Toni Rembe Theater

Although primarily a theatre for stage productions, this theatre deserves a listing on Cinema Treasures if only for at least the following films: In October 1916 D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance” was screened for 3 weeks. J. Warren Kerrigan in “The Covered Wagon” began a roadshow presentation on September 22, 1923. Douglas Fairbanks in “The Thief of Bagdad” was screened in 1924 and also in that year Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” was screened. In September 1930 saw a reissue of “Birth of a Nation” with a recorded soundtrack. In 1931, Colin Clive in “Journey’s End”. On April 11, 1936 the West Coast Premiere of “The Great Ziegfeld” starring William Powell. From May-July 1941 Orson Wells in “Citizen Kane” filled the screen. Brenkert 80 projectors were installed in 1941 to screen the premiere run of Walt Disney’s animated feature “Fantasia”. On February 5, 1943 Jane Russell & Jack Buetel appeared ‘in person’ at the world premiere 4-screenings of “The Outlaw” which ran for 4-weeks. On November 19, 1948 Rosalind Russell in “Mourning Becomes Electra” was premiered. On March 12, 1950 when the acclaimed Italian film “Bicycle Thieves” directed by Vittorio De Sica began a roadshow run. Films returned on August 23, 1962 when a double bill of Italian movies: Massimo Girotti in “Sul Ponte Dei Sospiri” & Gianna Maria Canale in “Teodora Imperatrice Di Bisanzio” were screened for two days.

Located two blocks off Union Square and adjacent to the 1,711-seat Curran Theatre which opened on September 11, 1922 (architect Alfred Henry Jacobs).

The Columbia Theatre was opened as a playhouse on January 10, 1910 with William H. Crane in the comedy play “Father and the Boys” presented by Charles Frohman. The theatre was operated by Jake Gottlob and Melville Marx. It was designed by architectural firm Bliss & Faville. Seating is provided in orchestra, mezzanine and balcony levels. There are three boxes located on each side of the 36ft wide proscenium opening. It was briefly renamed Geary Playhouse in December 1924, then went back to its Columbia Theatre name. On January 12, 1925 it was renamed Wilkes Theatre. On June 20, 1927 it was renamed Lurie Theatre under the direction of the Shubert Brothers Theater Company, staging Lionel Barrymore in “Laugh Clown Laugh”. On February 6, 1928 it was renamed Geary Theatre with Pauline Frederick in the comedy play “The Scarlet Woman”. From the late-1960’s it has been operated by the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) a repertory company. In recent years it has operated under the name Toni Rembe Theater.

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

Gerald A. DeLuca on August 7, 2026 at 5:30 am

The final movie screened here was NOT “Bicycle Thief” in 1950. I have posted an Italian film double bill program ad from 1962.

m00se1111 on August 7, 2026 at 3:46 pm

“In Recent Years”

a look at the ACT website gives us this…

Renamed in September 2022 after a historic $35 million donation honoring longtime arts philanthropist and A.C.T. board leader Toni Rembe.

As to whom Toni Rembe is…

Toni Rembe is president of the van Loben Sels/Rembe Rock Foundation, a private foundation specializing in social justice and related legal services, and is a co-founder and advisory board member of the Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University. She is a retired partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, where she served as a member of the firm’s governing executive committee and the managing partner of its tax practice. In addition to having been active on the boards of several not for profit organizations, including the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, American Conservatory Theater, Magic Theatre and Presidio Graduate School, she has served as a director of several public companies, both local and international.

(that is from the Climite One Website)