San Francisco Theaters, Cinemas, Dancehalls, after 1906

The following is a list of theaters, cinemas, nickelodeons and dancehalls in San Francisco since the 1906 earthquake and fire. The list arranged by street name because some theatres have changed names many times. Links are available to images from the San Francisco Public Library's San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection and elsewhere on the web. Numbers in brackets represent the theater's capacity.

The information on this list was compiled from vertical files in the Art and Music Center of the San Francisco Public Library, city directories, motion picture directories, daily papers, and the very meticulous research of Jack Tillmany.

451 Alemany at Bayshore

Terrace Drive-In 1951-1953

Baker between Fell and Oak

Coliseum 1907; 1913?

Coliseum Building ca. 1912

3630 Balboa [800]

Balboa (aka New Balboa) 1926-

Balboa Theater

Balboa Theater in 1964.

4428 Bayshore Blvd. (address previously called 4428 San Bruno Ave.)

Bayshore 1926-1959

Beach and Polk

Hungry I (Cabaret) 1960s, 1971

747 Beach

Interplayers 1962-1969; 1970

Circus 1969

Surf-Interplayers 1970

412 Broadway

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge in 1964

Hippodrome 1975-1980

618 Broadway [500]

Automatic Vaudeville 1910-1911

Broadway Theater & Pennyodion 1913-1916

Broadway Theater 1917-1932

The Committe 1960s & 1970s

Montgomery Playhouse 1970s

648 (or 644) Broadway [1000]

Palace 1909

Royal Palace 1909-1911

Verdi 1913-1953

Verdi Theater in 1943

World 1954-1982

World Theater in 1964

World (New Building) 1985-1998

649 Broadway [800]

California 1909-1910

Liberty 1910-1920

Allies 1920-??

Crescent 1923-1925

Liberty 1926-1949

World 1949-1953

501 Buckingham Way

Cinema Stonestown 1973-1984

Stonestown 1985-

906 Bush

Balalaika Music Hall 1946

960 Bush

Kamokila or Royal Hawaiian 1932-1934

Royal Hawaiian Theater in 1934

New 1936

Federal 1936

Bush Street Music Hall 1943-1946

Repertory 1950-1951

Bush 1950-1953

Boarding House Theater 1971-ca 1986

1757 Bush

Players Theatre 1919-1926

New Little Theatre 1919-1920

Players Club 1918-1919 1922-1923

Players Guild 1924-1928

950 California between Mason and Powell [206]

Nob Hill 10/1944-10/1964

Nob Hill Theatre

1572 California

Light Sound Dimention? 1968

Firehouse Theatre 1971-1975

Lumiere 1975-

Lumiere Theatre in 1984

544 Capp

Community Music Center 1978?-

429 (or 425) Castro [1100]

Castro 1922 (opened 6/22/22)

Designed by Timothy Pfleuger

Castro Theater in 1927

452 Castro

Eureka Nickelodeon

485 Castro

Castro Street 1910-1922

40 Cedar Street (between Polk and Larkin)

Cento Cedar

Cedar 1965-ca. 1985

2141 Chestnut [958]

Marina 1928-1965

Cinema 21 1965-2001

2340 Chestnut

El Presidio 1937-1951

Presidio 1953-1980

(adult theater) 1980-1985

Presidio 1986-

227 Church

Electric 1911-1914

1580 Church at 28th [300]

Searchlight 1916-1918 (opened 8/5/1916)

Empress 1918-1927

Lux 1927-1931

Deluxe 1933

Isis 1936-1937

Princess 1938-1943

Church 1944?

