Opened: November 1, 1917 as the California Theatre. It was on the southeast corner of 4th and Market. Previously on the site was a building housing the Pastime Theatre. In this photo the theatre is playing "By Right of Purchase"
with Norma Talmadge, a film that opened at the theatre on Sunday, March 24, 1918. Note that second entrance on 4th St. Thanks to Bennett Hall for sharing the photo on Flickr.
Architect: Alfred Henry Jacobs. In 1918 Jacobs would do some renovation work at the Portola for the same company that owned the California. In 1922 he would design the Curran Theatre.
The California and the Granada, another Jacobs project, were discussed in "Two San Francisco Motion Picture Theatres," a six page article by Mr. Jacobs that appeared in the October 1922 issue
of Architectural Forum. It's on the site HathiTrust, scanned from a copy at the
Princeton University collection. Thanks to Bob Foreman for locating it.
The full article appears near the top of the page about the Granada Theatre.
Floor plans from the Architectural Forum article. On the plan on the left note the booth at the back of the main floor. The second and third floors along Market St. were devoted to restrooms and lounge areas. Above that note how on the balcony plan the seats went all the way back to Market St. facade.
Seating: 2,780 originally. 2,133 in its later years.
The Organ and its lift: It was a Wurlitzer-Hope-Jones instrument with the console mounted on a hydraulic lift that could come up to stage level. This was evidently the first organ lift in the country. The instrument and the lift were discussed in "California Sets Pace For West," an article about the theatre beginning on page 2805 of the October 20, 1917 Motion Picture News:
"Among the chief features of the building is the largest orchestral organ ever constructed. This instrument, a Wurlitzer organ, costing $54,000, is so large that it was impossible to group the pipes in one section. It has been divided into six chambers around the building, two on each side, with the echo organ placed in the attic space and the main organ carried over the proscenium the entire width of the interior. Dr. Bruce Gordon Kinsley, the famous San Francisco organist, will be master of the keyboard, and will be stationed at a console in the orchestra pit, which console is placed on an elevator so that during the organ recital he may be raised into view of the audience. So complex and intricate are the organ controls that a special relay room containing them has been placed in the basement. This room is enclosed in plate glass, and will be on exhibition for the audience."
Thanks to Bob Foreman for locating this on Internet Archive. Ignore the balcony photo with the article's continuation on pages 2806 and 2807 as it's not of the California. The organ and the "movable console" are also described in the article from the December 22, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World that's reproduced below.
History: The theatre was a venture of the Market Street Realty Co. and operated by Eugene H. Roth's Popular Amusement Co., who also had the nearby Portola Theatre. Perhaps Jacobs wasn't the firm's first choice as architect. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this rendering for the project by Louis C. Mullgardt:
"Louis Christian Mullgardt exhibited work in Yosemite Valley which showed an unusual (but his usual) sensitiveness in the handling of irregular masses: also a design of notable freedom and vigor for the Market Street Realty building."
The illustration appeared on page 59 of the October 1916 issue of The Architect and Engineer of California. It's on page 317 of a 596 page pdf: https://usmodernist.org/AECA/AECA-1916-07-10.pdf. Art comments:
"Mullgardt was quite famous at the time, having done big things at the
PPIE in 1915. Maybe the Market Street Realty people (the group building
the theater), got his rendering, which is not all that far from what was
built, and decided to go with the relatively obscure Jacobs?"
A story about the theatre's steel work that appeared in the March 10, 1917 issue of Engineering Record. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding the article.
This article appeared in the October 27, 1917 San Francisco Call and Post. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating it via the California Digital Newspaper Collection website. He calls our attention to their description of the architect, Alfred Henry Jacobs, as "a man who had never built a theater and one who had plenty of new ideas."
A pre-opening ad in the collection of the California State Library.
It's our personal invitation to the opening. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for the finding this for a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
The new theatre was profiled in a 2+ page article in the December 22, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World that's on Internet Archive:
"Coast Theatre Mechanically Perfect." The article below detailed the theatre's electrical and mechanical systems and appeared in the April 20, 1918 issue of the trade magazine Motography.
Thanks to Bob
Ristelhueber for finding the Motography article for a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
We get a look at a set on stage for a concert in this story in the December 18, 1920 issue of Exhibitors Herald.
This
cover for the program at the Imperial, California and Granada was for
the week of October 28, 1922. At the
time, the three theatres were under the management of Herbert Rothchild
with Paramount also in there with an ownership stake. The program is on Calisphere from the Museum of Performance and Design Performing Arts
Library.
A program for a "Discovery Concert" in February 1923. Thanks to Glenn Koch for sharing the item from a scrapbook he has in his collection.
Soon the California was being operated by Wobber Brothers and managed
by Jack Partington, who had worked for the Graumans at the Imperial. A February 13, 1926 article in Exhibitors Herald was about Partington. Thanks to Bob Foreman for finding it on Internet Archive. The Herald noted:
"After
the Graumans sold the Imperial to Wobber Brothers and it was merged
with the California theatre, Partington was placed in charge of both
houses. When the Rothschild [sic] interests took over the two houses and
built the Granada, Partington was given charge of the three theatres.
This position he held until his transfer to Los Angeles [in 1926]."
