Opened: December 4, 1910 as the Empress Theatre. It was on the south side of the street between 5th and 6th, opposite Mason St. Initially it was a house for Sullivan & Considine vaudeville. The new theatre building is on the left in this parade view taken September 9, nearly three months before the opening. Thanks to Art Siegel for spotting it in the Open SF History Project collection.
To the right are the Eilers Music House/Wilson Building, the Hale Brothers Building (later to house the Empire Theatre), a not visible Frank Bros. store building and the fifteen story David Hewes Building with the flag. The photo comes from the Martin Behrman Negatives collection of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Archives.
Architect: John Galen Howard. The 1925 renovations at the time it became the St. Francis were by Alfred Henry Jacobs.
Seating: 1,455 as a single house in later years. At the end as a twin the capacities were 766 and 565.
An opening day ad located by Jack Tillmany. Note who the young manager is: a certain Sid
Grauman.
"A Theatre of Exits, Beauty and Comfort." How's that for a strange slogan? A program for the week of January 22, 1911. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for finding this on eBay. See the comments on a BAHT Facebook post for the inside pages. That lady, by the way, looks remarkably similar to one that appeared on a program for Fischer's Theatre a decade earlier. Also see a 1912 program on Calisphere from the Museum of Performance and Design Performing Arts Library.
Charlie promoting his 1913 engagement at the Empress. Thanks to Mark Ellinger for the photo, appearing with his Up From The Deep essay on the Mid-Market area. On the same tour Chaplin also appeared at Sullivan and Considine's Empress Theatre in Los Angeles. It was his last Vaudeville tour before starting at Mack Sennett's studio.
With the bankruptcy of the Sullivan and Considine circuit in 1913, Marcus Loew swooped in and picked up the pieces and it became Loew's Empress.
A 1914 flyer for the house under the Loew's banner with Sid Grauman still managing. Thanks to theatre historian Kurt Wahlner for spotting this on eBay. For a treat, visit Kurt's site about Grauman's 1927 gem: GraumansChinese.org. Loew had a short attention span. The Graumans had the Empress for themselves by 1916. It gets mentioned as being their house in the July 15, 1916 Moving Picture World.
It was still being called the Empress under Grauman management. In 1917 they gave it a remodel and renamed it the Strand. Thanks
to Geene Rees, author of a novel set in the theatre, "Waiting in the Wings," for this March 18, 1917 clipping. It was added as a comment on a BAHT Facebook page thread that had featured an
early interior view of the theatre.
"Where the Crowds Go." It's a broadside for Madge Kennedy in "The Kingdom of Youth" for the week of September 29, 1918. The reverse of the 11" x 21" poster was printed for "The Still Alarm" beginning September 25. Thanks to Glenn Koch for spotting this at auction on the website of Holabird Americana.
The March 25, 1917 reopening day ad as the Strand. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for locating it.
"Where the Crowds Go." It's a broadside for Madge Kennedy in "The Kingdom of Youth" for the week of September 29, 1918. The reverse of the 11" x 21" poster was printed for "The Still Alarm" beginning September 25. Thanks to Glenn Koch for spotting this at auction on the website of Holabird Americana.
The cover of an April 1922 flyer for D.W. Griffith's "Orphans of the Storm." Thanks to Gary Meyer for sharing this from his collection in a BAHT Facebook page post.
A December 1922 Chronicle ad for the Strand. Thanks to Gary Meyer for locating it.
The Will King stock company appearing at the Strand in 1925 with their musical production "Oh, Behave." Thanks to Gary Meyer for sharing the program from his collection. If you came for a matinee you'd also get films to fill out the program. "Moonlight and Honeysuckle" was a July 1921 release. "Playing With Fire" was a two-reel short released January 4, 1925. It starred Alberta Vaughn and George O'Hara and was the 9th in a series that had started with "Getting Going" in 1924. And, as the bottom of the program says, "Read Other Side."