Rita 1948-1960

Delmar 1962-1965

Clay and Battery

Embarcadero Center 1995-

669 Clay

Pacific Arts 1979-1982

Tahiti Fete ca. 1983

448 Clement at 6th

Palm 1909-1918

Palm Theater

600 Clement at 7th

Fishers Nickelodeon 1908-1919

743 (or 745) Clement [2400]

Coliseum 1918-1989 (opened 11/22/1918, closed by the 1989 earthquake)

Coliseum Theater in 1942

1800 Clement

Clement 1911-1924

2200 Clement [400]

La Bonita 1912-1926

Star 1927-1947

Four Star 1947-1990; 1992-

Four Star Theater

451 Columbus at Stockton

Bijou ca. 1907-1909

1909 Columbus

1025 Bimbo's 365 Club

312 Connecticut at 18th [400]

Alta 1913-1929

New Potrero 1929-1963

New Potrero Theatre

485 Connecticut

Lyric 1964

802 Cortland (804?)

Cortland 1920-1957

Capri 1957-1970

Capri Theatre in 1966.

2786 (or 2780) Diamond [300]

Diamond 1918-1929 (closed 1932?, silent only)

Diamond Nickelodeon in 1926

273 Divisadero (275)

Halcyon ca. 1922

Garden 1922-1924

American 1924-?

American Theatre in 1964.

444 Divisadero

Theodon Nickelodeon 1911

Fairyland Nickelodeon 1911-1913

Divisadero at California

Nickelodeon 1913

616 Divisadero at Hayes [1500]

Harding 1926-1970 (opened 4/8/1926)

Harding Theater in 1964

70 Eddy St. [1500]

Tivoli 1913-1926

Columbia 1924-1930

Tivoli 1930-1949

Tivoli Theatre in 1949

145 Eddy St.

Aquarius 1970-1977

Tea Room Male 1978-

Eddy and Jones

Arcadia Dancing Pavilion (ca. 1922)

64 Ellis St. between Stockton and Powell [3000]

Cort 1911-1918 (opened 9/2/1911)

Curran 1918-1921

Century 1921-1922

Morosco 1922-1923

Capitol 1925-1938

Capitol Theatre in 1935.

Capitol Follies 1939-1941

Cort Theatre

198 Ellis St. at Mason [2000]

Casino 1917-1924; 1926-1940

Beatty's Casino 1925-1926

Downtown 1942-1952

Casino Theatre in 1917.

1631 Ellis (1635) (between Fillmore and Steiner)

Orpheum 1907-1909

Garrick 1909-1926

Garrick Theatre

1644 Ellis

Grand 1908

1679 (or 1671) Ellis (between Fillmore and Steiner, southside) [1000]

Princess 1907-1932 (closed in 1932?)

Princess Theater ca. 1910-1930

Ellis 1935-1951

74 Embarcadero [350]

Ferry 1923-1927; 1939-1940

1206 Fillmore

Musee Moving Pictures 1911

1226 (or 1220) Fillmore at Eddy [800]

Nickelless Nickelodeon 1909

Chutes Vaudeville 1909-1912

Lyric 1916-1924

New Progress 1925

American 1926-1929

American Theatre in 1964.

New American 1929-1948

1250 Fillmore

Star 1910-1911

1326 Fillmore

Electric 1911

1329 Fillmore [2000]

New Fillmore 1916-1957

New Fillmore Theatre in 1943

New Fillmore Theatre in 1964

1426 Fillmore

Fillmore 1909; 1911

Fillmore and Steiner

Novelty 1906-1909

Novelty Theatre

1535 Fillmore [800]

Gayety 1912

Progress 1913-1925

1640 Fillmore

Fillmore Nickelodeon 1911

1730 Fillmore

Lyregraph Moving and Talking Pictures 1911

1745 (or 1749) Fillmore [350-400]

Temple ca. 1927- (demolished 1972)

Temple Theatre in 1964.

1757 Fillmore

Haussler 1918-1920

Pastime 1921-1924

2251 (or 2261) Fillmore

Regent 1913-1931

Avalon 1931-?

Clay (aka Clay National) 1936-

Clay Theatre in 1964.

aka International 1936-1949?