A big success initially, the California ran into hard times as the
theatre district continued to move farther west on Market St.
A November 1931 calendar from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments:
"Depression Woes! 3 changes per week, double features on every
program!"
A January 1937 calendar from the Jack Tillmany collection. He notes: " Still pretty depressed and even more depressing! 2/3 changes per week! Bargain Matinees 20 cents; Evenings (all seats) 30 cents (no extra charge for loges). YIKES! Bank Night every Thursday; Ten-O-Win every Monday!"
It was renamed the State Theatre with a reopening December 31, 1941.
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The State is shown at the bottom of this detail from page 145 of volume 2 of the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. This version shows updates as late as September 1949. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this via the Library of Congress website. The theatre's neighbor, the Portola, is shown in blue as "Movies." 4th St. is at the bottom of the image, Stevenson St. up the right side.
Closing: It closed as a film house March 2, 1954. ABC-Paramount was the last operator. It was then occasionally rented out for revival meetings and other events.
Status: The theatre was demolished in beginning in late 1961. A November 27 item in Boxoffice about the uncertain future of the Fox noted that demolition of the State was already underway. After being a parking lot for a few years a building for the clothing store Roos-Atkins rose on the site. It's now occupied by a Ross Dress For Less.The California Theatre in the Movies: About 45 seconds into "Fog Over Frisco" (Warner Bros., 1934) there are a couple brief shots of Market and 4th, showing the California Theatre. The film stars Bette Davis and Donald Woods. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the data.
Photos of the ticket lobby:
One of three photos of the theatre appearing in the August 1918 issue of The Architect. Note the elaborate frieze above the entrance doors. The issue is on Internet Archive.
"Dominant Motif of Central Panel of Frieze in the Main Entrance Lobby..." The photo appeared in a "Portfolio of Photographs of the Frieze in the Main Entrance Lobby of the California Theatre" in the November 1917 issue of Architect and Engineer. It's on Internet Archive. The paintings were done by Ray F. Coyle.
"Portion of Central Panel of Frieze in Main Entrance Lobby..." Photo: Architect and Engineer - November 1917
"Central Motif Left Hand Panel in Main Entrance Lobby..." And by that they mean the ticket lobby outside. Photo: Architect and Engineer - November 1917
Lobby and lounge areas:
A fountain in the main lobby. Note the exit doors in the mirror. The November 1917 photo is from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "Cupid Amongst the Ferns. I'm sure it's just an unfortunately placed fern frond, but it almost looks like Cupid is a little TOO enthusiastically anatomically correct."
The loggia. "Instead of forcing hundreds to stand in line waiting, an immense loggia, 100 feet long and 25 feet wide, on the Market Street side, is provided with lounging chairs; in fact is fitted up as an indoor garden to accommodate those waiting for seats."
The photo and comment photo appear with "California Sets Pace For West," an article about the theatre beginning on page 2805 of the October 20, 1917 Motion Picture News. Also see the article's continuation on pages 2806 and 2807. Thanks to Bob Foreman for locating this on Internet Archive. Ignore the auditorium photo with the article as it's some other theatre.
A lobby on the way to the balcony. It's a photo from the August 1918 issue of The Architect.
Gary Parks comments: "I have it on good authority from a late Fox West Coast exec that I used to know, that when this theatre was the (Fox-run) State, it hosted overnight sleeping by soldiers and sailors during WWII, and that the somewhat labyrinthine Mezzanine and balcony passages and lounges became an ideal place for some of the usherettes to make some extra money attending to the needs of some of the boys in uniform--needs which I leave to the imagination. Let's keep in mind that this was no longer the top tier movie house it had originally been, by that time."
A 1917 "balcony plaisance" photo appearing with "Two San Francisco Motion Picture Theatres," a six page article by Alfred Henry Jacobs about the California and Granada theatres that appeared in the October 1922 issue
of Architectural Forum. Thanks to Bob Foreman for locating it on the HathiTrust site.
The full article appears near the top of the page about the Granada Theatre.
A copy of the photo from the Jack Tillmany collection is on the San Francisco Public Library website. A version appearing with an article profiling the new theatre in the December 22, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World is on Internet Archive. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding that article for a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
A detail of the fountain seen at the far end of the balcony plaisance in the previous photo. The photo from the Jack Tillmany collection appears on the San Francisco Public Library website.
A copy of the photo from the Jack Tillmany collection is on the San Francisco Public Library website. A version appearing with an article profiling the new theatre in the December 22, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World is on Internet Archive. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding that article for a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
A detail of the fountain seen at the far end of the balcony plaisance in the previous photo. The photo from the Jack Tillmany collection appears on the San Francisco Public Library website.
A view of the ladies lounge. It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He calls our attention to the intercom on the wall near the door.
The painting above the fireplace. The photo comes from the November 1917 issue of Architect and Engineer where they captioned it "Over Mantel For Ladies' Dressing Room..."
The auditorium:
A balcony view from the August 1918 issue of The Architect. It's on Internet Archive. There's also a version of the photo from the Jack Tillmany collection on the Cinema Tour page about the California. The San Francisco Public Library also has a version.
