Is the Rio/Regency/IV single screen across the street included in the sale of the State Theatre, or will it continue to operate as a single screen by Regal/United Artists?
I recently visited the Tower for the first time and fell in love with it the minute I walked in the door. The art deco signs in the lobby and the light fixtures in the auditoriums are awesome!! These are things you don’t see in the megaplexes these days. I found the theatre to be very cozy and inviting. I was also surprised that the theatre was tri-plexed ‘backwards’ to the usual way I’ve seen most singles tri-plexed. The Tower’s rear stadium section became the ‘main’ auditorium, with the front flat section of the theatre split into two smaller auditoriums. Usually it is the other way around so that the original booth can be utilized for all three screens. With the Tower’s plex job, they obviously had to build another booth behind the new ‘main’ screen to project into the two new smaller auditoriums. I think I like this style better, because you don’t get any sound bleed between the upper and lower auditoriums as you do with the usual tri-plexing jobs.
I wish I lived closer in the area because I would see movies here every week! These theatres need our support and patronage. But yes, as mentioned above, a little TLC from the owners and operators goes a long way in the survival of the theatre too! The Tower is going to have to repair the broken seats, clean those restrooms, and make a pledge to offer the best customer service and movie presentation if it wants to survive against the new CineArts moving in. Come on Tower, you can do it…I know you can. Imagine it: “Older deco palace with charm battles the new corporate enemy megaplex, and wins!”
The GCC Southland was my favorite growing up. I spent many days and nights watching movies here. I preferred this to the other theatres in the area hands down, mostly due to the bizarre hallways and somewhat strange viewing angles created by the plexing of the theatre. They also used lots of fun colored lighting throughout the auditoriums and lobby.
In 1990 the theatre got a remodel, and the old GCC metal seats were replaced with the new high back blue GCC seats. Additionally, the metallic gray walls were painted dark red in auditoriums 1, 2, and 4. The lobby was also painted the new GCC red and gray staples and unfortunately, the got rid of the ‘60s style giant hanging lamps that used to hang in the large front window facade.
The theatre actually closed in October 1999. The last movie I saw here was “The Sixth Sense” in auditorium 2. It was a sold out showing!! Unfortunately, I guess this one movie alone couldn’t balance the declining attendance to the theatre after the Century 25 Union City opened.
This would have made an excellent art-house and specialty theatre, with the many colleges and multi-ethnic demographic in the area. It’s too bad GCC wasn’t in the art-house business. The city of Hayward should have done something to try to save this theatre and keep it operating. There are no art-house theatres in the area, and heck, now there aren’t even any movie theatres in Hayward period!
This is one of our last few remaining movie “palaces” here in SF. The 1998 remodel did a great job of capturing the old movie palace feel while upgrading the screen, projection, and sound to today’s standards. This theatre is an absolute must-see for any theatre buff. Go quickly, because it isn’t going to be around much longer…
I just recently visited this theatre and saw Spiderman 2. What an awesome place! This is a perfect example of what these older style theatres can do to upgrade themselves to compete with the new megaplexes. They installed a larger screen and upgraded the sound system. The sound and projection blew me away, while still conserving the theatres original charm. More older movie palaces need to live by this wonderful example! Otherwise, we are just going to contiune to lose them. I’d rather visit an older theatre with charm and character rather than a boxed drab uncharacteristic megaplex anyday! Great Job Fremont! Keep it going….
Regal just continues to baffle me. Instead of booking Harry Potter and Spiderman 2, the big summer movies that SHOULD be playing The Coronet, they’re showing Dodgeball to an empty house. I fear the end is very near…
The GCC Dublin Place had 6 screens and the Galaxy in Pleasanton had 8 screens.
EM Theatres (Enea Bros?) also operated the Galaxy in Pleasanton and The Vine Twin in Livemore, as well as the Dublin 6 Cinema. They would open first run films at the Galaxy, and then move them to the Dublin as second runs. The Galaxy and the Dublin had to split product with the GCC Dublin Place.
The Dublin 6 Cinema closed in January 1998. The last film to play there was Kundun. It was closed and demolished in order to build the freeway offramp that is now right behind The Good Guys.
The Galaxy was taken over by Regal shortly before they opened their 20 at Hacienda Crossings. (Hmmm, I smell a conspiracy!!). Regal attempted to operate it as an art house but eventually just closed it.
