Also see: Warfield Theatre: history and street views
Lobby areas:
A look at the lobby stairs from the November 1922 issue of Architect & Engineer. The photo is from an article that profiled the recent work of G. Albert Lansburgh including the Warfield and its nearby companion the Golden Gate, also constructed in 1922. The issue is on Internet Archive.
A look down toward the inner lobby at the rear of the main floor. It's a 1922 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
The previous photo is seen, along with several others, in a spread about the theatre in the June 24, 1922 issue of Exhibitors Herald. "Marcus Loew, president of Metro Pictures Corporation and head of Loew, Inc. [sic] has opened the 300th theatre in the world's largest circuit. The new Warfield theatre seats 3,000 and is declared the finest playhouse west of Chicago. Viola Dana in 'The Fourteenth Lover' was the initial attraction at the Warfield." Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding the article for a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
On the balcony level of the lobby. The stairs down are over on the left. It's a 1922 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
Another 1922 balcony lobby view looking more out toward the stairs. It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. Out beyond the columns you get a glimpse of the dome above the stairs leading down to the main floor. The auditorium is off to our right.
A June 1947 photo of the stairs from the Jack Tillmany collection. Gary Parks comments: "I wonder what happened to the quite nice painting of the ladies picking flowers on the staircase landing? At some point it was completely removed, revealing an arched niche which was original, and can be seen today, a bit over-tarted-up with shiny gold and (yuck) deep blue faux marble veining, typical of the late 80s/early 90s, when marbleizing everything in sight was all the rage."
The staff dressed for the "Annie Get Your Gun" engagement in May 1950. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the photo. He notes Cardinal Photos (995 Market St. Room 1608, GRaystone 4-1172) did most of these staff shots. They apparently were the the official Warfield photographers during this period.
The staff on the landing for "King Soloman's Mines" in November 1950. Photo: Jack Tillmany collection
Tacky threads right of the Cotton Blossom for "Show Boat" in July 1951. Photo: Jack Tillmany collection
"An American in Paris" in September 1951. It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He calls our attention to the Warfield floor mat at the entrance door.
A 1951 view of ushers on the stairs. Their badges are promoting "Westward the Women," a December 1951 release with Robert Taylor and Denise Darcel. The photo is in the AMPAS Tom B'hend - Preston Kaufmann Collection.
The ushers in 1953. The photo and the ticket stubs are from the Jack Tillmany collection. The ushers names were written in pencil on the back: Gus Giannikas, Dan Lobdell, Bill Syphept, Pedro Arsedo, David Freeman, Ira Hughes, Earle Durnan, Edward Eisenstark, Kenneth Williams, John Gutierrez, Jerry Herman, Norman Durnan, Charles Dow, William Frazier. Jack comments: "14 faces, 14 names, maybe in order, maybe not. If any of them are still alive today, they would be around 85-90 years old!"
Recent lobby views:
The lobby stairs in 2009. The photo by Mark Ellinger appears with his 2010 Up From The Deep article on the Warfield Building. Mark's Warfield photos also appear with his superb Mid-Market article.
The niche on the stair landing. Thanks to Michael Blythe for the photo, one in an album of eleven 2016 shots appearing on the BAHT Facebook page.
A 2016 wide angle lobby shot by Ramar Lumiere for Antihero Magazine. Thanks to Dan Mart for the post on the BAHT Facebook page.
Looking up toward the balcony level. Thanks to Dan Mart for posting the photo by an unknown photographer on the BAHT Facebook page.
A 1922 view from onstage. Albert Herter did the mural work. He later worked for Lansburgh doing murals for the Warner Hollywood in 1928. It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A 1922 balcony view from house right. It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A view down from house left. It's a photo that appeared in the November 1922 issue of Architect & Engineer. It's on Internet Archive. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for this version from his collection.
A detail of the boxes from the previous photo.
A closer look at that card in that stage left annunciator. The act you've been waiting for is "Fred's Pigs." The pigs were on the theatre's opening week program. They get a mention in a May 13, 1922 Chronicle article about the opening. Jack Tillmany found it on Newsbank.