The photo also appears as a plate with "Two San Francisco Motion Picture Theatres," the article about the Granada and California theatres by Alfred Henry Jacobs in the October 1922 issue of Architectural Forum. Thanks to Bob Foreman for locating it on the HathiTrust site. It's also on the Granada Theatre page.
The photo also appears as a plate with "Two San Francisco Motion Picture Theatres," the article about the Granada and California theatres by Alfred Henry Jacobs in the October 1922 issue of Architectural Forum. Thanks to Bob Foreman for locating it on the HathiTrust site. It's also on the Granada Theatre page.
A shot from the back of the balcony that gives us a look at the chandeliers and the Gothic
ceiling treatment. The photo appeared in the December 22, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World. It's on
Internet Archive. The San Francisco Public Library has a version of the photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A 1920s view toward the rear of the house. Note the main floor booth. It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A 1920s look toward the screen from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "The size of the screen was determined by the maximum amount of area that could be properly lit. Of course, in later years, the screen was larger, but never went wide, as the theatre closed before wide screen projection got a real foothold in 1953-1954."
A 1920s view toward the rear of the house. Note the main floor booth. It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
In the booth with the Motiograph projectors in 1917. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the photo.
More exterior views:
A 1917 view north on 4th toward Market as the steel is going up for the new theatre. That's the Phelan Building across Market. Many thanks to the collector named Marcus for sharing this image from his collection.
This 1917 postcard view shot during a parade caught the California Theatre on the right while still under construction. Thanks to Glenn Koch for spotting the card on eBay. That's the Portola Theatre marquee in the center of the image.
A 4th & Market pre-opening photo appearing with an article profiling the new theatre in the December 22, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World. Note the unfinished marquees. It's on Internet Archive. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding the article for a post of six photos on the BAHT Facebook page.
A mid-November 1917 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. The new theatre is running "Arms and the Girl" with Billie Burke. Jack calls our attention to the fact that here the storefronts are still vacant.
A January 4, 1918 look at the new theatre. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding the photo in the SFMTA Archives for a post on the Facebook page San Francisco Remembered.
A look east on Market at 4th during the last week of May 1918. Beyond the California Theatre on the corner we get a glimpse of the Portola Theatre as well. The photo, from the Emiliano Echeverria / Randolph Brandt Collection, appears on the Open SF History Project website.
Jack Tillmany advises that the William S. Hart film advertised on the California's marquee is "Selfish Yates." A version of this shot is in the San Francisco Public Library collection. The photo also appears with a November 2016 SF Gate story "Rare, unseen photos from the Chronicle's morgue...."
Another 1918 "Selfish Yates" shot. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for locating this one for a post on the BAHT Facebook page. He comments: "The Muni Line K had just recently established downtown service through Twin Peaks Tunnel on 3 February 1918."
A photo taken the last week of August 1918 from the Jack Tillmany collection. A smaller version appears on the San Francisco Public Library website.
The 4th St. marquee in August 1918. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the photo.
An early corner view, part of a lovely set Wayne Miller found at a flea market. The set is on the Facebook page San Francisco Remembered.
A photo with Charles Ray in "Paris Green" on the marquee. It played the last week of May 1920. Thanks to Martin Treu for the photo on his Signs, Streets and Storefronts Facebook page. He comments that the design "demonstrated how well a theatre's graphic identity could be seamlessly integrated with the architecture. Here, the architect carried the lines of the facade up to an extended parapet which incorporates lettering carefully with the Gothic style tracery. Bravo!"
A June 11, 1922 photo from Jack Tillmany. He comments: "A little promotion: 'The Gray Dawn' was a Gold Rush tale set in Old San Francisco, apparently involving a newspaper called The Bulletin, no relation to the SF rag of the same name, but obviously a good idea for a promo stunt."
A June 1923 view of the 4th St. marquee. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for finding the photo.
A December 1923 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "The usual street work on Market St. Note: The Portola marquee has vanished!"
An October 1924 photo from Jack Tillmany. Note the added readerboard this side of the California's entrance. The big marquee down the block at the left of the photo belonged to the Odeon Theatre. By the time of this photo the space had been repurposed as the Metropolitan Market.
A press photo dated August 13, 1925. The feature is "Not So Long Ago" with Betty Bronson and Ricards Cortez. Thanks to Christopher Snowdon for the photo, a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
The theatre got its picture in the August 28, 1926 issue of Motion Picture News. It's on Internet Archive. They were noting the promotion of a short, "The Bear Cats," on their signage -- which they've helpfully circled for us. The feature at the time was "Volcano" with Ricardo Cortez and Wallace Beery. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding the photo for a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
A June 1927 photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection.
An October 1, 1948 photo by Marshall Moxom that's in the SFMTA Photo Archive, their #X1833. See more State Theatre photos in the collection, including additional views taken the same day.
A December 1948 photo from the Tom B'hend / Preston Kaufmann collection. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sending it along. He notes that it's his favorite photo of the theatre.
A lovely look west toward 4th St. and beyond. Playing at the State on July 4, 1949: Bob Hope in "Sorrowful Jones" with that 2nd big hit "Amazon Quest." Well, the banner says "Always 2 Big Hits.' That's a bit of the Portola Theatre marquee on the left. The photo, from the SFMTA Archives, appears on the Market St. section of the blog San Francisco Pictures.
