Castro Theatre SF Remodel Photos June 13, 2024

[Terry Monohan]

Here are some photos we took this past week on the remodel work being done at San Francisco's Castro Theatre. The marquee was just re painted and the neon repaired. Grand opening will be in 2025

Will look great with the new CinemaScope screen with masking, new curtains, new stereo surround system, side wall art repainted, ceiling and deco lights repaired (let's hope they put in some color lights) new AC & heat, new rugs, flat leveled tiered floors with bars set up, movable automatic seats , new huge pipe/electric organ plus bathrooms remodeled Balcony stays the same with refurbished seats. Save your cash the New Castro Theatre Entertainment Center SF will be very expensive. No more cheap movies and popcorn when they re open late 2025. The Castro will have mainly live stage events with a few movies shown with their DCP, 35MM & 70MM projectors.

We look forward to the grand opening.

[Frank Angel]

Wow, that sounds like a total renovation -- must have cost a fortune. They must have gotten some very generous investors with pretty deep pockets. But movies only now and then with stage shows the main focus? That's a shame. What size is the stage for stage shows? Do they have a fly grid so they can hang set pieces and the screen? If they can't fly the screen, how is that going to work? Have they had live shows in there before? No matter what, it is alway great to see a theatre being rejuvenated rather than closed and turned into a bowling alley.

[Terry Monohan]

Frank***The stage is very small. It will be used for music and other events plus a few movies from time to time. No big Broadway stage productions. Limited side stage lights. Some performers will have to bring in their own lighting but the sound should be good.

The new painted Castro Theatre marquee and blade sign has just been re painted and the neon worked on. Big re lit party coming June 19 outside the former movie cinema.

The new lease people 'Another Planet' have plenty of money. They may have gotten some money grants or a good tax rite off for them. AP runs the Fox Oakland Theatre plus many other event spaces in the SF Bay Area and outdoor music festivals. They make the money from booze/wine/beer sales and expensive priced shows booked for one night mainly. The Nasser family still owns the Castro Theatre property.

The new people going into the Castro Theatre in 2015 to see a live stage performance will have to stand downstairs or sit upstairs in the balcony. This way they can cram more people standing downstairs on tiered flat levels with drink bar/snacks set ups. The new portable movable seats downstairs will be for movies mostly or a one person stage show without music.

The new stereo surround system going in will be much better then the cheap no deep bass surround wall speakers they had installed taken from the old Alhambra Theatre in SF before It was turned into a gym. I have been told The sound unit going in will be for the new organ, movies and live stage events. Same speakers for different events. I wonder if pricey 'Meyers Sound' will be involved.

I am surprised they have gotten a good start with the renovation work as in San Francisco It takes forever to get permits.

Id like to see the place be turned into a big DISCO for the opening weekend. Bring on the mirror balls and strobe lights and the best disco dj's from the golden era of the late 1970's

The Village People on stage live will bring in the dance crowd.