Get Excited for the Reopening of San Francisco's Castro Theatre

The theatre first opened in 1922. The original owners, brothers Abraham, Albert, and Samuel Nasser, commissioned the creation of a 1,400-seat opulent picture palace in the Spanish Baroque style.

In the late 1970s, it became a repertory cinema, playing arthouse, foreign, and classic films.

The theatre has served the local LGBTQ+ community through its programming and special events.

In 1984, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus introduced its "Home for the Holidays" concerts at the Castro on Christmas Eve. In 1985, it hosted the world premiere of “Buddies,” the first major film about the AIDS crisis.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Castro Theatre became more than just an entertainment venue. It was a memorial chapel, a fundraising lifeline, and a defiant celebration of queer life in the face of devastating loss.

In 1994, beginning with a screening of “The Poseidon Adventure” starring Carol Lynley, filmmaker and activist Marc Huestis presented legendary celebrity extravaganzas at the Castro, featuring Debbie Reynolds, Kim Novak, Tony Curtis, and Sissy Spacek, among many others.

The 2008 film “Milk” used the Castro Theatre and Castro Street for filming, even restoring the theatre's iconic marquee to its 1970s appearance for production and hosting the movie's world premiere there.

Renovations include restoring the frescoes, the 1937 Art Deco chandelier, and other classic features. A stunning gold proscenium, which framed the original screen, had been covered for the past 40 years. It’s been uncovered and re-gilded.

The before-and-after photos give a taste of what to expect. As Conde explains, “From the 20s to the 80s, you could smoke inside. So, a lot of the original plasterwork was just preserved in nicotine, which was sticky and disgusting. But they found the right solution to get the nicotine out and preserve the paint underneath.”

David Perry, a local author and board member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, hails the renovation as “truly glorious.”

“The original 1922 design by noted architect Timothy Pflueger literally glows. The challenge has been respecting the original design while ensuring the theatre is fully ADA-compliant and providing, for the first time ever, a complete air circulation, heating, and air conditioning system. Doing this inside a delicate, 100-year-old building meant extra care had to be taken, most of it by hand versus using heavy machinery.”

There’s also a revamped sound and lighting system, along with restrooms. 

One of the Castros’ famed features was the old-fashioned Wurlitzer organ that rose from beneath the stage. That had been on loan since the 1980s but was removed in 2015. 

“The nonprofit Castro Organ Devotees Association raised the money to build a new state-of-the-art digital theatrical organ, one of the largest in the world,” says Perry. “Designed to the specifications of longtime Castro Theatre organist, David Hegarty, the organ will once again rise out of the pit before every film screening.”

It features seven manuals (keyboards) and over 800 stops, making it likely the largest, most versatile console of its kind.

The Castro’s reopening is marked on February 6 with a screening of “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” It’s the 20th Anniversary fundraiser of the Castro Community Benefit. 

“This is more than a movie night; it is a homecoming,” said Andrea Aiello, Executive Director of the Castro CBD. “We are inviting the community to be the very first to experience the 'New Castro' while supporting the preservation of the queer history and culture that makes this neighborhood a global beacon.

Priscilla is followed by a 20-night residency from British singer Sam Smith. 

Other names lined up in the first few months include Father John Misty, Perfume Genius, Jonathan Van Ness, CMAT, Miss Peppermint, Kim Petras, John Waters, Jessica Kirson, and drag superstars Alaska and Alyssa Edwards. 

Expect podcast recordings, stand-up comedy, and movie screenings, along with the return of the beloved Frameline. The longest-running LGBTQ+ film festival in the world celebrates its 50th anniversary from June 17–27. The San Francisco Silent Film Festival and the San Francisco Film Festival will also return. 

Besides the something-for-everyone lineup, the theatre's return means so much more to the city of San Francisco and to those who love this neighborhood. 

“The importance of the Castro Theatre to the film, music, and especially the LGBTQ communities cannot be overstated,” says David Perry. “It is, literally, a sacred space.”

“During the worst of the AIDS years, it became a place of safety, calm, and refuge for many dealing with the pandemic. Its return is proof of the Castros' resilience during those years, and a tribute to the legions of audience members and artists who have found a home here. Also, for the local business community, including the many restaurants and bars in the area, returning the Castro to business is a huge economic boost. 

“For the city at large, as we continue to recover from the long COVID hangover, the renovation and restoration of the Castro Theatre is a symbol of The City's ‘can do’ spirit.”

“The neon blade that spells out 'CASTRO' is our community's welcome sign to the world. ” adds Perry. 

The author has endless, treasured memories of his own visits to the theatre. 

“I first came to San Francisco in October 1986, and I know that within days, I was sitting in that audience watching David Hegarty play, San Francisco, as the organ rose out of the pit. That was something I've repeated dozens, if not hundreds, of times over the years. 

He says that attending his first Sound of Music sing-along at the Castro and seeing the premiere of the new Tales of the City film, with Armistead Maupin taking the stage afterwards for a Q&A, are just two of his most memorable evenings. 

With such a diverse new program of events in a luxurious, restored setting, Perry looks forward to many more. 

San Francisco is the perfect escape, whatever the season. The Castro Theatre is an iconic part of its history. Its restoration preserves its splendor, while updating it for the modern world and protecting it for the future.

Long may its neon shine.