Thanks to Bill Gabel for this great c.1949 postcard view. We're in the block between 4th and 5th -- our Gothic-themed theatre is down at the next corner. Bill has the card on the Cinema Treasures page for the theatre.
A c.1950 view by John Gerrard Graham. It's in the San Francisco Public Library collection. Note a bit of the Portola Theatre in the background.
An October 1950 photo appearing on the Open SF History Project website courtesy of a private collector. It's the "Double Horror Show" for Halloween: "House of Frankenstein" and "House of Dracula." Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the photo in the collection.
Thanks to Bill Gabel for this fine March 1953 view looking east on Market from 4th. Jack Tillmany notes: "'The Star' with Bette Davis is playing at the St. Francis. The State was closed at that time. It briefly re-opened in December with 'Fighter Attack,' but would soon close permanently in March 1954." The image appears in the photo section of the Cinema Treasures page for the State Theatre.
A December 23, 1953 newspaper view that appeared with the copy: "FACE-WASHING -- Getting all spruced up for its reopening Christmas Day as a first-run motion picture theater is the State, at Market and Fourth-sts. Its first film will be 'Fighter Attack,' a drama of wartime escape in Italy. Sterling Hayden stars." The photo is in the San Francisco Public Library collection. The face washing wasn't enough to save it. Jack Tillmany notes that the theatre was closed for a while, then re-opened, then closed permanently in March 1954.
A September 1927 photo with the California running "The Big Parade" with John Gilbert and Renée Adorée. (Don't you love that name?) It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
Jack comments: "'The Big Parade' returns at popular prices as the California's offering for Greater Movie Season. It had opened in January 1926, on a reserved seat, roadshow policy, at the Wilkes: 'Every chair reserved! Thousands turned away DAILY.' Did I say the Wilkes? Yes! From January 1925 - June 1927, the Geary, nee Columbia, operated as the Wilkes, before becoming the Lurie, until February 1928, when it once again became the Geary."
Thanks to Andra Young on San Francisco Remembered for this hand-colored look east on Market. Jack Tillmany comments that the card is based on a photo taken no later than 1930.
The front dressed up for the January 1930 run of "Sally." Note the sign at the top of the image advertising Marilyn Miller, the star of the film.
Another view of the promotion for "Sally." That's the boxoffice on the right. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for finding the photos.
The signage for "Puttin' on the Ritz" in March 1930. The photo is from the Jack Tillmany collection.
The front dressed up for the January 1930 run of "Sally." Note the sign at the top of the image advertising Marilyn Miller, the star of the film.
Another view of the promotion for "Sally." That's the boxoffice on the right. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for finding the photos.
The signage for "Puttin' on the Ritz" in March 1930. The photo is from the Jack Tillmany collection.
The theatre in 1930 with an elaborate display for the film adaptation of Zane Grey's "The Light of Western Stars." Thanks to Kevin Walsh for sharing the photo on the BAHT Facebook page. It appeared in a book in his collection: "Pictorial California - A compilation of various issues of Pictorial California - a bi-monthly magazine picturing the beauties of California and the Pacific." TJ Fisher notes that this film ran from April 3 to 16. He located an ad and included it as a comment on the Facebook post.
A January 1, 1932 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. That Gray Line bus station to the left of the Bank of America Building was the Portola Theatre. It had closed as a theatre in 1928 and was reopened in 1944.
The 4th St. marquee in July 1934 advertising the April release "Sleepers East" with Wynne Gibson and Preston Foster. "Heat Lighting" was a March release with Aline MacMahon and Ann Dvorak. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for locating the photo by C.B. Peterson in the UC Berkeley Bancroft Library collection for a post on the BAHT Facebook page. The photo was taken for the Examiner and is part of a set of four.
A wider view of the chaos at 4th and Market during the 1934 Longshoremen's strike. It's another from the set of four in the UC Berkeley Library collection. Thanks, Bob!
The 1934 general strike was the occasion for this photo of the 4th St. marquee from International News Service. Thanks to Glenn Koch for spotting it on eBay. It was sent out with this caption:
"Theatre Closed in Frisco Because of Strike -- As the sign on the marquee indicates, this theatre in San Francisco, like so many others throughout the city, was forced to shut down when the general strike, now gripping the city, was called yesterday morning, July 16th. 200,000 persons went out on strike in sympathy with the 4,000 dock workers whose strike started in May."
The 1934 general strike was the occasion for this photo of the 4th St. marquee from International News Service. Thanks to Glenn Koch for spotting it on eBay. It was sent out with this caption:
"Theatre Closed in Frisco Because of Strike -- As the sign on the marquee indicates, this theatre in San Francisco, like so many others throughout the city, was forced to shut down when the general strike, now gripping the city, was called yesterday morning, July 16th. 200,000 persons went out on strike in sympathy with the 4,000 dock workers whose strike started in May."
Looking east on October 15, 1937. It's a Chronicle photo that appeared with Bob Bragman's 2017 SF Gate article "Rare unseen downtown San Francisco photos show city life in the 1930s and 1940s." Bob's copy: "Typical San Francisco traffic congestion on Market St. The Bank of America and Call Buildings can be seen in the photo."