You are thinking of the GCC Dublin Place that was across the street at 7000 Amador Plaza Rd next to the PetSmart. This listing is for the EM Theatres Dublin Cinema that was at 7450 Dublin Blvd next to Pier 1 Imports. The site is now a Good Guys and an Italian restaurant.
I recall hearing that UA wanted to build a megaplex on the site and/or in the large parking lot there, but the surrounding neighborhood of homes was ferociously opposed to it and they didn’t get approval to do it.
Interesting that Regal is spending money on the place…at a time when all of their other theatres in SF are for sale, and they were so quick to get rid of their Metro Center Colma location. First new carpet, and now new paint? I wonder if they’ll install new seats that actually face the screen?
In approx 1988, it was converted from five to six screens. Two auditoriums were added in the front of the building where the store fronts used to be, and the original auditorium #’s one and two were combined together as one big auditorium. The concession counter was also moved from the middle of the lobby to the right side of the lobby.
I can’t wait for the theatre to re-open!! The closure of the Alexandria left a void of places to go see a movie in the Richmond, Sunset, and the Marina. Hopefully the Presidio can fill that void now.
Eric
commented about
Century 21on
May 11, 2004 at 2:02 pm
Fantastic! Can’t wait to see the photos. Just don’t get caught with the camera inside the theatre. They might think you’re trying to pirate the movie!!
Construction has just begun on the tranformation of the United Artists Pavilion into the CAMERA 12 CINEMAS, opening in May 2004. The Camera One and Camera Three theatres will close when the 12 opens.
It is a tragedy that we’ve lost such a grand art-deco palace.
I was there on closing day and was able to photograph the entire theatre inside and out. I created an on-line photo album at Yahoo Photos to share with everyone.
What will become of the single screen across the street?
Is the Rio/Regency/IV single screen across the street included in the sale of the State Theatre, or will it continue to operate as a single screen by Regal/United Artists?
I recently visited the Tower for the first time and fell in love with it the minute I walked in the door. The art deco signs in the lobby and the light fixtures in the auditoriums are awesome!! These are things you don’t see in the megaplexes these days. I found the theatre to be very cozy and inviting. I was also surprised that the theatre was tri-plexed ‘backwards’ to the usual way I’ve seen most singles tri-plexed. The Tower’s rear stadium section became the ‘main’ auditorium, with the front flat section of the theatre split into two smaller auditoriums. Usually it is the other way around so that the original booth can be utilized for all three screens. With the Tower’s plex job, they obviously had to build another booth behind the new ‘main’ screen to project into the two new smaller auditoriums. I think I like this style better, because you don’t get any sound bleed between the upper and lower auditoriums as you do with the usual tri-plexing jobs.
I wish I lived closer in the area because I would see movies here every week! These theatres need our support and patronage. But yes, as mentioned above, a little TLC from the owners and operators goes a long way in the survival of the theatre too! The Tower is going to have to repair the broken seats, clean those restrooms, and make a pledge to offer the best customer service and movie presentation if it wants to survive against the new CineArts moving in. Come on Tower, you can do it…I know you can. Imagine it: “Older deco palace with charm battles the new corporate enemy megaplex, and wins!”
The GCC Southland was my favorite growing up. I spent many days and nights watching movies here. I preferred this to the other theatres in the area hands down, mostly due to the bizarre hallways and somewhat strange viewing angles created by the plexing of the theatre. They also used lots of fun colored lighting throughout the auditoriums and lobby.
In 1990 the theatre got a remodel, and the old GCC metal seats were replaced with the new high back blue GCC seats. Additionally, the metallic gray walls were painted dark red in auditoriums 1, 2, and 4. The lobby was also painted the new GCC red and gray staples and unfortunately, the got rid of the ‘60s style giant hanging lamps that used to hang in the large front window facade.
The theatre actually closed in October 1999. The last movie I saw here was “The Sixth Sense” in auditorium 2. It was a sold out showing!! Unfortunately, I guess this one movie alone couldn’t balance the declining attendance to the theatre after the Century 25 Union City opened.
This would have made an excellent art-house and specialty theatre, with the many colleges and multi-ethnic demographic in the area. It’s too bad GCC wasn’t in the art-house business. The city of Hayward should have done something to try to save this theatre and keep it operating. There are no art-house theatres in the area, and heck, now there aren’t even any movie theatres in Hayward period!
