My last time seeing a film in this theatre (then known as the York) was during this same time (late 80’s) that sfinthe80’s mentions. The film was Stop Making Sense. I don’t know if Dolby had been installed but the acoustics were fantastic and shown on a fairly large screen.
bigjoe59….I don’t have a subscription to Variety online to double check this in their archives but just unearthed my Preston Kauffman hardbound Fabulous Fox book which has every film listed that played there by year (including weekly grosses) from opening to closing of the theatre. The Diary of Anne Frank played there during the 30th and 31st weeks of 1959 – sometime in late July. It was released on March 18, 1959, (the premier was at the Palace?). So wondering if that indeed was a first run engagement. Or if so, it may have been moved over to another smaller theatre. It grossed $12,652 the first week and $10,198 the 2nd, about average for films that played this 4651 seat theatre during a time of declining movie attendance. The highest grossing film that year was The Shaggy Dog which had a $26,151 1st week gross (and played a 3 week run). Throughout the time the Fox was open (1929-1963) 1 and 2 week runs were the norm. The longest running films (at 9 weeks) were The Robe and The King and I.
Five years after terrywade posted above there seems to be some work being done on the exterior blade(s) and marquee. I posted a photo taken June 24 showing the scaffold around one of the blades. From this thread at Broadwayworld.com it also appears that a renovation of the theatre has been going on and it will reopen in September.
When I was a kid my dad would sometimes take the “back way” into SF (before the Serra Frwy was built) by using either Junipero Serra Blvd or Skyline Blvd. You could see the screen and parking area from those roads above the drive in. Today the entire area is covered with subdivisions.
The “film” is digital files. I complained to the manager of the Castro theatre last year over the darkness of the newly restored 4K digital The Thin Red Line and was told that they projected the files they were sent. I’ve seen many films projected digitally and most of them look great. Not sure why there is a variation from movie to movie.
Saw 2001 70mm print at the 4:30 show yesterday. A couple of hiccups w/reel changes. Surprising in a theatre that seems to show 70mm several times a year. Otherwise another great presentation and a large appreciative crowd for a Monday afternoon. Another surprise was the house organist playing a 4:30 show made even more special by playing The Blue Danube and then Also sprach Zarathustra before the overture started.
Lou Rugani has posted a street shot of the line in front of the theatre for Sunday’s Kim Novak/Vertigo special event in Photos. Here is the news report from the SF Chronicle w/pics:
I have read on several sites that this new 70mm print of 2001 is “unrestored”. A remastered, restored blu ray is going to be released later this year but what I took from the articles I read was that new 70mm prints have been struck from the original camera negative. Wondering if someone who knows more about the difference in these processes than I can explain.
This theatre’s status should be changed to Closed.
After a 50 year run the Nob Hill had it’s finale yesterday.
Nob Hill
My last time seeing a film in this theatre (then known as the York) was during this same time (late 80’s) that sfinthe80’s mentions. The film was Stop Making Sense. I don’t know if Dolby had been installed but the acoustics were fantastic and shown on a fairly large screen.
Looks like Hitchcock’s Rope was playing.
Hwy 17 (now Interstate 880) was named after Chester W Nimitz, chief of naval operations for the Pacific fleet and fleet Admiral.
The curtain is coming down on the Nob Hill August 19.
Nob Hill closing
Photo taken Jan 1, 2016.
The cut and paste link in Howard’s 2001 70mm Imax link post says “Not Found”. I think this is it:
2001 IMAX list
The address given for this theatre at the Joe Vogel’s link is 1281 Market.
Recently saw this photo attributed to the SF Public Library and dated 1942.
bigjoe59….I don’t have a subscription to Variety online to double check this in their archives but just unearthed my Preston Kauffman hardbound Fabulous Fox book which has every film listed that played there by year (including weekly grosses) from opening to closing of the theatre. The Diary of Anne Frank played there during the 30th and 31st weeks of 1959 – sometime in late July. It was released on March 18, 1959, (the premier was at the Palace?). So wondering if that indeed was a first run engagement. Or if so, it may have been moved over to another smaller theatre. It grossed $12,652 the first week and $10,198 the 2nd, about average for films that played this 4651 seat theatre during a time of declining movie attendance. The highest grossing film that year was The Shaggy Dog which had a $26,151 1st week gross (and played a 3 week run). Throughout the time the Fox was open (1929-1963) 1 and 2 week runs were the norm. The longest running films (at 9 weeks) were The Robe and The King and I.
Five years after terrywade posted above there seems to be some work being done on the exterior blade(s) and marquee. I posted a photo taken June 24 showing the scaffold around one of the blades. From this thread at Broadwayworld.com it also appears that a renovation of the theatre has been going on and it will reopen in September.
GG Theatre
NPR story on the Lexington’s 50 year old popcorn machine that is still cranking it out.
Lexington
When I was a kid my dad would sometimes take the “back way” into SF (before the Serra Frwy was built) by using either Junipero Serra Blvd or Skyline Blvd. You could see the screen and parking area from those roads above the drive in. Today the entire area is covered with subdivisions.
1982? The theater was torn down in 1970/71.
The “film” is digital files. I complained to the manager of the Castro theatre last year over the darkness of the newly restored 4K digital The Thin Red Line and was told that they projected the files they were sent. I’ve seen many films projected digitally and most of them look great. Not sure why there is a variation from movie to movie.
From Frank Dunnigan’s Feb 2018 article on SF Theaters that appeared on outsidelands.org:
Alexandria
August 1967 KTVU video report on the closing of the Telenews Theatre.
Telenews
Saw 2001 70mm print at the 4:30 show yesterday. A couple of hiccups w/reel changes. Surprising in a theatre that seems to show 70mm several times a year. Otherwise another great presentation and a large appreciative crowd for a Monday afternoon. Another surprise was the house organist playing a 4:30 show made even more special by playing The Blue Danube and then Also sprach Zarathustra before the overture started.
Lou Rugani has posted a street shot of the line in front of the theatre for Sunday’s Kim Novak/Vertigo special event in Photos. Here is the news report from the SF Chronicle w/pics:
Kim Novak
Here is one of the articles I mentioned that I had read on the new 2001 70mm prints. LA Times May 3
Thanks Ed.
I have read on several sites that this new 70mm print of 2001 is “unrestored”. A remastered, restored blu ray is going to be released later this year but what I took from the articles I read was that new 70mm prints have been struck from the original camera negative. Wondering if someone who knows more about the difference in these processes than I can explain.
“Required to lift and carry items 50 pounds or heavier, often up and down stairs”
Seems like this is the requirement that could disqualify many.
Roger A….Perhaps one of the 14 other ArcLight auditoriums?
Accidentally put the wrong link in yesterday – here is the correct one for this theatre w/article MarkDHite mentions: Capitol
The (San Francisco) Castro Theatre’s website lists 2001 as also opening May 18 for 9 days with a 70mm print. 2001