An October 6, 1938 photo by Jimmy Sayers in the Examiner archive at the UC Berkeley Bancroft Library. "Gateway" stared Don Ameche, Arleen Wheeler and Gregory Ratoff. That second feature with Kay Francis, "My Bill," also starred Bonita Granville and John Litel. The photo was part of the paper's coverage of pre-Christmas "Value Days." Thanks to Paul Penna for locating the image for a post on the San Francisco Remembered Facebook page.
A 1939 slide from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "It's the only color image I've seen of it during its California years. Of course, this one's interesting too because it's such a perfect
example of the four tracks of streetcars that once ran up Market Street,
affectionately known among rail fans as The Roar of the Four. The Muni
cars (Gray, trimmed with red, lines identified by letter) ran on the
outside tracks & the Market Street Railway cars, (Green, with white
fronts, lines identified by number), ran on the inside tracks.
"Boarding
cars on the inside tracks might seem perilous today (the clearance was
no more than 22 inches) but was just a common day to day ordeal to the
intrepid souls of yesteryear. The outside tracks were removed in 1948 as
rubber began to replace rail after WWII. Don't look for the Portola Theatre. From 1928 to 1944 it served as the Gray
Line Bus Depot. You can identify their signage out over the sidewalk in
front of the site, red background, blue quadrangle." Thanks to Matt Spero for color correction work.
No, we're not on Market St. -- on the left we get the theatre's 4th St. marquee as we look south from Market. The photo appears on the Open SF History Project website courtesy of a private collector.
A November 1940 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "The California by now is definitely upgraded from its 1930s woes, but still a secondary venue. 'Wyoming' opened at the Fox in September 1940, and 'Argentine Nights' opened at the Orpheum in September 1940. By November they were paired at the State, much like they would have been at the Embassy, but without the advantage of Ten-O-Win, the Embassy would have held the winning hand.
We know the California offered both Ten-O-Win on Monday and Bank Night on Thursday in 1937, but the question is, were they still doing so in 1940? Note the Gray Line marquee on the old Portola site. For rail fans who might be interested, Market Street Railway's Line #20 provided service to the Southern Pacific Depot to passengers from the Oak Street/Page Street corridor by way of Divisadero and the O'Farrell Street/Ellis Street corridor. Service was abandoned in 1947."
A 1942 look east by Meith Hagel for Life. The State, over on the right, is running "In This Our Life," a May release with Bette Davis along with Hitchcock's "Saboteur," an April release. This photo, and other 40s views that Mr. Hagel took in San Francisco, are on the site Vintage Everyday. Thanks to Ernie Manzo Jr. for spotting the collection.
A late 1942 or early 1943 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "The State has a sub-run of 2 top of the line features; note the banner, provided, along with posters and trailers, by National Screen Service. They were stitched together in the middle, so whatever combination of titles the theatre chose could be sewn together as a single banner. The Portola site is still in operation as the Gray Line Depot."
No, we're not on Market St. -- on the left we get the theatre's 4th St. marquee as we look south from Market. The photo appears on the Open SF History Project website courtesy of a private collector.
A November 1940 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "The California by now is definitely upgraded from its 1930s woes, but still a secondary venue. 'Wyoming' opened at the Fox in September 1940, and 'Argentine Nights' opened at the Orpheum in September 1940. By November they were paired at the State, much like they would have been at the Embassy, but without the advantage of Ten-O-Win, the Embassy would have held the winning hand.
We know the California offered both Ten-O-Win on Monday and Bank Night on Thursday in 1937, but the question is, were they still doing so in 1940? Note the Gray Line marquee on the old Portola site. For rail fans who might be interested, Market Street Railway's Line #20 provided service to the Southern Pacific Depot to passengers from the Oak Street/Page Street corridor by way of Divisadero and the O'Farrell Street/Ellis Street corridor. Service was abandoned in 1947."
A 1942 look east by Meith Hagel for Life. The State, over on the right, is running "In This Our Life," a May release with Bette Davis along with Hitchcock's "Saboteur," an April release. This photo, and other 40s views that Mr. Hagel took in San Francisco, are on the site Vintage Everyday. Thanks to Ernie Manzo Jr. for spotting the collection.
A late 1942 or early 1943 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "The State has a sub-run of 2 top of the line features; note the banner, provided, along with posters and trailers, by National Screen Service. They were stitched together in the middle, so whatever combination of titles the theatre chose could be sewn together as a single banner. The Portola site is still in operation as the Gray Line Depot."
Thanks to Jack Tillmany for this
screenshot from "San Francisco Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow," a 1943
promotional short urging voters to OK buying out the Market Street
Railway and merging it with Muni. Jack notes: "The
film is 'Stand By for Action,' which had opened at the Fox in January.
To
co-feature is a retread of the popular 1942 comedy, 'I Married a
Witch." Art Siegel notes that this program played from March 27 until April 1.
The footage can be seen in a remastered version on YouTube from NASS and was discussed in a post by Tammy Brumley on the Facebook page San Francisco Bay Area Photos and Stories. The original footage is on Internet Archive as part of Rick Prelinger's "Lost Landscapes of San Francisco 7."