Franklin and Sutter

Century Club Hall ca. 1908

Fulton (between 10th and 11th)

Chutes and Zoo 1902-1906

Orpheum 1906-1907

Chutes (Fulton St. Chutes) 1907-1909

415 (or 417 or 425) Geary (at Mason)

Columbia 1910-1924 - designed by John Galen Howard

Geary Playhouse 1924-1925

Wilkes 1925-1927

Geary 1928-1989

445 Geary or 455 Geary

Curran 1922- - designed by Alfred Henry Jacobs

Curran Theatre

650 Geary

Islam Temple of the Shrine (Shrine Auditorium) 1917-1962

Alcazar Theater 1976-1986

1075 Geary

Richelieu 1963-1981

Richelieu Theater in 1963

1750 Geary

AMC Kabuki 1986-

3010 Geary

Bridge 1939 (opened 7/21/1939)

Bridge Theater

3575 Geary (3573?)

Coronet 1949-

Coronet Theater

5400 Geary at 18th [1500]

Alexandria 1923- (opened 11/26/1923)

Alexandria Theater

Alexandria Theater ca. 1923.

965 Geneva Ave. [900]

Amazon 1928-1969 (opened 9/14/1929)

Amazon Theater

Apollo 1970-1983

Golden Gate (at Taylor and Market) [2800]

Golden Gate 1922- designed by G. Albert Lansburgh

RKO Golden Gate 1935-1937

Golden Gate Theater

96 Golden Gate

Mini-Adult

Mini-Adult Theatre

191 Golden Gate

Eureka 1925

1021 Grant

Mandarin 1925-1949

Mandarin Theater in 1934

Mandarin Theater in 1947

Sun Sing 1950-1986

1037 Grant St. (street formerly called Dupont)

Oriental Theatre 1909-1911

700 Great Highway

Palm Garden

629 (or 631) Green

Allesandro Eden 1927

Green Street Theatre 1932

S.F. Theatre Union 1937

Green Street Music Hall 1946-1954

Green Street Theatre 1928-1955

Green Street Theater

678 Green

Fugazi Theatre 1933-1934+

Club Fugazi 1975-

556 Haight [1200]

Liberty 1910-1918

Colonial 1918-1921

Star 1922-1926

560 Haight

Riviera 1927-1935 (opened 3/5/1927)

Midtown 1935-1952 (closed 1/24/1952)

Midtown Theatre in 1942.

1659 Haight

Red Vic ca. 1980-1990

1727 Haight

Red Vic 1991-

1748 (or 1700) Haight [1400]

Haight Street Theatre 1909-1965

Straight 1965-1970

Straight Theater in 1967

381 Hayes at Gough [399]

Hayes Theater 1911-ca.1932

442 Hayes

Grand ca. 1914

830 Irving [390]

Sunset 1927

1333 Irving at 15th Ave. [1350]

Irving Theatre 1926-1962 (opened 6/10/1926; closed 7/8/1962)

Irving Theatre in 1940

4510 Irving at 46th [450]

Parkview (or New Parkview) 1926-1937

Sunset 1937-1957

Surf 1957-1985

Surf Theatre in 1964

215 Jackson

Gateway 1967-1998

Eureka

630 (or 636) Jackson

Great China 1925-1960

Great Star 1960-2000

Great Star Theater

756 Jackson

Grandview 1936?-1978

Grandview Theater in 1964.

Chinatown 1978-1989

825 (or 821) Kearny [250]

Shanghai 1911-1918

Kearny 1918-1940

Burlesque 1941-1945

Rex 1945-1949

Bella Union 1949-1985

Larkin and Turk

Lyric 1906

816 Larkin [365]

Larkin 1916-1978

Century 1979-

931 Larkin

Music Hall 1962-1987

2801 Leavenworth and Beach

Cannery ca. 1970-1993

80 McAllister - between Jones and Leavenworth

Colonial ca. 1907-1908

Colonial Theater

Savoy 1909-1913; 1916-1922

Savoy Theatre

Oriental 1913-1916

Plaza 1922-1925

President 1925-1942

President Follies Burlesque 1942-1963

President Theatre in 1948.

McAllister at Fillmore

Davis 1906

Davis Theatre

59 Market

Gaiety Theater in 1908.