A vista across the front of the balcony that appeared in the June 24, 1922 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for this version of the photo from his collection.
A look toward the stage after a bit of Fox West Coast Skouras-style redecoration. It's a June 1947 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. Gary Parks notes that Fox was doing similar things in many of their houses. The State in Los Angeles got drapery that was nearly identical, the Roxy in New York got something similar.
A proscenium view from the Jack Tillmany collection taken after the boxes were removed and the Skouras-style lambrequin was replaced. Thanks to Matt Spero for color correction work.
A perhaps 1960s balcony view from the Jack Tillmany collection. Note the different drapery treatment in the proscenium box area and on stage. It has the look of something done in the National General era of the theatre's operation. This may be our last look at the main floor when it still had seats.
The rear of the auditorium in June 1947. Note the draped standee rail at the rear of the main floor. In 1922 it was completely open. It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
A perhaps late 50s look at the rear of the house from the Jack Tillmany collection. Note that the standee rail has been filled in with a solid wall. Thanks to Matt Spero for working on the color of the faded image.
A champagne toast to the Grateful Dead in 1980. It's a photo posted by Bob Sarles on Facebook on October 14, 2015. He commented: "It was exactly 35 years ago. The last night of a three week run (three sets a night) of GD shows at San Francisco's Warfield Theater. I only managed to attend 11 of the 15 shows. (I actually had a job to make it to every week day, after all). Psychedelics may have been involved. This photo is from the final night. After the last set, unbeknownst to the band, Bill Graham arranged for every one of the patrons in the theater to have a glass of bubbly. When the band came out for their encore, lights shined, revealing the entire audience toasting the band. I was situated about 20 feet in front of the camera here. One of those glasses of champagne is mine. A singular moment to be remembered from my 20 years on the road with this band. A moment that still brings tears to my eyes. Wasn't that a time that we had!" Thanks to Kevin Walsh for sharing the photo on the BAHT page.
Recent auditorium views:
No more theatre seats on the main floor -- it's been clubbed. This view, credited to the Warfield Theatre, appeared on Soul of America, a now-vanished website.
A main floor view from house left. The photo appeared on a Log.Of.Rhythm page about the Warfield.
The rear of the house from the terraced main floor to the rear of the house. The photo appears with a 2014 Taylor Hearts travel blog post about a visit to San Francisco.
Rigging a lighting truss during a four month Goldenvoice refurbishment undertaken after they got the lease. It's a photo by Liz Hafalia for the Chronicle that appears with a September 2008 story about the project on SF Gate.
A proscenium detail. It's a photo taken at the Theatre Historical Society 2008 San Francisco Conclave. THS has 179 photos in a Flickr album (of many different theatres) that were taken during the event.
The decorative plaster work at the top of one of the organ grilles. It's a 2012 Carol Highsmith photo from the Library of Congress collection. Thanks to Bob Ristelheuber for finding the Highsmith photo set for a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
A look up to the balcony. Photo: Theatre Historical Society of Flickr - 2008
A balcony view after the proscenium boxes got draped. The 2009 photo by Mark Ellinger appears with his 2010 Up From The Deep article on the Warfield Building.
A detail of the proscenium sounding board mural. The photo by Mark Ellinger appears with his 2010 Up From The Deep article on the Warfield Building.
One of the chandeliers along the downstage edge of the ante-proscenium area. Photo: Michael Blythe - BAHT Facebook page - 2016
A view across from house left. Thanks to Dan Mart posting the photo in 2018 on the BAHT Facebook page.
A lovely look at the balcony sidewall house left. It's a 2012 Carol Highsmith photo from the Library of Congress collection.
A c.2008 view from house right. Thanks to William David French Jr. for finding the photo.
A look at the balcony seats getting recovered during a four month Goldenvoice refurbishment in 2008. It's a photo by Liz Hafalia for the Chronicle that appears with a September story that year about the project on SF Gate.
A lovely look at the balcony sidewall house left. It's a 2012 Carol Highsmith photo from the Library of Congress collection.