An April 1943 look west from the Jack Tillmany collection.
An April 1943 Chronicle photo that appeared with Bob Bragman's 2017 SF Gate article "Rare unseen downtown San Francisco photos show city life in the 1930s and 1940s." Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting it for a post on the Market Street Railway Facebook group.
A detail that Jack Tillmany took from the April 1943 Chronicle photo for a post on the BAHT Facebook page. He comments: "James Cagney in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' at the State Theatre; the former Portola Theatre is still a Gray Line Bus Depot. It would be the Portola again in 1944."
A May 1943 photo by Ann Rosener looking down Ellis St. to 4th & Market. Thanks to Phil Davies for the post on the Facebook page San Francisco Remembered. The photo also appears in Bennett Hall's collection on Flickr. The theatre had been renamed the State in 1941 -- note that the California letters are off the roof sign and that we no longer have a vertical.
A January 1944 photo from Jack Tillmany. He notes: "'Old Acquaintance' had opened at the Paramount in December 1943 and played three weeks so successfully, it moved over to the State for a 4th week continuing its Market Street first run, typical of that era. The Gray Line seems to have vanished from the Portola site, probably as the result of WWII gasoline rationing impacting its operation."
"Song of Bernadette" at the State in August 1944 after winning four Academy Awards. Note that the theatre is still using milk glass letters. It's a Tom Gray photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. The ticket stubs are also from Jack's collection. A smaller version of the photo appears on the San Francisco Public Library website.
A May 1943 photo by Ann Rosener looking down Ellis St. to 4th & Market. Thanks to Phil Davies for the post on the Facebook page San Francisco Remembered. The photo also appears in Bennett Hall's collection on Flickr. The theatre had been renamed the State in 1941 -- note that the California letters are off the roof sign and that we no longer have a vertical.
A January 1944 photo from Jack Tillmany. He notes: "'Old Acquaintance' had opened at the Paramount in December 1943 and played three weeks so successfully, it moved over to the State for a 4th week continuing its Market Street first run, typical of that era. The Gray Line seems to have vanished from the Portola site, probably as the result of WWII gasoline rationing impacting its operation."
"Song of Bernadette" at the State in August 1944 after winning four Academy Awards. Note that the theatre is still using milk glass letters. It's a Tom Gray photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. The ticket stubs are also from Jack's collection. A smaller version of the photo appears on the San Francisco Public Library website.
An April 1945 photo with the theatre running the January release "National Velvet" with Mickey Rooney, Donald Crisp and that newcomer Elizabeth Taylor. Thanks to Su Buchignani for sharing this photo, and seventeen other fine shots, in a 2023 post for the San Francisco Remembered Facebook group. She comments that they were taken by her late father when he was on leave. Thanks to Art Siegel for spotting the post.
An August 14, 1945 VJ Day photo at 3rd & Market. Note the new readerboard faces. That's the Portola theatre just beyond the State's marquee. The photo appears on a page of VJ Day photos on the website of the Lynchberg, VA News & Advance.
A Time/Life photo taken on VJ Day 1945. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for posting it on the BAHT Facebook page.
What a busy street. It's Christmas shopping time in 1945 as we look east
across 4th St. toward the State, playing "Fallen Angel," a December
1945 release with Alice Faye. Thanks to Lily Costello for sharing the photo on the San Francisco Remembered Facebook group. Jack Tillmany notes that the Open SF History Project also has a version of this shot from his collection. The caption: "State Theatre in background. In front of Pacific Building, crowd of sailors, soldiers. Christmas Shopping for the first time since the end of WWII."
A June 3, 1948 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "A different banner at the Portola and a new paint job on the tower. It's already found its niche as Market Street's first exploitation outlet with 'Hitch Hike to Hell' and 'Forbidden Adventure,' two bottom of the barrel entities which failed to pass the Production Code and bypassed mainstream venues."
An August 14, 1945 VJ Day photo at 3rd & Market. Note the new readerboard faces. That's the Portola theatre just beyond the State's marquee. The photo appears on a page of VJ Day photos on the website of the Lynchberg, VA News & Advance.
A Time/Life photo taken on VJ Day 1945. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for posting it on the BAHT Facebook page.
A July 1946 Shriners parade photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. This is a detail from a larger image. See the full shot on the Open SF History Project website.
A February 26, 1947 look east on Market from 4th with "Nora Prentiss"
with Ann Sheridan at the State and Jane Russell in "The Outlaw" at the
Portola. It's a newspaper photo from the San Francisco Public Library. They don't say what paper it was in, but here's the caption printed with the photo:
"MARKET
ST. MORNING SCENE -- No, sir, this is not a picture of a big streetcar
tie-up, but just a regular morning scene downtown. With track repair
work in progress on lower Market St. Municipal Railway officials
explained, there is a 9 a. m. 'switchback,' when the inner tracks below
First St which are being replaced are taken out of service until the
evening rush hour. This will be going on every day for several months --
and the Muni managers wish people would stop calling up and demanding,
'What's the big tie-up all about?'"
A July 1947 view as we look east on Market St. Playing this week: "Shanghai
Gesture" (a January 1942 release) and "Jack London" (released in
December 1943). Down a couple of doors
the theatre we see with the "Port.." banner is the Portola. The photo is
from Jack Tillmany and appears on the Cinema Tour page for the theatre.