725 (or 729) Market [299]

Silver Palace 1908-1951

Hub 1951-1972

Hub Theater in 1964.

747 Market

V-Odeon 1915-1923

757 Market [299]

Unique 1909-1934

Unique Theatre

777 Market [250]

New Central Theatre 1927

779 Market [950]

Portola Theatre 1909-1944

Portola Theatre in 1920.

Portola Theatre in 1944.

Paris 1944-1971

Paris Theatre in 1964.

Paris Theater in 1971.

787 Market at 4th [2500]

California 1917-1941 - designed by Alfred Henry Jacobs

California Theatre in 1927.

State 1942-1954

State Theater in 1947.

936 Market [1016]

Market Street 1909-1917

Market Street Theater in 1910.

Alhambra 1917-1922

Cameo 1923-1929

Frolic 1919-1923

Marion Davis 1929-1940

Esquire 1940-1972

Esquire Theater in 1964

939 (or 937) Market

Pantages Theatre 1911-1927

Pantages Theatre in 1929.

Pantages Theatre

965 Market near 6th [1000]

Empress 1910-1917 - designed by John Galen Howard

Empress Theater in ca. 1910

Strand 1918-1925

St. Francis 1925-1968

St. Francis Theatre in 1925

St. Francis Theatre in 1927

St. Francis Theatre in 1964

Baronet / St. Francis 1969-1975

St. Francis I & II 1976-2000

980 Market [400]

Lesser Nickelodeon 1909

Grauman's 1910

Maio Biograph 1912-1924

Circle 1924-1932

New Circle 1932-1939

Newsreel 1939-1949

Cinema 1949-1958

Crest 1958-1978

Crest Theatre in 1967.

Egyptian 1978-1981

Electric 1981-1994

Crazy Horse 1994-

982 Market

Loew's Warfield 1922- - designed by G. Albert Lansburgh

Loew's Warfield Theatre in 1922

Fox Warfield

Fox Warfield Theatre in 1964

1029 Market

Arcade Gallery

1046 Market

Pompeii ca. 1926-1936

Regal 1936-1974

Bijou 1974-1989

1066 Market [3000]

Granada 1921-1930 - designed by Alfred Henry Jacobs

Granada Theater

Paramount 1930-1965 (closed 4/20/1965)

Paramount Theater in 1964.

1067 Market [400]

Egyptian Theater 1924-1943

Studio 1943-1947

Guild 1947-1974

Pussycat 1974-1987

1071 Market

Round-Up 1944-1947

Centre 1947-1987

1077 Market [2485]

Grauman's Imperial 1912-1915 - designed by Cunningham and Polito

Imperial 1916-1929

Premier 1929-1931

United Artists 1931-1970

United Artists Theatre in 1964.

Loew's 1970-1972

Market Street Theatre 1972-

1110 Market

Gold Palace 1908-

1123 / 1125 Market (near 7th) [1000]

American 1907-1914 - designed by the Reid Brothers

Rialto 1916-1923

Rivoli (Opera House) 1923-1927

Rivoli Theatre in 1926.

Embassy 1927-1931

Vitaphone 1929-1931?

Warner Brothers 1932-1933

Embassy 1934-1989

Embassy Theater in 1964.

1127 Market [700]

Jewel 1917-1920 (opened 10/27/1917)

Sun 1920

College 1920-1921

Francesca 1921-1928

Strand 1928-

Strand Theatre in 1964.

1182 (or 1172) Market at 8th St. [2900]

Pantages 1926-1929 - designed by B. Marcus Priteca

Pantages Theater

Pantages Theater in 1926.

Orpheum (or RKO Orpheum) 1929-

Orpheum Theater in 1931.

Orpheum Theater

1191 Market and 8th

Central 1906-1911

Central Theater

Market and 10th

Gettysburg

Gettysburg Theater in 1924.

