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The Castro Theatre SF's 35mm/70mm plus DCP projectors won't be used much when the new manager/ bookers at Another Planet Entertainment take over this classic SF retro cinema. for live music events. The Nasser family will still own the building but they have given up on movies mostly. Planet says they will still show a few movies and festivals but time will tell.
The Fox Oakland Theatre they run in Oakland never shows any movies. Mostly booked for loud concerts with stand up downstairs space.
Another Planet says they will enlarge the small Castro lobby and stage. The only way they can expand the lobby for their hi price booze drinks with bars is to move out the store fronts in front. Same with the ultra small stage behind the large screen and curtains. I doubt they will cut space in the back stage cement wall parking lot and make the stage bigger. Maybe they will put in a thrust stage with a curved waterfall curtain and drop 8 rows of seats or get rid of seats all together downstairs in this semi large former 1500 seat movie palace.
Gone will be the days of the smell of fresh popcorn in the lobby, classic double bill 35mm films, 70mm movie weeks, matinees, classic 2 projector 35mm 3D, hard to find classic movies and film festivals. Time will tell If they still run any movies or festivals.
You can forget about seeing $9 movies on the Castro's semi giant masked screen (It opens on the top and sides) with It's noisy torn gold curtains. Will they put in a fly screen now? Be ready to come up with big $ bucks to see a live event for a seat or stand at the new fixed up Castro in SF.
What will happen to the former Nasser/Castro great staff and film projectionist will they be selling drinks or taking tickets for Another Planet?
The new managers say that they will redo the place with new sound ect. I bet that means ugly tall concert rock speakers hanging from the ceiling on either side of the stage like they put in at the Fox Oakland. You won't find them installing a kick ass Dolby Atmos® or Myers® surround system for movies if they only run a few each year probably on new 4K DCP. projectors.
Also the classic neon Castro Theatre faded broken marquee may get a make over probably with a flashy LED video display with a glare all around Castro Street .Hope they re paint the blade sign. No more classic plastic marquee letters being put up by a ladder guy each week.
The long tired downstairs bathroom needs a major up grade let's hope they can enlarge them in the basement some how .With all the new drink bars set up in the up they will be crowed .
Where will all the stage delivery set up trucks park to set up events. At the Fox Oakland they have room on the side stage door street same with BG Auditorium in SF they have plenty of load in spaces. Castro St does not have room un less they can close off the back parking lot?
At least you will still be able to see 35mm/70mm movies on a large screen with curtains at the nearby Drafthouse New Mission Theatre in SF. with my friend Jim on duty as a live projectionist. Maybe Drafthouse will take in some movie festivals that won't show at the Castro. While not as large as the Castro Theatre I think the screen is a little bigger then the one now at the Castro and they serve great food.
Another Planet has their work cut out during the next year while they fix up San Francisco's famous Castro Theatre long do for a make over. Hope they re install all the nice color lights in the auditorium that have been missing for so long and not just put in white lights.
We all hope they don't put in a l boring light bar pole across the top front of the stage from the ceiling for the new live events coming into this former classic movie theatre. Please put in new light bars on the side of the stage.
What about the new huge pipe/electric organ that was to be put in and many people have donated money for. Will there be space under on the stage for It on a lift. Some people say the organ is still a go.
A big thanks to the Nasser family who tried their best to keep the place open as a full time movie theatre, one of the last of It's kind in San Francisco. We hope they get a cut of the new revenue these live events will take in not just a long term rental.
We all will miss the place to go see a movie that still had a little showmanship left in San Francisco.
The Fox Oakland Theatre they run in Oakland never shows any movies. Mostly booked for loud concerts with stand up downstairs space.
Another Planet says they will enlarge the small Castro lobby and stage. The only way they can expand the lobby for their hi price booze drinks with bars is to move out the store fronts in front. Same with the ultra small stage behind the large screen and curtains. I doubt they will cut space in the back stage cement wall parking lot and make the stage bigger. Maybe they will put in a thrust stage with a curved waterfall curtain and drop 8 rows of seats or get rid of seats all together downstairs in this semi large former 1500 seat movie palace.
Gone will be the days of the smell of fresh popcorn in the lobby, classic double bill 35mm films, 70mm movie weeks, matinees, classic 2 projector 35mm 3D, hard to find classic movies and film festivals. Time will tell If they still run any movies or festivals.
You can forget about seeing $9 movies on the Castro's semi giant masked screen (It opens on the top and sides) with It's noisy torn gold curtains. Will they put in a fly screen now? Be ready to come up with big $ bucks to see a live event for a seat or stand at the new fixed up Castro in SF.
What will happen to the former Nasser/Castro great staff and film projectionist will they be selling drinks or taking tickets for Another Planet?
The new managers say that they will redo the place with new sound ect. I bet that means ugly tall concert rock speakers hanging from the ceiling on either side of the stage like they put in at the Fox Oakland. You won't find them installing a kick ass Dolby Atmos® or Myers® surround system for movies if they only run a few each year probably on new 4K DCP. projectors.
Also the classic neon Castro Theatre faded broken marquee may get a make over probably with a flashy LED video display with a glare all around Castro Street .Hope they re paint the blade sign. No more classic plastic marquee letters being put up by a ladder guy each week.
The long tired downstairs bathroom needs a major up grade let's hope they can enlarge them in the basement some how .With all the new drink bars set up in the up they will be crowed .
Where will all the stage delivery set up trucks park to set up events. At the Fox Oakland they have room on the side stage door street same with BG Auditorium in SF they have plenty of load in spaces. Castro St does not have room un less they can close off the back parking lot?
At least you will still be able to see 35mm/70mm movies on a large screen with curtains at the nearby Drafthouse New Mission Theatre in SF. with my friend Jim on duty as a live projectionist. Maybe Drafthouse will take in some movie festivals that won't show at the Castro. While not as large as the Castro Theatre I think the screen is a little bigger then the one now at the Castro and they serve great food.
Another Planet has their work cut out during the next year while they fix up San Francisco's famous Castro Theatre long do for a make over. Hope they re install all the nice color lights in the auditorium that have been missing for so long and not just put in white lights.
We all hope they don't put in a l boring light bar pole across the top front of the stage from the ceiling for the new live events coming into this former classic movie theatre. Please put in new light bars on the side of the stage.
What about the new huge pipe/electric organ that was to be put in and many people have donated money for. Will there be space under on the stage for It on a lift. Some people say the organ is still a go.
A big thanks to the Nasser family who tried their best to keep the place open as a full time movie theatre, one of the last of It's kind in San Francisco. We hope they get a cut of the new revenue these live events will take in not just a long term rental.
We all will miss the place to go see a movie that still had a little showmanship left in San Francisco.
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