A bit of track work was captured in this August 3, 1947 shot by Marshall Moxom that's in the SFMTA Photo Archive, their #X1360. The State was running "Possessed" with Joan Crawford and Van Heflin along with "Freddie Steps Out."
An October 1947 photo from Jack Tillmany's collection featuring a streetcar decked out to promote the annual Community Chest drive. He comments: "Interesting for a couple of reasons: 'Driftwood' was a Republic B+ trying to pass itself off as an A, which 'enjoyed' its SF Premiere at the State, but the savvy moviegoing public knew that if it was worthwhile, it would have opened at Paramount or St. Francis, and also recognized that 'All Star Cast' translated as 'nobody worth mentioning' and apparently stayed away in droves, because it was replaced the following week by a rerun of the eternal Frankenstein & Dracula combination.
"Meantime, we can see just enough of the Portola banner to read '1st Run.' Yeah, sure. I checked the Chronicle. They were offering two ten year old 1937 retreads with fresh titles: 'Wings Over Wyoming' (nee 'Hollywood Cowboy') with George O'Brien and 'Wings of Glory' (nee 'Love Takes Flight') with Bruce Cabot, both of them ten years old, and barely B+ at their best."
An October 1947 photo from Jack Tillmany's collection featuring a streetcar decked out to promote the annual Community Chest drive. He comments: "Interesting for a couple of reasons: 'Driftwood' was a Republic B+ trying to pass itself off as an A, which 'enjoyed' its SF Premiere at the State, but the savvy moviegoing public knew that if it was worthwhile, it would have opened at Paramount or St. Francis, and also recognized that 'All Star Cast' translated as 'nobody worth mentioning' and apparently stayed away in droves, because it was replaced the following week by a rerun of the eternal Frankenstein & Dracula combination.
"Meantime, we can see just enough of the Portola banner to read '1st Run.' Yeah, sure. I checked the Chronicle. They were offering two ten year old 1937 retreads with fresh titles: 'Wings Over Wyoming' (nee 'Hollywood Cowboy') with George O'Brien and 'Wings of Glory' (nee 'Love Takes Flight') with Bruce Cabot, both of them ten years old, and barely B+ at their best."
A June 3, 1948 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "A different banner at the Portola and a new paint job on the tower. It's already found its niche as Market Street's first exploitation outlet with 'Hitch Hike to Hell' and 'Forbidden Adventure,' two bottom of the barrel entities which failed to pass the Production Code and bypassed mainstream venues."
An October 1, 1948 photo by Marshall Moxom that's in the SFMTA Photo Archive, their #X1833. See more State Theatre photos in the collection, including additional views taken the same day.
A detail from the October 1, 1948 image. Six names on the marquee but no titles. They were running a reissue package of two 1941 features. Tyrone Power, Rita Hayworth, Linda Darnell were in "Blood and Sand." Jack Tillmany notes that it was filmed in Technicolor but released in black and white. With it was "Man Hunt" starring Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett and George Sanders.
A December 1948 photo from the Tom B'hend / Preston Kaufmann collection. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sending it along. He notes that it's his favorite photo of the theatre.
A lovely look west toward 4th St. and beyond. Playing at the State on July 4, 1949: Bob Hope in "Sorrowful Jones" with that 2nd big hit "Amazon Quest." Well, the banner says "Always 2 Big Hits.' That's a bit of the Portola Theatre marquee on the left. The photo, from the SFMTA Archives, appears on the Market St. section of the blog San Francisco Pictures.
Thanks to Bill Gabel for this great c.1949 postcard view. We're in the block between 4th and 5th -- our Gothic-themed theatre is down at the next corner. Bill has the card on the Cinema Treasures page for the theatre.
A c.1950 view by John Gerrard Graham. It's in the San Francisco Public Library collection. Note a bit of the Portola Theatre in the background.
An October 1950 photo appearing on the Open SF History Project website courtesy of a private collector. It's the "Double Horror Show" for Halloween: "House of Frankenstein" and "House of Dracula." Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the photo in the collection.
A detail from the October 1950 photo. That's a bit of the Portola Theatre on the far left.
A 1951 photo from the Ronald W. Mahan collection. Just beyond the State, the vertical of the Portola is seen, with the neon overlay on the sign saying "Theatre." Thanks, Ron! Jack Tillmany notes that this double bill of "Cocaine" and "Frustration" played the State in mid-August and adds:
"It's another chapter in our on-going saga of 'Why Theatres Closed?' Don't blame TV. 'Cocaine' was an Italian import, 'Frustration' was a Swedish import, both of them were at least two years old, but advertised as 'Two First Run Adult Hits.' Probably the State was trying to steal the Portola's audience. Competitively speaking, the Portola that week was running a triple bill of 'Sinful Souls,' 'Slaves in Bondage' and 'Nude Range,' all of them re-titled crud from the 1930s that never played mainstream venues."
A detail from Ron's 1951 photo.
"She's Working Her Way Through College" with Virginia Mayo as a burlesque dancer going to school. The film was a July 1952 release. Thanks to Maria Icle Kava for posting the photo on the Facebook page San Francisco Remembered.