Looking along a sidewall. Photo: Gary Parks - 2013
A balcony sidewall detail by an unknown photographer.
A sidewall detail. It's a 2012 Carol Highsmith photo from the Library of Congress collection.
A wall panel detail. Photo: Gary Parks - 2013
A wall panel detail. Photo: Gary Parks - 2013
A closer look at one of the faux balconies. It's a 2012 Carol Highsmith photo from the Library of Congress collection.
Two charming ladies from somewhere in the building. It's a 2012 Carol Highsmith photo from the Library of Congress collection.
A 2006 photo by Bob Minken that appears on a page about the Warfield on the Jerry Garcia fan page "Jerry's Brokendown Palaces."
A fine view, especially if you like pink balloons. Thanks to Graeme McBain for sharing this one in a 2020 post on the Facebook page Theatre Architecture. The proscenium mural is by Albert Herter who would do murals again for Lansburgh in 1928 at the Warner Hollywood.
A lovely view from the top of the balcony.
Thanks to Michelle Grace for the photo -- it was on a
post of hers on San Francisco Remembered.
A terrific shot from the top by Jim Vetter Photography. Thanks to Graeme McBain for sharing it on the Theatre Photography Facebook page.
On the great stage:
An April 19, 1924 photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: "Apparently, Lipschultz's Music Masters were the Warfield's house orchestra the first couple years. Here's a shot of them in 1924, but their names are also featured on the marquee as early as November 1922." The photo appears on the San Francisco Public Library website.
A Fanchon & Marco prologue featuring Art Landry's Band on the Warfield's stage in 1924. The photo, from John Bengtson, was a post on the Harold Lloyd Appreciation Society Facebook page by Richard Simonton.
Thanks to Jack Tillmany for finding "Sky to Rain Straw Hat Orders Today," an article on page 7 of the April 24, 1924 Chronicle about Straw Hat Day. Two Warfield usherettes threw coupons good for a free straw hat at any one of 50 participating merchants. They were interested in getting a fashion trend going and didn't think enough men were wearing straw hats. At the Warfield, Art Landry's band was performing "Straw Hat Blues" at every performance. The Orpheum was also participating with their band also doing some sort of straw hat number. The article can be viewed on Newsbank.
In the basement:
The theatre was reputed to have a speakeasy in the basement. This room may be part of it. Evidently part that extended under the sidewalk (and perhaps under Market itself) was lost during the BART construction of the 60s. One of the rumored lost bits was an exit tunnel under Market (useful in case of a raid). Some say it went across Market. Mike Thomas thinks it was to an alley exit. This photo is from the blog Unbelievable Times.
Some wall decoration in the basement perhaps left over from the speakeasy days. The photo is from Gary Kemp on Instagram.
Mike Thomas held the lease on the Strand and Warfield among others. Gary Meyer sends along this from Mike:
"Back in 1979 when I took over the Warfield and Crest we discovered a large abandoned speakeasy in the Warfield basement underneath the stage. Under a thick layer of dust were beautiful art deco etched glass fixtures around the columns, mirrors and a lot of stenciling. The walls were painted pale green, with original mural and design work. The nightclub was being used for storage by the Warfield stagehand and had been bisected by BART on one side, making it difficult to determine how large it originally was. I was told there had been an escape tunnel underneath Market St. connected to the Golden Gate alley somewhere for an easy exit in the event of a raid. (It was sealed or covered over by then.) I believe the speakeasy entrance was on 6th or else off the exit alley on the Turk St. side. After I subleased to Bill Graham they hauled out the storage items, refurbished it maintaining some of the original colors and fixtures, and turned it into, appropriately, the green room. The artists loved it! It's hopefully still there."
Gary also directs us to a wonderful chapter on Market St. Theatres (and Mike Thomas) in the book "Land of a Thousand Balconies." It's on Google Books.
More wall decoration. Photo: Gary Parks - 2013
A basement ceiling detail. Photo: Gary Parks - 2013
Anyone lose their dressing room key? Anyone? Thanks to John Roarty for the photo.
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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