Becoming the St. Francis: This article about the renovation and name change appeared in an early August 1925 issue of Moving Picture News. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for locating it. The house reopened under the new name on August 8 with "Sally of the Sawdust," D.W. Griffith's "Newest and Best Film." Geene Rees notes that the changes coincided with the sale of the theatre by the New York and San
Francisco Amusement Company to Strand Realty, a
subsidiary of Paramount Publix.
An August 8, 1925 ad for the reopening, coinciding with the celebration of "Greater Movie Season." Thanks to Jack Tillmany for finding the ad. See a photo from Jack's collection of the St. Francis with "Sally of the Sawdust" on the marquee and banners up for "Greater Movie Season."
He comments that the "Greater Movie Season" promotion was VERY big deal, judging from the number of promotional articles in the newspapers that he found. See some outtakes in the collection of the University of South Carolina from Fox Movietone News coverage of a Market St. parade for the event. Shots from the parade footage include a look at the Ferry Theatre on the Embarcadero and the Egyptian and Imperial Theatres.
The designer for the 1925 renovations was Alfred Henry Jacobs, the architect of the California (1917), the Granada/Paramount (1921) and the Curran Theatre (1922). The information was revealed in this item that appeared in the May 30, 1926 issue of the Chronicle. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating it. The image is from the August 1925 reopening. See another reopening photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
"The escalator takes you away and up to hours of pleasure!" The theatre was twinned in 1968 with the downstairs retaining the St. Francis name and reopening June 24. That house was 70mm equipped during the renovations. The upstairs, called the Baronet Theatre, reopened August 3. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the opening day ad in the Chronicle. Jack Tillmany notes that you can see the full page on Newsbank.
It was renamed the St. Francis I & II in 1976. Jack notes: "My records indicate it was renamed on 6 January 1976, but the first Chronicle ad as such seems to be 14 January 1976." During much of this era it was still in the Paramount circuit, later known as ABC-Paramount, then after a sell-off, as Plitt Theatres. Plitt bailed out of the venue sometime before its end.
Status: It closed in October 2000.
Jack comments: "Its final entry in the Chronicle is 26 October 2000, with a 'call theatre for show information' slug on 27 October 2000, which implies that was its closing date. As I pointed out in my book the Strand, which closed after a vice raid in April 2003, was the last film theatre to operate on Market Street, although, by that time it was projecting DVD, not film. The St. Francis, closing just a few weeks short of what would have been its 90th birthday, was the last theatre to offer mainstream film fare. Interestingly, although the Strand closure received press documentation at the time, the demise of the St. Francis was not considered newsworthy by the SF Chronicle or any other publication."
The St. Francis was demolished in April and May 2013 for shopping mall construction.
The lobby:
A lobby view looking out to Market in 1910 before the theatre opened as the Empress. Thanks to Glenn Koch for the photo from his collection, a post on the BAHT Facebook page. He notes that on the back it said Direction Sullivan & Considine, Sid Grauman, manager. There's also a version of the photo from the Jack Tillmany collection at the San Francisco Public Library.
A postcard view of the auditorium c.1910. The image from the Jack Tillmany collection appears, with another Empress view, on page 36 of his Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres Of San Francisco." The page is on Google Books.
A 1920s balcony shot from Christopher Snowdon on the BAHT Facebook page. We've got strange things going on at the front of the balcony. It looks like they're remodeling to make it into a series of private boxes with pipe rails between. Note that this shot shows a similar ceiling but a different wall treatment when compared to a post-remodel c.1925 main floor view. Thanks, Christopher! Glenn Koch also has the photo in his collection, one he shared in a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
A sidewall view c.1925. The photo appears on Mark Ellinger's Up From The Deep study of the mid-Market area. Compared to the 1910 postcard note the added draperies, revised sidewall treatment, and elimination of the box near the stage in favor of an enlarged organ grille area.
In the basement:
It was renamed the St. Francis I & II in 1976. Jack notes: "My records indicate it was renamed on 6 January 1976, but the first Chronicle ad as such seems to be 14 January 1976." During much of this era it was still in the Paramount circuit, later known as ABC-Paramount, then after a sell-off, as Plitt Theatres. Plitt bailed out of the venue sometime before its end.
