The Electric Theatre

1326 Fillmore St. | map |

Opened: The Electric Theatre was in operation by mid-1908, initially showing conventional silent films. The location was on the east side of the street between Ellis and Eddy. 

Jack Tillmany notes that it's barely identifiable in a May 1908 photo of the street he has that also shows another talking picture house in operation across the street, the Camera Phone. 

In this December 1909 photo they're running "Pictures That Talk, Dance, Walk and Sing. No Talking Machines in This. The Human Ova Talking Picture Company. Direct from Chicago!" It's a photo from the Jack Tillmany collection. He comments: 

 

"Like the Camera Phone, Human Ova enlisted about a dozen dauntless players to support their enterprise and travel around the country. The smiling Humanovans are looking back at you in this terrific photo."

 

A December 28, 1909 photo looking south on Fillmore toward Eddy St. On the left, the second building down is the Electric -- with the Human Ova banner showing. It's a photo by John Henry Mentz for United Railroads (URR). Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sharing it. Art Siegel notes that it's from the SFMTA Photo Archive.

On the right nearest us is the vacant building formerly the Camera Phone at 1331 Fillmore. Just beyond the Camera Phone is the spot where the New Fillmore would be built in 1915. The arched facade down at the end of the block is the Premium / Quality Theatre at 1305.

 

Another December 1909 John Henry Mentz photo in the SFMTA Photo Archive. It's a view looking north toward Ellis St. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating it. 

 

A detail of the Electric from the previous image. Thanks, Art! 

Closing: 1911. Jack Tillmany notes that its last telephone directory listing was in the April 1, 1911 edition. An item in a column of San Francisco news in the September 16, 1911 Motion Picture World located by Art Siegel via the Internet Archive noted: 

"The 'Electric,' a small nickelodeon on Fillmore Street, has been closed, and marks another step in the passing of what was formerly known as 'Nickelodeon Row.' Out of a dozen or more houses, only two are left and it is but a matter of a short time when they will go the way of their predecessors."

 

In addition to new competition, perhaps there was a fire regulation issue regarding exits or other requirements. The San Francisco Call was documenting many theatres with issues at the time. In 1913 the former Electric space was operating as a Penny Arcade.
 

Status: The building has been demolished.

More Electric Theatres: Jack Tillmany notes: "There were at least a half dozen 'Electric' sites strewn around SF at that time. One of the others that was operating around the same time was the Electric Theatre at 227 Church Street, South of Market, which until 2019 was the site of Aardvark Books."

Jack'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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