/phone/e-mail for a “$” amount?

Here’s hoping that United Artists/Regal didn’t trash the place when vacating -as is so typical of this cut throat chain of candy merchants.

I say to “the City that knows how…” let’s get the Metro’s lights back on… it’s time to rock ‘n roll!

Exterior photo here:–

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I am copying below from the “News” section Gary Parks comments. He mailed me a CD and with his consent, I have posted photos on my flickr gallery so everyone can see the TWO layers of movie theater history present at the Metro. The auditorium has the 1941 murals on view, and the 1924 columns hidden. Apparently, in 1998, the rehab did the reverse with the lobby, bringing it back to original 1924 design rather than the 1941 decoration. The photos show what you don’t see.
Being in Philadelphia, I haven’t visited since 1997, so if I am incorrect, Gary or others can advise. Ok, here’s the first of the photos that Gary sent me, the others follow:
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Firstoff, a little historic correction: The theatre was designed by James and Merrit Reid. The office of Timothy Pflueger did the 1941 remodel, which is mainly what one sees today in the auditorium. The vertical sign dates from this time, but the marquee dates from an earlier and more lighthanded redecoration, as does the deco sunburst pattern you see today on the inner lobby ceiling once you enter.

The plasterwork in the outer and inner lobbies is mostly from 1924. The paintwork on the outer lobby ceiling is 1924, save for some minor embellishments by artist Kelly Cool during the 1998 refurbishing. She also did the arched murals which are on either side as you proceed from the outer to inner lobby.

The lobby as remodeled by Pflueger no longer exists, having been totally removed during the 1998 refurbishing, at which time the original 1924 lobby was largely restored, with some sympathetic updating.

The auditorium features murals by the Heinsbergen decorating firm. These date from Pflueger’s remodeling. The ceiling, save for the 1998 acoustical panels, chandeliers and 1941 paint, is from 1924.

Behind the draped and plastered angled walls on either side of the screen are hidden extensive intact remnants if the 1924 auditorium. These include large Ionic columns surmounted by eagles clutching shields, and arched niches containing urns and long-disconnected cove lighting. The organ chambers, though empty, are intact, and their openwork grilles, though slightly damaged, are largely extant.

I was one of the historical advisors to the 1998 renovation, and was a guest at the subsequent Grand Reopening. I would love to see the Metro escape demolition, even if it meant only a partial retention of the building. While preserving the building intact would be my first choice, even a reuse of the building’s shell, with a restoration of the facade’s key decorative elements is preferable to complete demolition, which will likely give birth to yet another example of slavish, tired devotion to the long-outdated and academically-loved but (usually) publically-loathed Bauhaus style, or worse, a poorly proportioned attempt at historicism such as is so common today—a style best described as “Lego Mediterranean.”

All this being said, I am not currently in a position to actively help in the fight to save the Metro—professional and preexisting volunteer obligations preclude this—but I would be more than happy to share copies of the photos I took in 1998 of the 1924 architectural features which exist behind the 1941 walls, as well as extensive knowledge of theatres designed by Reid Bros., having been closely involved with the ongoing preservation and restoration efforts at the Reid-designed Golden State Theatre in Monterey, as well as a little aid in the efforts to save San Francisco’s Harding Theatre.
posted by Gary Parks on Sep 19, 2006 at 1:12pm

Speaking of the Lee’s that operate the 4 Star and Presidio, as was posted above, our family went to the Cars opening weekend there and 20 people were there. It was a Saturday late morning movie. It was such a disappointment to see the lack of people supporting a neighborhood theatre.

I was moved though to witness how Lee family works so hard at the Presidio Theatre: at the window, the door, the concession stand and starting the movies. The bathrooms are clean and the theatres are wonderfully set-up with Red Curtains and wonderful layouts for seating.

Truly,
Zabrina

As the President of the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation, I wanted to be sure to provide some information about our organization given the comments above. The Theater Foundation was the driving public force behind saving both the Presidio and Cinema 21 theaters. We organized public testimony supporting preservation of the Presidio and had extensive conversations with the the family that owns the Presidio in advance of their coming to terms with Frank Lee on a lease agreement.

We were also the primary organizers of the campaign to save the Cinema 21. Our efforts led to the defeat at the Planning Commission of the original plan to eliminate the theater. We then came up with the compromise plan to save the theater and initiated the conversations with the property owner that led to the deal to save the theater. We also helped to fund initial architectural study of the compromise plan. The Cinema 21 will re-open as the Marina Theatre next year (it premiered as the Marina Theater).

Our work was also essential to the 2004 local landmarking of the New Mission Theatre and plans are currently being developed to re-open the New Mission as multi-purpose entertainment venue. The New Mission was slated for demolition only a few years ago.