Status: It closed in October 2000.
Jack comments: "Its final entry in the Chronicle is 26 October 2000, with a 'call theatre for show information' slug on 27 October 2000, which implies that was its closing date. As I pointed out in my book the Strand, which closed after a vice raid in April 2003, was the last film theatre to operate on Market Street, although, by that time it was projecting DVD, not film. The St. Francis, closing just a few weeks short of what would have been its 90th birthday, was the last theatre to offer mainstream film fare. Interestingly, although the Strand closure received press documentation at the time, the demise of the St. Francis was not considered newsworthy by the SF Chronicle or any other publication."
The St. Francis was demolished in April and May 2013 for shopping mall construction.
The lobby:
A lobby view looking out to Market in 1910 before the theatre opened as the Empress. Thanks to Glenn Koch for the photo from his collection, a post on the BAHT Facebook page. He notes that on the back it said Direction Sullivan & Considine, Sid Grauman, manager. There's also a version of the photo from the Jack Tillmany collection at the San Francisco Public Library.
A
superb c.1917 view of the lobby when the theatre was called the Strand. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber,
who found the photo as part of an ad in the March 1923 issue of The
Building Review. Bob had it as a post on the BAHT Facebook page. It can be seen on Internet Archive.
A 1951 snackbar view from the Jack Tillmany collection.
The auditorium:
A postcard view of the auditorium c.1910. The image from the Jack Tillmany collection appears, with another Empress view, on page 36 of his Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres Of San Francisco." The page is on Google Books.
A look to the rear of the house from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A 1920s balcony shot from Christopher Snowdon on the BAHT Facebook page. We've got strange things going on at the front of the balcony. It looks like they're remodeling to make it into a series of private boxes with pipe rails between. Note that this shot shows a similar ceiling but a different wall treatment when compared to a post-remodel c.1925 main floor view. Thanks, Christopher! Glenn Koch also has the photo in his collection, one he shared in a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
A sidewall view c.1925. The photo appears on Mark Ellinger's Up From The Deep study of the mid-Market area. Compared to the 1910 postcard note the added draperies, revised sidewall treatment, and elimination of the box near the stage in favor of an enlarged organ grille area.
In the basement:
Thanks to Glenn Koch for this photo, added as a comment to an early exterior view on his Vintage San Francisco
Facebook page. He comments: "Not sure how many are aware, but there was even a
Turkish Baths in the basement of this theater called the Empress Baths."
More exterior views:
More exterior views:
A
view taken shortly prior to the theatre's opening in 1910. Thanks to Glenn Koch for sharing the photo from his collection on his Vintage San Francisco
Facebook page. There's also a version from Jack Tillmany on the San Francisco Public Library website.
A shot of the Empress from the Examiner archives taken around 1912. Thanks to Glenn Koch's Facebook page Vintage San Francisco for the photo. Glenn later shared it on the BAHT Facebook page.
Thanks to Don Lewis for his fine card looking west on Market c.1912. The Pantages had opened in December 1911. The card from the Billy Holcolmb/Don Lewis Vanishing Movie Theatres collection is on the Cinema Treasures page for the Pantages.
An early photo of the theatre appearing on page 36 of Jack Tillmany's great book "Theatres Of San Francisco." The page is part of the preview on Google Books.
A 1912 view east toward the Empress and the Pantages. It's a cropped version of a photo by an unknown photographer appearing on the Open SF History Project website. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting it in the collection. He notes that Weber & Fields in "Fun in a Barbershop" got a lot of press when it opened in November 1912.
We're looking east on Market sometime between 1911 and 1917. Just beyond the market on the right Jack Tillmany spotted a "5 cents" and "EMP" and "TH" for the Empire Theatre. Then we see a there's a bit of the lit dome and roof sign for the Empress. And beyond that we see the two verticals for the Pantages. Thanks to Gregory May for posting the photo on the Facebook page Vintage San Francisco.
