Curran Theatre
445 Geary Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94102
445 Geary Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94102
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Hello-
speaking of the film The Queen of Sheba. its one of those classics from the silent era that has been “lost” for decades. but I wonder if its really “lost” or possibly is stored in unmarked cans deep down in the bowels of some film archive.
Reopened as Century on September 3rd, 1921 Grand opening ad in the photo section.
The Curran has only shown 2 films in it’s 95 year history, The Phantom of the Opera mentioned in the overview above, and more recently Fences was screened last month. The Curran had been closed for a year for a lobby renovations and restoration of the auditorium. Here are a couple of articles on it w/pictures:
Curbed Article on the Curran
SFChronicle Curran
The ghost of the cashier shot in 1933 haunts this theatre as does the spirit of a little girl killed by a car across the street in the 50’s. Information from tv series America’s Scariest Places.
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some exterior curran shots
and here are some shots of the neighboring Geary, not on this site but much more interesting exterior
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Thanks, LM.
The theater cashier was shot and killed in a holdup in 1933:
San Francisco Dec. 27 â€" A hanging verdict was returned early this morning against Edward Anderson, 25, confessed slayer of Hewlett Tarr in a theater box office holdup. Anderson insisted throughout the trial that he had not intended to kill Tarr, Curran theater cashier, but through his unfamiliarity with his gun, it accidentally discharged as he pointed it at the cashier through the grillwork of the cashier box office window.
From the SF Public Library website:
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recent photo:
http://www.galen-frysinger.ws/us/unionsquare08.jpg
Just another thought here, that photo also depicts Geary Street and the Geary Theatre next door to the Curran, now home to American Conservatory Theatre) as two-way (it’s one-way now and has the distinction of having the 38 Geary Municipal Railway bus line, the heaviest-trafficked line in America, by the way; then it had the Muni streetcar lines A and B with service to Golden Gate Park and beyond. San Francisco has the first and oldest, civic-owned transport in America, since 1912.
Well, thanks for the photo, Lost Memory! That looks as if it were taken about the period in which “All About Eve” was filmed! How great!
Thanks, TaxiMan !
“All About Eve” was released in 1950 so I am supposing that production toook place about four or five months before release (maybe longer, but post production in those days didn’t take as long as today). The famous scene in which Eve Harrington waits outside the stage door for Margot Channing (Bette Davis) in the rain and is taken up to meet her by Margo’s companion (Thelma Ritter) was filmed in the actual alley/stage door entryway between the Curran and the famous Clift Hotel next door. Another famous scene featuring Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis was filmed in the Curran’s lobby. It still looks remarkably the same. Bette took home the Oscar for her performance and I believe that this is the film that Bette Davis first met Gary Merril. They fell in love (it shows) and married after release. If you haven’t seen the film, do so. “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night…”
When was “All About Eve” filmed at the Curran, TaxiMan ? Please comment. Thanks.
“All About Eve” was filmed here. The cast took the train up from Hollywood quickly since there was a production break at the Curran and it rained the four days of shooting. The cast stayed at the famous St. Francis Hotel across the street (or with friends) andthe Curran looks “Old Broadway” enough to satisfy even Eve Harrington! Great place to see a show!
Screens: Definitely “Single Screen!”
The renowned and legendary American satiric standup comedian, Lenny Bruce, did a show at the Curran Theater the night of Sunday November 19 1961. The show is available on a 2 CD set.