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Uptown Theater (photo credit San Francisco Public Library)

Uptown Theater

San Francisco, California, USA

Original Theatre opened: 18th March 1907

Reopened as an Atmospheric Theatre: 1st March 1930 (94 years ago)

Closed: 1970

Demolished: circa 1978

Atmospheric Style: Spanish Courtyard

Architects: Fabre & Hildebrand

Status: Demolished

Former Names: New Alcazar Theatre, Republic Theatre, Sutter Theatre, Lloyd Downton’s Uptown

Address: 2101 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115 Link opens in new window


Overview

The theatre first opened as the 1,700-seat New Alcazar in March 1907, as a replacement for the Alcazar Theatre on O’Farrell St which was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It was reported to be he first Class A theatre completed in the city following the earthquake.

Following periods as the Republic Theatre and the Sutter Theatre, in 1930 the theatre was rebuilt with an Atmospheric style auditorium featuring a Spanish courtyard theme. Newspaper reports said that the new theatre utilized a portion of the structure which formerly housed the previous theatre. Architect firm Fabre & Hildebrand did the designs.

The theatre reopened as the Uptown Theater at the start of March 1930. The Atmospheric design did not last long – the theatre closed around May 1937 to be remodeled in moderne style by Alexander Cantin, reopening in September 1937.

In the late 1960s the theatre was known as Lloyd Downton’s Uptown. The theatre closed for good in 1970 and was demolished around 1978.

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