A 1913 view east on Market from the Glenn Koch collection. That's the Maio Biograph on the left, much later to become the Crest Theatre. On the right with the dome is the Empress with the first Pantages beyond. Thanks, Glenn!
In the distance on the left, hardly visible, is a roof sign for the theatre that would later be known as the Esquire saying "House of Movies." The electrical array across Market is the "Portola Bell," put up for the 1913 edition of the fall Portola Festival. A bit to the right is the Ferry Building with lights saying "1915," in honor of the Pan Pacific International Exposition that would be happening that year. Also see a closer view of the Portola Bell (with a bit of the Portola Theatre marquee) from Glenn's collection.
A March 1913 look west on Market toward the Pantages and the Empress from the Jack Tillmany collection. Off farther to the right is the Empire Theatre at 979 Market.
A July 15,
1914 image by an unknown photographer. The columned building at the right is the Hale Building, with signage on the second floor for the Rudolph
Wurlitzer Co., one of the tenants. In its east storefront, just beyond the Washington Market, is the Empire Theatre. Beyond are Eilers Music House, a
little two story building, then the Empress and the Pantages.
Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the photo in the Open SF History Project collection. The site notes that this was an
automobile parade organized by the Panama-Pacific International
Exposition Company with an advertised 25,000 automobiles on parade from
the Ferry Building to the Exposition grounds, at that time under
construction. The
edge of the marquee of the Maio Biograph/Crest, is on the left side of the photo.
A detail
from the 1914 photo. Thanks, Art!
The signage refers to a referendum campaign to repeal the "California Nuisance Abatement Act," legislation regulating prostitution that had been signed into law by Governor Hiram Johnson on April 7, 1913. Charlie Van Duyne did some research and notes "At the passing of the Abatement Act, brothels were closed and single women were no longer allowed to rent ground floor apartments, and in some places, women were not allowed to rent an apartment under any circumstance." Among other problems, prostitutes were pushed put into the streets. The referendum (Proposition 4), approved by voters November 3, 1914, upheld the law. See the article on Ballotpedia.
A c.1915 view west. Thanks to John Bosko for sharing this from his collection. It was a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
This 1918 photo from the National Archives has a bit of the theatre on the right, here named the Strand. Beyond is the marquee of the Pantages. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for locating the image for a post on the BAHT Facebook page. The data from the Archives:
"California College Men of Ambulence Service Depart for France. Scene attending the departure of 65 California College men, for the war ambulence service in France. The greatest patriotic outpouring in San Francisco since the beginning of the war marked the departure on April 24th of 65 college men from the University of California and Leland Stanford. Before leaving, a monster ovation was given the men at the Auditorium. 15,000 bid them God-Speed. The Army and Navy joined with the 1500 U. of C. cadets and the 1000 cadets from Leland Stanford in escorting the ambulance men to the Auditorium and to the train which bore them eastward."
"Daring Yukon Story." A 1919 shot that appeared in the November 15 issue of Motion Picture News. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating it on the HathiTrust site. He notes that "Paid In Advance" opened September 21. The caption: "A good picture of a good crowd at a good theatre, the Strand in San Francisco, Cal., Guy Smith, manager." This version of the shot comes from the better scan on Internet Archive. An article adjacent to the photo noted:
"A Golden Gate Crowd -- Here is another instance where a wide awake manager has hitched up to local color for extra business ... during a recent showing of 'Paid In Advance' and the rather unusual method employed by Manager Guy Smith to attract the attention of all passers-by. During the week he had as an added attraction the Columbia Park Boys' band, and, as in the old minstrel days, this band gathered twice nightly in front of the theatre and gave a concert."
The Strand running "A Man's Fight" with Dustin Farnum, an August 1919 release. Sorry, no data about what a Nabimbaphone is. Perhaps something Rosano dreamed up all by himself. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the photo from his collection.
