The Potrero Hill Neighborhood House / Julian Theatre

953 De Haro St.  | map |

Opened: 1922. This Potrero Hill complex is on the northeast corner of De Haro St. and Southern Heights Ave. The organization that runs this was founded in 1907. They call the building "The Nabe."

Architect: Julia Morgan. There have been several additions to the original structure. The building has been designated a city landmark.

 Website: https://www.phnhsf.org | about the organization

Jack Tillmany has the story: 

"The Julian Theatre was a theatrical group based in the Potrero district, which was organized around 1964. In 1968 they took over part of the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House facility, a building owned by the Presbyterian Church, and renamed it the Julian Theatre."

 

 

A 1970 photo taken by Tom Gray that's from the Jack Tillmany collection.

1986 was the end for the Julian group at this location. Jack notes: 

"In October 1986 their departure from the De Haro Street site was announced because they could no longer afford the rent increases proposed by the owners of the property. So what else is NEW? The group moved on to other locations, and seems to have eventually disbanded in 1994 after thirty years of popular neighborhood operations."

Status: The Potrero Hill Neighborhood House survives with its theatre space intact.  

 

A look to the stage by Maria Villano that appeared on the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House Facebook page.  

 

Another view from Maria Villano Photography that shows the roof structure. 

 

 

 

The rear of the house. Note the projection ports. It's one of many photos of the space on the site Eventective. 

 

The building in 2020. Photo: Google Maps

 

The signage outside the building's theatre. Thanks to the blog Sidewalk Safari for the photo. It's one appearing on their post about the Potrero Hill Neighborhood. 

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.  

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