Playing then — and now
Throughout the 1940s and
1950s, there were at least a dozen
theaters along the Market Street
corridor showing Hollywood
movies and newsreels.
Most closed in the 1960s and
1970s, and others converted to adult
theaters. The St. Francis Theatre,
which stopped showing second-run
films in 2001, was the last Market
Streetmovie theater to go.
But the news isn’t all
depressing. As Market Street
seems to be rebounding in the
2010s, several of the theaters exist
in something close to their former
glory — repurposed for a new era of
entertainment.
We found an old Chronicle
movie timetable from Jan. 6, 1950,
to see what was playing, then
tracked the fate of each
Market-area theater on the list.
One movie house not listed is
the Strand Theatre at 1127 Market.
The American Conservatory
Theater is planning to reopen the
Strand, closed since the 1990s, as
a live theater destination. Also not
on the list is the Crest Theatre,
which now operates next door to
the Warfield as the Crazy Horse
Gentlemen’s Club. Esquire Theater (954 Market St., 1,008 seats) Then: “Free for All.” Now: Torn down in 1972 as part of
the Market Street Beautification
Project; Hallidie Plaza took its
place. Fox Theatre (1350 Market St., 4,650 seats) Then: “Sands of Iwo Jima.” Now: Torn down in 1963, replaced
by Fox Plaza building. Golden Gate Theatre (1 Taylor St., 2,400 seats) Then: “A Farewell to Arms.” Now: Active as an SHN live theater
destination. Loew’s Warfield (982 Market St., 2,657 seats) Then: “That Forsyte Woman.” Now: Active as a live music venue.
The Warfield was a popular movie
theater into the 1970s, when it
started showing concerts. Orpheum (1192 Market St., 2,446 seats) Then: “And Baby Makes Three.” Now: Active as another SHN
destination. “Newsies” and “Book
of Mormon” return this year. Paramount Theatre (1066 Market St., 2,656 seats) Then: “Always Leave Them
Laughing.”
Now: Torn down in late 1960s.
Empty storefronts and a jewelry
pawn shop are there now. St. Francis Theatre (965 Market St., 1,465 seats) Then: “The Heiress.” Now: Closed in 2001 and
demolished in 2013.
Redevelopment at the site
continues. State Theatre (787 Market St.; 2,134 seats) Then: “Holiday Inn.” Now: Closed and gutted in 1961.
There’s a Ross Dress for Less at the
site now. Telenews (930 Market St., 399 seats) Then: Showing newsreels. Now: Torn down in 1972; Hallidie
Plaza and a Payless Shoe Source
are in its place now. United Artists Theatre (1077 Market St., 1,485 seats) Then: “Jolson Sings Again.” Now: Closed in 2013, after decades
operating as the Market Street
Cinema, a XXX theater and strip
joint. United Nations Theatre (260 O’Farrell St., 1,145 seats) Then: “Gone With the Wind.” Now: Torn down in the 1960s. The
theater also existed as the Alcazar.
Handlery Union Square Hotel is at
the site now.