A March 1920 photo looking east from 6th St. On the corner it's the
David Hewes Building with the Empire Theatre in the next building in, the Hale
Building. Down the block it's the Strand Theatre
and the Pantages. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the photo in the Open SF History Project collection. It's an image from the Martin Behrman Negatives Collection of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Archives.
A detail from the the March 1920 photo. The Strand was running "The Feud," a December 1919 release with Tom Mix. Thanks, Art!
A 1920 view from the Jack Tillmany collection. Note the signage for the Hammam Baths in the basement. The theatre was running "A Fool and His Money," a March 29 release with Eugene O'Brien.
How's this for signage? It's a September 1923 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A June 9, 1925 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. Jack comments: "Looks like rooftop signage is getting just a bit out of control!" The Warfield is running "Soul Fire" with Richard Barthelmess.
"Let's Go!" It's Greater Movie Season and also the reopening of the theatre as the St. Francis on August 8, 1925 with "Sally of the Sawdust," D.W. Griffith's "Newest and Best Film." It's a Jack Tillmany collection photo. A smaller version is on the San Francisco Public Library website. Also see an August 8 ad for the opening of the film at the St. Francis.
The signage for Paramount's "The Vanishing American" in October 1925. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sharing this photo from his collection.
A photo of the marquee appearing in the March 4, 1927 issue of Motion Picture News.
A fine August 1927 view of the signage. At this point the theatre had been called the St. Francis for two years. It's a Jack Tillmany collection photo appearing on the San Francisco Public Library website.
Another August 1927 photo from Jack Tillmany. He comments: "Across the street at the St. Francis, 'Beau Geste,' with Ronald Colman, released one year earlier as a roadshow, now at 'popular prices,' a common practice for important films." Note that Kress has moved into the Pantages building.
March 28, 1930. Jack Tillmany comments about his photo: "Neon marquee letters are here! [at the Warfield, that is] Basil Rathbone as Philo Vance in 'The Bishop Murder Case." You can still see it on TCM. It's great! Across the street, at the St. Francis: 'The Vagabond King.' All Talking! All Singing! All Technicolor! At the Marion Davies: John Boles in 'The Song of the West.' All Talking! All Singing! All Technicolor! That one was a Warner Bros. Vitaphone Production, sound on disc; not known to have survived."
A January 1931 view east from the Jack Tillmany collection. It was taken during a depression demonstration as Socialist workers marched up Market St. Jack comments:
"Dorothy Mackaill in 'Once a Sinner' at the
Warfield; note how the neon marquee letters don't show up in daytime
unless they're lit. Across the street, at the St. Francis: Maurice
Chevalier in 'Le Petit Cafe,' the French language version of 'Playboy of
Paris;' at this time important Hollywood films with major players known
worldwide were filmed in more than one language, for the benefit of
international audiences. The St. Francis had a run of these identifying
itself as the St. Francis Theatre International. You also get a peek at
what's going on across the street at the Eilers/Empire/Walgreen site."
There's also a version of the photo on the website of the SF History Project from the Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt
Collection.
A June 17, 1935 image by an unknown photographer. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating it in the Open SF History Project collection. The site's caption:
"View westerly across Mason, Turk Street at right, Market Street at left.
St. Francis Theater at left, Wilson Building, Hale Bros. Building,
David Hewes Building. The Dean Building on the gore at center, though
deemed historically significant, was demolished in 2020. United Cigar
Store, Dolly Madison Chocolates, Maxferd's Pawn Shop, Rainbow Tavern.
Birdcage traffic signal."
A detail from the 1935 image that was extracted by Jack Tillmany from a copy in his collection. This was the first look at the theatre's new moderne facade. Jack comments: "'Oil For the Lamps of China' was (as usual) a moveover, in this case from the Warfield across the street where it opened."
A 1930s look west with the remodeled St. Francis in the distance on the left and the Davies on the right. It's a photo from the Marilyn Blaisdell collection appearing on the Open SF History Project website.
A 1937 view west on Market from the Jack Tillmany collection. The St. Francis is running the Shirley Temple feature "Wee Willie
Winkie," which had just moved over from Fox.