This is one of our last few remaining movie “palaces” here in SF. The 1998 remodel did a great job of capturing the old movie palace feel while upgrading the screen, projection, and sound to today’s standards. This theatre is an absolute must-see for any theatre buff. Go quickly, because it isn’t going to be around much longer…
I just recently visited this theatre and saw Spiderman 2. What an awesome place! This is a perfect example of what these older style theatres can do to upgrade themselves to compete with the new megaplexes. They installed a larger screen and upgraded the sound system. The sound and projection blew me away, while still conserving the theatres original charm. More older movie palaces need to live by this wonderful example! Otherwise, we are just going to contiune to lose them. I’d rather visit an older theatre with charm and character rather than a boxed drab uncharacteristic megaplex anyday! Great Job Fremont! Keep it going….
Pictures of The Coronet can be seen at http://photos.yahoo.com/coronet_theatre1
Gary,
The sign was saved and moved to the Camera 12.
Regal just continues to baffle me. Instead of booking Harry Potter and Spiderman 2, the big summer movies that SHOULD be playing The Coronet, they’re showing Dodgeball to an empty house. I fear the end is very near…
Scott,
The GCC Dublin Place had 6 screens and the Galaxy in Pleasanton had 8 screens.
EM Theatres (Enea Bros?) also operated the Galaxy in Pleasanton and The Vine Twin in Livemore, as well as the Dublin 6 Cinema. They would open first run films at the Galaxy, and then move them to the Dublin as second runs. The Galaxy and the Dublin had to split product with the GCC Dublin Place.
The Dublin 6 Cinema closed in January 1998. The last film to play there was Kundun. It was closed and demolished in order to build the freeway offramp that is now right behind The Good Guys.
The Galaxy was taken over by Regal shortly before they opened their 20 at Hacienda Crossings. (Hmmm, I smell a conspiracy!!). Regal attempted to operate it as an art house but eventually just closed it.
The Vine Twin in Livermore is still going strong…
Nathan,
You are thinking of the GCC Dublin Place that was across the street at 7000 Amador Plaza Rd next to the PetSmart. This listing is for the EM Theatres Dublin Cinema that was at 7450 Dublin Blvd next to Pier 1 Imports. The site is now a Good Guys and an Italian restaurant.
I recall hearing that UA wanted to build a megaplex on the site and/or in the large parking lot there, but the surrounding neighborhood of homes was ferociously opposed to it and they didn’t get approval to do it.
Interesting that Regal is spending money on the place…at a time when all of their other theatres in SF are for sale, and they were so quick to get rid of their Metro Center Colma location. First new carpet, and now new paint? I wonder if they’ll install new seats that actually face the screen?
The first movie to show here was John Waters' HAIRSPRAY
In approx 1988, it was converted from five to six screens. Two auditoriums were added in the front of the building where the store fronts used to be, and the original auditorium #’s one and two were combined together as one big auditorium. The concession counter was also moved from the middle of the lobby to the right side of the lobby.
I can’t wait for the theatre to re-open!! The closure of the Alexandria left a void of places to go see a movie in the Richmond, Sunset, and the Marina. Hopefully the Presidio can fill that void now.
Fantastic! Can’t wait to see the photos. Just don’t get caught with the camera inside the theatre. They might think you’re trying to pirate the movie!!
Does anyone have an update on the status of The Presidio? I would have thought it would have re-opened by now…
Also see: UA Metro – San Francisco
Construction has just begun on the tranformation of the United Artists Pavilion into the CAMERA 12 CINEMAS, opening in May 2004. The Camera One and Camera Three theatres will close when the 12 opens.
Well now, since the 4 Star has gone first run- Both the 4 Star and The Coronet are both showing “Taking Lives” this weekend….
The Richmond residents don’t even have any choices in first run movies anymore…..stupid!
It is a tragedy that we’ve lost such a grand art-deco palace.
I was there on closing day and was able to photograph the entire theatre inside and out. I created an on-line photo album at Yahoo Photos to share with everyone.
You can view the Photo Albums at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/alexandria_theatre
The dumpsters with the red plush velvet seats were hauled away and today they are ripping out the seats from the upstairs auditoriums… :(
The only news outlet to do a story was KRON 4. You can see the video clip on their website at www.kron.com
I knew it was coming, but I am still so very sad. :(