1350 Market [5000]

Designed by Thomas Lamb

Fox 1929-1963 (opened on 6/28/1929)

2315 Market

Palace Theatre 1918-1924

2362 Market

Jose Theater

Jose Theater in 1914.

2353 Mission

El Capitan 1928-1964 - desgiend by G. Albert Lansburgh

El Capitan Theater

2465 Mission later 2457 Mission

Majestic 1911-1941

Tower 1942-

Tower Theater in 1964.

2547 Mission

Wigwam 1907-1913

2550 Mission

Idle Hour 1913-1916

Mission / New Mission 1916-1993

New Mission Theater in 1943.

New Mussion Theater in 1975.

2555 Mission

Wigwam 1913-1930 (opened 7/24/1913)

Wigwam Theatre in 1913

Rialto / New Rialto 1930-1947

Crown 1947-1974

Crown Theater in 1964.

Cine Latino 1974-1990

2605 Mission near 22nd

Grand 1909-1919

New Grand Theater

Real Art 1919-1925

2665 Mission

Grand 1940-1988

Grand Theater in 1970.

Mission between 23rd and 24th

Star 1908-1911

3350 Mission (at 29th)

Lyceum Theatre 1907-1964

4621 Mission

Panama 1913-1922

4631 Mission

Excelsior 1922-1931

Granada 1931-1982

Granada Theater in 1964.

4734 Mission

Excelsior 1911-1913

Bell 1919-1920

Bell Theater in 1919.

5177 Mission near Geneva

Rialto 1928-1929

5825 Mission

State 1925-1931

State Theater in 1929.

Del Mar 1947-1950

99 Moraga Avenue, at Montgomery

Presidio Theatre

Presidio Theatre in 1982

1634 Ocean

Balboa 1922-1931

Balboa Theatre

Westwood 1931-1932

1970 Ocean Avenue

El Rey 1931- - Designed by Timothy L. Pflueger

El Rey Theater in 1942

147 O'Farrell later 141 O'Farrell (between Stockton and Powell, southside)

Orpheum 1909-1929 - designed by G. Albert Lansburgh

Orpheum Theatre

Columbia 1930

Erlanger's Columbia 1931-1934

Minski's Columbia 1935

Columbia 1936-1937

160 O'Farrell

Gaiety 1913-1915

Hippodrome 1915-1924

Loew's Hippodrome Theater

Union Square 1925-1929

Filmarte 1931-1934

260 O'Farrell between Powell and Mason

Alcazar 1907-1922 - designed by Cunningham and Polito

New Alcazar Theater in 1907.

Alcazar Theater

Alcazar Theater in 1951.

Wilkes Alcazar 1922-1924

Federal 1937-1939

United Nations 1945-1952

Alcazar 1952-1961

O'Farrell and Steiner

Novelty 1906-1914

498 Pacific at Montgomery

Turf 1907-1911

Turf Concert Hall

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge Nightclub

Hippodrome 1920s-1930s

Hippodrome Nightclub

Hippodrome Nightclub

560 Pacific

Hippodrome

1529 Polk

Designed by Timothy L. Pflueger

Royal 1916 (opened 9/6/1916)

Royal Theater in 1943.

1537 Polk

Queen 1910-1920

1649 Polk

Polk Theatre New 1911-1927

2320-2336 Polk

Alhambra 1926- - Designed by Timothy L. Pflueger

Alhambra Theater

Post and Steiner, northwest corner

National 1907-1917

1700 Post at Buchanan

Toho 1971

Kokusai

37 Powell

Edison 1918-1933

Powell 1933-1977

1741 Powell

Washington Square (opened 4/10/1909)

Milano 1930-1937

Palace 1937-1974

Pagoda Palace 1974- ??

2290 Powell

Northpoint 1967- ??

3290 Sacramento

Elite 1912-1919

Rex 1919-1927

Plaza 1927-1939

United Artists Vogue 1939-

Vogue Theater in 1982

2650 San Bruno

Avenue 1927-1984 (opened 8/20/1927)

Avenue Theatre in 1947.