An April 1938 look at the theatre running "Fools For Scandal," a moveover from the Paramount. It's a Jack Tillmany collection photo.
A detail from a July 1938 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. Check out the full photo for a much broader panorama including the Warfield.
An April 1938 look at the theatre running "Fools For Scandal," a moveover from the Paramount. It's a Jack Tillmany collection photo.
A detail from a July 1938 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. Check out the full photo for a much broader panorama including the Warfield.
The theatre running the May 1945 release "Thrill of a Romance" starring Van Johnson and Esther Williams. Many thanks to Sean Ault for sharing the photo from his collection.
A July 1946 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He notes that "The Postman Always Rings Twice" had played the Fox a couple weeks earlier and moved to the St. Francis for an extended run.
A July 1946 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He notes that "The Postman Always Rings Twice" had played the Fox a couple weeks earlier and moved to the St. Francis for an extended run.
An April 6, 1947 view of the Army Day parade. The St. Francis was running "Odd Man Out." At the Warfield it was a reissue package of "The Sea Hawk" and "The Sea Wolf." Down the street at the Esquire it was Abbott and Costello in "Buck Privates Go Home." Thanks to Art Siegel for spotting this one on the site California Revealed. It's from the collection of the Labor Archives and Research Center. A high resolution version of the image is on Internet Archive.
"This Is It - James Mason - 'Odd Man Out' - Action - Drama - Suspense." It's a detail from the 1947 Army Day Parade photo.
A January 1950 view east taken by an unknown photographer. At the St. Francis "Hasty Heart" is in its final week. Note the Esquire and Telenews across the street. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the photo on the Open SF History Project website. He notes that the Palm Garden Grill was once his favorite restaurant.
A January 1950 view east taken by an unknown photographer. At the St. Francis "Hasty Heart" is in its final week. Note the Esquire and Telenews across the street. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the photo on the Open SF History Project website. He notes that the Palm Garden Grill was once his favorite restaurant.
"The Enforcer" playing in February 1951. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the photo from his collection.
"The Greatest Show on Earth" was an exclusive first run engagement at the St. Francis in March and April 1952. The photo and ticket stubs are from the Jack Tillmany collection. That $2.75 reserved seat ticket in the upper right hand corner is from "The Ten Commandments," which Jack saw at the St. Francis on Easter Sunday April 21, 1957.
An April 12, 1952 look west from Turk St. with the Twin Peaks in the distance. The St. Francis is running "My Son John." On the right the signage on the Warfield Building is proclaiming the house the "Theatre of the Stars." Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the photo on the Open SF History Project website.
An April 12, 1952 look west from Turk St. with the Twin Peaks in the distance. The St. Francis is running "My Son John." On the right the signage on the Warfield Building is proclaiming the house the "Theatre of the Stars." Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the photo on the Open SF History Project website.
A 1953 look at the theatre from the San Francisco Public Library. The photo appears on Mark Ellinger's 2010 Up From The Deep article "Farewell to the St. Francis." The photo is from the Jack Tillmany collection, appearing on the San Francisco Public Library website.
A trade magazine ad touring the returns for the world premiere engagement of "The Bigamist" in November 1953. It's from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A shot by street photographer Joseph Selle with "To Catch a Thief" running at the St. Francis. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for providing the photo. The film was an August 1955 release.
A little fire problem in one of the building's storefronts in 1958 during the run of "The Bridge on the River Kwai." Thanks to Sean Ault for sharing the photo from his collection. And thanks to TJ Fisher for researching the date. He notes:
"This photo was taken April 21. The Examiner's "Where's the Fire?" column showed an attic fire at 963 Market (the St. Francis was at 965) clocked at 9:59 am, followed by second and third alarms at 10:26 and 10:36. Several shops sustained $30K in damage, due apparently to faulty wiring, and Muni traffic was stopped for an hour! The first "River Kwai" screening that day was not until 11:15, so as long as one was able to walk to the theatre, they may well have just gone on with the show."
