The Hayes Theatre

381 Hayes St. | map |

Opened: August 12, 1911. The theatre was on the south side of the street just east of Gough St. 

Architects: Oser Brothers. The facade elevation is from the plans that are in the Gary Parks collection. See nine images from the set lower on the page.

Seating: 378. Verified by cat count. 

The address flops around a bit in the city directories. In 1912 it's 391, 1913 has it as 79 Hayes, it's 381 in 1916 and 1925. It was listed in a September 4, 1921 "Paramount Week" ad in the Chronicle as a theatre running their product.  

It's in the 1930 city directory as the Hayes Street Theatre with an address of 387 Hayes.

Closing: Well, 1930 might have been the end. It's not in the 1931, 32 or 33 city directories.  

 

Status: The building on the site is a remodeled version of the one that once housed the Hayes Theatre. 

 

 

An interior view:

 

 

Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the opening night photo from his collection. It appears on the Open SF History Project website. 

 

 

Recent exterior views:  

 

A view west on Hayes toward Gough St. Sugar Lounge is at 377. The second building in at 381, the theatre's site, currently has Interior Define as a tenant. Beyond is Garrett Leight Optical at 393 and the restaurant Doppio Zero at 395. Photo: Google Maps - 2019

 

 

 

The former theatre building is the one with the dark roof in the center of the image. Note the peaked roof and the three ventilators over what had been the auditorium that correlate with what's seen on the plans. The front of the building has had a serious remodel. Photo: Google Maps - 2020

 

 

Images from the plans for the building in the Gary Parks collection: 

 

 

A title block from one of the sheets. 

 

 

At the top it's the foundation plan, and a tail. In the center is the plan of the main floor. At the bottom it's a roof plan. Gary's assistant, Jasper, is in the process of doing a seat count. The tip of a tail is more precise that a paw.

 

 

Gary's seat count was 378. His Second Assistant agrees, "Yup, Dad, 378—that’s what I got too."

 

 

A closer look at the floor plans for the entrance end of the building. Note that you go through the "Ladies Parlour" to get in to the boxoffice. There appears to no men's room anywhere. Time for a change order. Gary calls our attention to a note on the plans: "Place the name 'The Hayes' in fancy tile design in cement floor of vestibule."

Upstairs we get an office and an off-center projection booth. That "Open Shaft" has a ladder on one wall to get downstairs.

 

 

 

A facade elevation. Gary comments:"Really nice draftsmanship on this one."

 

 

A section view toward the back of the auditorium. During construction somebody decide to center the booth.

 

 

Roof details. 

 

 A view of the proscenium and exit doors. The plastered rear wall served as the screen. 

 

 

A section view through the auditorium with  the screen at the left.

 

 

A closer look at the entrance end of the building from the section drawing.

Thanks, Gary!

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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