Steiner near Sutter

Dreamland Rink ca. 1908

332 Stockton

Maitland Playhouse 1919-1923

1249 Stockton, near Broadway

Acme 1910-1949

Acme Theater in 1918

Times 1940-1976

1475 Stockton

Flagg 1911-1927

1268 Sutter

Avalon Ballroom

Regency II 1969-2000

Sutter and Pierce

Winter Garden Dancing

2030 Sutter

Victory 1907-1909 (opened 11/25/1907)

Fischer's 1909-1913

Sutter 1913-1914

All Star 1914-1926

Class A 1926-1927

Sutter 1927-1941

Teatro Sutter 1941-1955

Sutter, between Fillmore & Steiner (north side)

Empire 1906-1908 (opened 9/24/1906)

Pantages 1908-1911

2101 Sutter, at Steiner, southwest corner

New Alcazar 1908-1911

1912-1925 Republic

Sutter 1926

Uptown 1930-1970

Uptown Theater in 1930.

Uptown Theater in 1964.

933 Taraval near 19th

Parkside 1928-1965 (opened 12/28/1928)

Fox Parkside 1965-1980

Fox Parkside Theater in 1975

78 Turk

Gayety

Gayety Theater

2055 Union

Metropolitan 1924-1941 (opened 4/23/1924)

United Artists Metro 1941-

2240 Union

Cory 1913-1920

Capitol 1922-1924

Crown 1924-1925

Rialto 1926

Union 1932-1941

Rio 1941-1968

Metro II 1968-1982

Rio 1982

Mercury 1983-1986

235 Valencia

Valencia 1908-1924

Valencia Theatre

259 Van Ness

Van Ness 1907-1910

Van Ness Theatre

Van Ness near Golden Gate

Opera Plaza 1984+

1000 Van Ness

AMC 1000

1320 Van Ness

Scottish Rite Hall

Regency 1967-1969

Regency I 1969-

?? Van Ness

Galaxy

1470 Washington

Theatre Francaise La Gaiete 1921-1931

French Theatre 1923-1924

La Gaiete Francaise 1924-1925, 1929

Theatre Francaise 1928

Ferrier's Theatre of Art 1929

Ferrier Andre Theatre of Art 1932

Ferrier's Theatre Francais d'Art 1933

Ferrier Andre Art Theatre 1933-1936

Ferrier's French Theatre of Art 1937-1938

Ferrier Art Theatre 1937-1938

Ferrier Andre Art Theatre 1939-1943

Ferrier Andre French Theatre 1943-1951

Theatre Francais 1947

Theatre Ferrier 1950

85 West Portal

West Portal 1925-1936

Empire 1936-1974

Empire 3 1974-

Empire Cinema

Empire Cinema

335 6th Avenue

Lincoln 1911-1940

148 3rd Street

Peerless 1912-1970

Peerless Theater in 1929

aka Third Street Peerless, Peerless Theatre Girlesque 1958-1960

357 / 365 3rd Street

Majestic Theatre 1911-1931

4705 3rd Street (formerly 14th Street and Railroad)

South San Francisco Opera House 1888-1913

Columbia 1913-1924

Bayview Opera House

4935 3rd Street and Quesada (formerly 1383 Railroad Avenue)

Bayview Theatre 1924-1957

2961 16th Street, at Capp

Sixteenth Street 1907-1913

Victoria 1913-1964; 1977-

New Follies 1964-1977

New Follies Theatre in 1965.

New Follies Theater in 1968.

3117 16th Street near Valencia

Poppy 1914-1916

New Sixteenth Street 1917

Rex 1920

Gem

Gaiety 1933

Roxie 1934-

Roxie Theater in 1977

Roxie Theater in 1977

2795 24th Street near York

Roosevelt 1926-1962 (opened 9/22/1926)

Roosevelt Theatre in 1944.

York 1962-1995?

Brava Women's Theatre 2000?-

York Theatre

3984 24th Street

Noe 1937-1952 (opened 1/14/1937)

4043 24th

Palmer Theatre 1917-1938