A look east during the 1958 fire. The fire caused quite a backup of buses and streetcars. It's another photo from the Sean Ault collection. Thanks, Sean.
The story appearing in the April 22, 1958 issue of the Examiner. Thanks to TJ Fisher for locating it. "Bridge on the River Kwai" continued its three-month run, closing June 3.
A 1958 photo of the from the Jack Tillmany collection with the St. Francis, on the left, running "From the Earth to the Moon." That Kress building was the Pantages from 1911 to 1926. On the right beyond the Telenews is a bit of the Esquire's marquee.
An August 1963 photo taken by Jack Tillmany. Thanks to Matt Spero for doing work on it.
The theatre in 1964. It's an Alan J. Canterbury photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection.
A 1966 view east with the St. Francis, on the right, running "Mister Budwing" and "Murder She Said," a bill that opened September 28. On the far left it's the Crest playing "Dear John," a March release. The Pix, Esquire and Telenews are down there in the distance. Thanks to Maria Iclea Kava for posting the photo on San Francisco Remembered and Bob Ristelhueber for sharing it on the BAHT Facebook page.
A 1966 photo of one of the staff measuring mini-skirt length for the special "Mod Performance" of "Kaleidoscope." The 1966 film stars Warren Beatty and Susanna York. It was a September 22 release that played the St. Francis in October. Thanks to Lily Castello for the photo, one she found on Pinterest and shared on the BAHT Facebook page.
A 1967 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
An August 1967 photo with the theatre playing "The Naked Runner." The photo appears on the Open SF History Project website courtesy of a private collector.
"Shocking Facts." Looking toward the St. Francis in 1968. Thanks to Jessica Litman for locating the shot for a post on San Francisco Remembered.
A 1969 or 1970 photo taken by Clay Geerdes. "Paint Your Wagon" was out in October 1969, "The Reivers" was released on Christmas Day. Thanks to David Miller for posting the photo on the San Francisco Remembered Facebook page. And thanks to Lily Castello for spotting the post.
Jack Tillmany comments: "The twinning began in the spring of 1968, and,
after many pre-opening announcements and delays, the downstairs opened
first 3 July 1968 with John Wayne in 'The Green Berets.' The upstairs
opened as the Baronet Saturday 3 August 1968 with 'I'll Never Forget
What's 'Er Name,' which everybody seems to have forgotten."
A May 1970 photo of the St. Francis and the Baronet from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A Summer 1970 photo from Maria Iclea Kava on the Facebook group San Francisco Remembered. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for spotting it.
A June 1975 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A January 1980 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A 2002 Mark Ellinger photo from his Up From The Deep survey of Mid-Market architecture. Thanks, Mark!
Gary Parks commented: "A friend of mine took lots of photos as the St. Francis came down. There was nothing left of any interior decor dating prior to the 60s remodel. It had been thoroughly gutted back then save for the original projection booth."
Thanks to William David French Jr. for this detail of the theatre's terracotta facade, taken around 2008. The photo was added as a comment to another St. Francis view on the BAHT Facebook page.
A Mark Ellinger photo of the closed theatre from his 2010 Up From The Deep article "Farewell To The St. Francis."
The closed theatre awaiting demolition. Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for his February 2013 photo on the BAHT Facebook page.
Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for this May 2013 demolition photo, a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
A
January 2015 look at the location formerly occupied by the St. Francis.
Over toward the left, also gone, was the Pantages building, since 1926 a
Kress store and other tenants later. Photo: Bill Counter
This new mall building on the site was completed in 2016 but never occupied. Later it was sold to IKEA and beginning in 2023 or so will be occupied by one of their stores as well as other restaurants and retailers. Photo: Google Maps - 2019
More information: 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.
Cinema Treasures has a page on the St. Francis.
The other St. Francis: An earlier house on Geary St. used the name between 1916 and about 1919. See the page about the Theatre St. Francis for the information on that one. Also note that the Strand Theatre had been called the Francesca between 1921 and 1928.
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