More recently, we worked with the Board of Supervisors to enact legislation that provides significant protections to neighborhood theaters by requiring Conditional Use review of any plan to convert a theatre to another use. Plans for the Coronet were submitted just before the enactment of this legislation. We are already seeing signs that he legislation is having an impact and hopefully the Coronet will be the last theater to be demolished in San Francisco for some time. It is possible that the 4-Star Theater will be saved as a direct result of this legislation. It should also be noted that the Alexandria Theater building will not go away and that the current property owners have committed to maintaining a theater in the building. We’re currently working to do whatever we can to preserve theaters like the Metro and the Vogue and I hope people realize that Regal’s departure from the Metro is not likely to be the end of movie-going at this Theater.

Given the multiple threats to neighborhood theaters from multiplexes, home theatres and escalating real estate values saving neighborhood theaters is a very challenging task. Despite these challenges, however, we are having some success. Unfortunately, we can not control the whim of corporations like Regal Entertainment that have little concern for their few remaining neighborhood theatre properties. Regal was behind the recent closings of the Alexandria, Coronet and Galaxy theatres and is now behind the closing of the Metro.

The Theater Foundation is an all-volunteer organization and we focus our energy on advocacy and working to establish policies through legislation that help to protect San Francisco’s theaters. Our popular outdoor film series began as an extension of our advocacy efforts – a creative way to bring film back to neighborhoods that had lost many, if not all, of their neighborhood theaters (i.e. North Beach, Noe Valley and the Mission).

I hope this clears up some of the confusion about what the Theater Foundation has done and is doing. Perhaps you can all help us spread the word about what we do or drop me a line at if you would like to learn more. Meanwhile, we are doing whatever we can to save the Metro and are optimistic that a positive outcome is possible.

Yeah, like I posted on the news story, we all pretty much saw this coming. That SF Neighborhood Theatre Foundation is useless. What theatres have they saved? None. The Megaplexes have killed all the single screens. But it seems to be what the public prefers unfortunately. And it is unfortunate Regal couldn’t book things on a weekly basis to keep the theatre full each week and operate as a true neighborhood theatre. So yes, gone are the Coronet, Alexandria, Regencys, and now the Metro. The Vogue, Bridge, and Clay are next up…. And yes, thank you Frank Lee for saving the Presidio. I only hope he can have the same success with the Cinema 21. Now with the Metro gone and the Vogue on it’s way out too I’m sure, maybe he’ll have some continued success where Regal thought there was none to be had…

Mr. Overton- I think it very unlikely our mayor will step in here. The closing of the Metro has been rumoured for almost ten years now, and no one in San Francisco seemed to care. I have been to this theater on a Saturday night where there were 20 people in there.What doomed the Metro was the lack of support from the San Francisco film going community.

Just read today (9-19-06) of another insane act to destroy the METRO… such a beautiful and historical theater (recently restored at great cost and love) all for another stupid apartment building.
Mayor Gavin Nusome MUST step in to stop San Francisco’s fabulous history from destruction. Future generations wont even know what a movie palace was like! My thanks to Mr. Lee (4-STAR) for saving the CINEMA-21 ex-MARINA and the PRESIDEO theaters.
I’m very proud of the gay community for their love and support of the CASTRO. The only thing fairly close to the Castro’s operation is HOLLYWOOD’S magnificent EL CAPITAN -and they have the awsome WURLITZER from San Francsco’s FOX THEATRE. Need I say more?, another travisty!

This WONDERFUL establishment has held out – until now. This is the final week of the Metro Theater’s existence.
I’m upset – it’s truly a clean, quality theater in a very safe and pretty area of town.
It’s the final first-run single screen theater in San Francisco now. All we have left is the CASTRO THEATER (which gets constant attendance by me since I love their choice of films). I don’t go to the noisy, smelly, chaotic, mean-spirited multiplexes now. I have resigned from first run films – not because they are all bad films, but I’ve always had trouble at the multiplexes. Be it noisy patrons during the film or just too much noise and chaos in the adjoining shopping centers. The Metro, The Coronet, The Alexandria, The Regency, The Regency 2 and The Alhambra offered comfortable, civilized viewing experiences. I will miss that most of all. Not to mention the beautiful interior designs.
Gone. So am I from first-run theaters in San Francisco.

From a 1998 review on the remodeling it states that the single screen
theatre seats 856, women’s bathroom is outfitted with a sofa-lined parlor and that it can boast as to having more neon coursing through its sign than any other storefront in San Francisco.

From the same source:

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I caught two films here on June 22, 1973: Kid Blue and Scarecrow. One of them might have been a preview showing.

The Metro features a ‘bombastic’ Dolby Digital sound system! You will definitely feel every vibration of every explosion! THX is only an overrated certification that means nothing, and Episode III is not being released in 70mm.

Definitely, Definitely go see this at The Metro. You will not be let down!

FYI- The midnight screening on Wednesday night is sold out.