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Why Film?
In contrast to earlier times, the Art Deco years were documented copiously on film, the new medium of the 20th century. We are fortunate in having many films and many wonderful picture palaces where we can see them on the big screen, with an audience of fellow human beings, as they were originally seen. Here are some resources for locating deco-era theaters and films. Films are telling a story, but they are also giving a window into the attitudes and concerns of a specific time.
GENERAL RESOURCES:
- Cinema Treasures
Non-profit website dedicated to saving classic movie theaters. Includes theater info, news, photographs, virtual tours, message boards, and more. Find theaters in your area, sign up to add information about them!
cinematreasures.org/
- The Internet Movie Database (IMDB) lists everything about any film or actor or director or genre you can imagine. Search on one deco favorite and learn about many many more!
http://imdb.com
LOCAL RESOURCES:
- The San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation (SFNTF) is dedicated to preserving and maintaining the City's last remaining neighborhood cinemas. Learn what theaters are threatened and which ones are making a comeback!
http://www.sfneighborhoodtheater.org/
Coming: Places in the Bay Area that may be showing films you want to see!
Movie Palaces
ALAMEDA
THEATER
The Alameda Theatre, a gorgeous Timothy Pflueger gem, is restored
to near original 1932 condition with the addition of a dynamic modern
7-screen Cineplex. The theater plays first run films and has a classic
film series.
Alameda Theater, 2317 Central Ave, Alameda, 510.769.FILM (3456)
CASTRO
THEATRE
This big-screen, ornate, 1500-seat house is the largest venue for
repertory films in the U.S. Presenting live theater-organ
music and occasional deco-era films, the Castro also hosts The
San Francisco Silent Film Festival every summer; direct festival
line is 415-777-4908.
Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F. (415) 621-6120.
LARK THEATRE
Reopening as a community venue. Repertory films and an annual Oscar party.
549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, Marin County. (415) 924-3311.
ORINDA THEATRE
A beautifully restored (and ADSC Preservation Award-winning) Moderne building that shows some vintage films and is the site of other events.
Downtown Orinda, Contra Costa County. (510) 254-9060.
PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE
The PFA generally showcases rare and/or early films. In 1999 it featured eight of G.W. Pabst's works from the 1920s and '30s, the French 1919 serial, "Barrabas," and Marcel Pagnol's early-'30s "Fanny Trilogy." Silent films are usually presented with live piano accompaniment. Their website features Cinefiles, a searchable database of reviews, press kits, festival and showcase program notes, newspaper articles, and other documents...
In the Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant, Berkeley. (510) 642-1412.
PARAMOUNT THEATER
The epitome of the Deco movie palace, splendidly restored in 1973, and an early ADSC Preservation Award winner, the Paramount does more than merely show films. Public tours of the theater are conducted at 10 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
2025 Broadway, at 21st St., Oakland. (510) 465-6400.
OAKLAND FOX
Restoration is moving forward for this mighty movie palace, opening scheduled for late 2008. The Fox Oakland Theater, on Telegraph Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets, operated as a first-run movie house from 1928 until 1962. During the next decade, under different owners and managers, it operated as both a first- and second-run movie house, closed briefly several times, and hosted various special events.
CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER
The Art Deco facade of the Rafael Theater has been carefully restored; the interior holds three state-of-the-art screening rooms, and the facility is now home to the California Film Institute. An ADSC Preservation Award-winner, the Rafael Theater features independent films, premieres, restored classics, rare films and retrospectives; it's a year-round film festival. For information, or to become a Center member, call (415)383-5256.
Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center 1118 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
Rafael Info Line - (415) 454-1222, CFI Home Office - (415) 383-5256, CFI Fax - 415.383.8606
ROXIE THEATRE
Occasional vintage film festivals are held at this small Mission district theater.
3117 16th St., SF. (415) 863-1087.
SEBASTIANI THEATRE
Established in 1934. Live entertainment and occasional vintage films.
476 First Street East "On the Plaza", Sonoma. (707) 996-2020.
STANFORD THEATRE
A vintage movie palace within walking distance of the Stanford University campus. Built in 1924, restored and maintained by the Packard Foundation, the Stanford Theater is almost exclusively devoted to Hollywood films made up to and through the 1950s. Devoted to film preservation, the Foundation will sometimes strike a print for an exclusive Stanford Theater engagement; so sometimes, the films shown there literally can not be seen anywhere else.
And there's a mighty Wurlitzer there, too!
221 University Ave., Palo Alto, Call (650) 324-3700.
SUTTER CREEK THEATER
"It was built in 1919 as a silent movie house, with a crowned Art Deco ceiling and other appointments. It's in close-to-original condition, and we are starting to paint and fix up the building. The theatre is currently open and we are home to the Main Street Theatre Works (it was the Claypipers, from San Francisco, who put the theatre back in operation for plays in the 1980s). The last movie shown here was "Bambi" in 1952. We plan on putting the original screen back up and showing silent and foreign films."
Sutter Creek Theater: 44 Main Street (mail address: PO Box 1417) Sutter Creek, CA 95685; phone 209-267-5737 or 916-765-6627.
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