Thanks to Bill Gabel for this fine March 1953 view looking east on Market from 4th. Jack Tillmany notes: "'The Star' with Bette Davis is playing at the St. Francis. The State was closed at that time. It briefly re-opened in December with 'Fighter Attack,' but would soon close permanently in March 1954." The image appears in the photo section of the Cinema Treasures page for the State Theatre.
A July 4, 1953 photo appearing on the Open SF History website courtesy of a private collector. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for this improved version of the photo. He comments: "St.
Louis Car Company 'Magic Carpets' 1001-1005 arrived in SF in 1939 and
went into service, primarily on Line L (Taraval); their colors were blue
and gold. St. Louis Car Company PCC's 1006-1015 arrived in SF in 1948,
and went into service initially on Line L (Taraval) & Line N
(Judah). Their colors were green and cream."
A December 23, 1953 newspaper view that appeared with the copy: "FACE-WASHING -- Getting all spruced up for its reopening Christmas Day as a first-run motion picture theater is the State, at Market and Fourth-sts. Its first film will be 'Fighter Attack,' a drama of wartime escape in Italy. Sterling Hayden stars." The photo is in the San Francisco Public Library collection. The face washing wasn't enough to save it. Jack Tillmany notes that the theatre was closed for a while, then re-opened, then closed permanently in March 1954.
An April 1956 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. The show looks better down the block at the Portolá Theatre with "Hollywood Jungle" and "Models on Parade." The photo also makes an appearance on Wiki Commons on their "Cinemas in San Francisco" page.
A 1956 Fred Lyons photo from his book "San Francisco Then." It was on the San Francisco Remembered Facebook page as a post by Cesar Anguiano.
A 1957 double horror feature "The Body is a Shell" and "Life After Death." Oh, wait. It's copy on the marquee from the church using the theatre. Thanks to Maria Iclea Kava for finding the photo.
A look down toward the Ferry Building. Thanks to Gianni Corso for finding the photo. The marquee of the closed theatre is promoting a run of Spencer Tracy in "The Last Hurrah," a film that Jack Tillmany reports opened at the Paramount in November 1958.
A July 1959 photo by an unknown photographer. The marquee is advertising "The Nun's Story" playing at the St. Francis. Beyond, we get a peek at the marquee for the Portola / Farros / Paris Theatre. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the photo on the Open SF History Project website.
A March 1961 Chronicle photo by Ken McLaughlin. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sharing this version from his collection. A cropped version appeared on the Chronicle Facebook page with this caption: "April 12, 1961: The State Theater on Market Street was a draw for S.F. residents and tourists during the 1960s." The April 12 business was evidently the publication date. On the left note a rare look at the Portola Theatre when it was named the Farros. It would soon become the Paris Theatre.
Jack Tillmany responded: "I don't know who wrote this caption. It's stupid enough to qualify for the present low level of the SF Chronicle information. If one of these perps would simply read what's on the marquee: 'St. Francis Now PEPE' they might be able to figure out that 'Pepe' is not showing at the State; it's showing at the St. Francis, and the State is CLOSED. It ceased operating as a film venue in March 1954, which hardly qualifies it as a 'draw for S.F. residents and tourists during the 1960s.' The only times it opened up during that period of time were for religious revivals. Demolition took place in 1961 and 1962, which would been the only time during that decade it may have been called a 'draw for SF residents and tourists during the 1960s.'"
Another March 1961 look at the State and the Farros. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the photo by an unknown photographer on the Open SF History Project website.
Thanks to Christopher Snowdon for this June 1961 look at the doomed theatre. On the marquee we're advertising the show at the St. Francis -- Gregory Peck in "The Guns of Navarone," a June release. Christopher posted this as a comment to several demo photos from Bob Ristelheuber on the BAHT Facebook page.
A slide taken by Jack Tillmany just before demolition. Thanks to Matt Spero for bringing it back to life.
Thanks to Christopher Snowden for this 1961 demolition photo, posted as a comment on the BAHT Facebook page.
Thanks to Jack Tillmany for this 1961 demo photo from his collection.
Looking in from the stage end of the building in late 1961. We're on 4th, looking toward Market St. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for snapping a photo of this image that's in the San Francisco Public Library collection for a post on the BAHT Facebook page. The photo has not yet been added to the SFPL's digital collection.
Looking down onto the steel with not much else left. It's a News Call-Bulletin photo by Ed Peterson in the San Francisco Public Library collection that they date as December 30, 1961. We're looking onto Market St. Note the arrow pointing to a guy on the steel in this news photo. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding the photo in the SFPL collection.
An April 1962 Examiner photo taken near the end of the demolition. Thanks to Glenn Koch for spotting the photo when it was for sale on eBay.
More information: The theatre was featured in the August 1918 issue of The Architect. It's on Internet Archive. See the pages about the theatre on Cinema Tour and Cinema Treasures.
More information: The theatre was featured in the August 1918 issue of The Architect. It's on Internet Archive. See the pages about the theatre on Cinema Tour and Cinema Treasures.
Jack Tillmany's Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres of San Francisco" can be previewed on Google Books. It's available from Amazon or your local bookseller.
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