- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Castro Theatre
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Cinema Local Flavor Cinema, Local Flavor [Edit]
429 Castro St(between 17th St & Market St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
Neighborhood: Castro
(415) 621-6120
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
547 reviews for Castro Theatre
547 reviews in English
-
Review from J B.
El Cerrito, CA
1/20/2012
I'm a Castro fan after last night! My boyfriend's Christmas present to me was a couple tickets to see the opening SF Sketchfest act - Rifftrax Night of the Shorts 3. If you're at all familiar with Mystery Science Theater 3000, you totally should have been there, it was awesome! In any case, we managed to get front row seats (no assigned seating, it's grab as you can) and the venue itself is really pretty. Beautiful detailing on the ceiling, lovely stage area, and the screen is amply sized for anyone who's not IMAX addicted. I especially enjoyed the organ playing about 30 minutes before showtime. After every song he finished, the player got a round of applause. It was just neat to watch the organ rise from its little enclave in the center of the stage, and then lower back again right before the show began.
The show itself - hilarious! So disappointed I didn't know about the other SF Sketchfest shows before now - I'd have been saving up!
My advice is go to the Castro as often as possible...and also go to all the SF Sketchfest events you can! -
Review from Bonnie P.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2012
Love this theater! Saw Sex and the city 2 here, quite an experience!
-BONNIE -
Review from Elizabeth G.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Maybe it's not appropriate to review the theatre given I was here for the Christmas SF Gay Men's Chorus show, but I may as well leave some feedback...
Briefly, as for the show, AMAZING. Go! Go! Go! If you're in SF for Christmas Eve... definitely a highlight of the holiday weekend for my family and I.
As for the theatre - beautiful space. Really shocking that this gigantic theatre exists on Castro when it hardly seems like any of the other neighboring restaurants are that large! The popcorn is good, the service at concessions is extremely friendly.
My complaint may only be due to a popular show on Christmas Eve but.... there were NO seats!! They sold GA tickets and they WAY oversold. I mean TONS of people standing in the back and in the aisles after we all paid $20+ for tickets. The ushers were not really eager to find seats for everyone so we spent probably 20min running around trying to find a seat. For a popular show it might be better to either sell assigned seats and/or DON'T oversell.
Otherwise, I'm sure this place is fantastic but popular events may be better handled.... -
Review from Arnaud R.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
Iconic theatre in an iconic neighborhood. Everything looks old and beautiful, from the colorful facade to the dramatic lighting that makes the auditorium part of the show.
One screen. The calendar on their website is very clear, check it out and you'll see both your favorite classics (US and foreign), and some interesting new or recent releases. My favorite theatre! -
Review from Casey S.
Nothing is what it seems at The Castro. The dudes are chicks, the chicks are dudes, and there are half-naked...things walking out of the bathroom onto the stage.
Just the way I like it.
The moment I heard of this stage production of The Shining (seriously) at Christmas (seriously), I knew I had to go. And the moment "Peaches Christ" told me that "it's fucking Christmas time!," I knew this show was going to be one for the ages. -
Review from Jake m.
San Francisco, CA
1/3/2012
Looking purely at the merits of the theatre itself, standing separately from its place as an historical landmark of the neighborhood and city, it is still a beautiful and warm place with inspired programming and a playfully interactive atmosphere on retrospective nights (which are pretty much everyday with an occasional exception).
Seeing a classic or little-known film here easily beats going to like-minded theaters like the Lumiére which also specialize in retrospectives, as great as the Lumiére is (screen's a bit small and sound quality is hit or miss), because the ceilings are tall and ornate and the auditorium itself is arranged better. The presence of an organ, which is played before films begin, is also part of the experience and really helps to drive patron interaction with the film. My experiences watching Annie Hall and Rosemary's Baby would not have been as delightful had there not been some organ-playing to get everyone riled up and enthusiastic. -
Review from Brian W.
Brea, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Castro Theater was as beautiful as I expected, but much larger. We arrived an hour early for singalong West Side Story, and were glad we did. The line was already 40 deep! What a great place, interesting vibe, and unique experience. Anyone comparing it to or complaining about it's atypical theater or multiplex experience is confused. I don't believe many are surprised at how different all aspects of The Castro Theater are as compared to mainstream theaters. As for the popcorn, it was bad, I would suggest buying the candy or bringing your own.
Seeing West Side Story on such a large screen was wild. There is nothing subtle about this movie when it is 30' wide and 10' tall! -
Review from Eric A.
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Theatre itself is really nice. I initially thought it was a dingy small theater, but boy oh boy was I wrong.
Loved the atmosphere, loves the high ceilings, it's simply one of the best in the city -
Review from Joseph Jr C.
Berkeley, CA
12/22/2011
The Castro Theatre is just like America: like this great country that's abominably governed this admittedly magnificent theatre is abominably MIS-managed--and it has been for as long as I can remember--and for patrons who've attended it for not just a couple shows, but for literally years--that's a crying shame! And I've been commuting from the East Bay to attend it for roughly 25 years!
That's to qualify this well-deserved low-rating before its apologist groupies start posting their predictably whining retorts. As a dutiful disclaimer, this well-deserved low-rating takes no account either of the equally magnificent pre-show organist performance by David Hegarty when he plays. Now let's inject some semblance of TRUTH into these over-rated reviews?
After a rather lengthy absence I treated a dear friend to the Castro's re-run of George Clooney's first-run Euro-thriller, The American(2010), which serves as a prime sample of the current Castro mal-experience.
First, you're hit with the film's retarded but remarkably inaccurate summary, claiming it was made as if it were "still 1974." Look, I was around and aware in 1974 and there's not a single, solitary thing about this exceptional flick which even remotely resembles the '74 era, for starters.
Next, we go up to the box office to purchase our admittance tickets to get indifferently greeted by the ticket-seller, who only deigns to sell us the tickets because he's overly engrossed in sloshing around in what looks like his gross bowl of chow mein noodles!
Then, it's on to get greeted indifferently(without nary a word much less even a nod of acknowledgement)by the careerist ticket-taker, who's just about professionally adept at tearing tickets in two and handing back the stubs.
Finally, it's on to the un-friendly concession counter typically staffed by what some other reviewers here have most insightfully termed scruffy "hipsters;" they're most typically drawn from an employment pool of scuzzy retro-grunge groupies; I simply dub them punk flunkys--because that's how they generally act and conduct themselves. When it comes to paying for customer service in the City, perhaps that's what you're used to; I'm not.
First off, almost all other cinemas happily offer FREE RE-FILLS for purchases of super-sized popcorn-and-soda combos. At the Castro Theatre, the only way to get refreshment re-fills for double-feature screenings is to HAGGLE with the punk flunkys, who invariably TELL(not ask--as the word "please" is un-heard of in their extremely limited vocabulary)you what amount of "tip" to drop in their jar for the "favor" they most mistakenly THINK they're doing you to refill your exorbitantly priced refreshments.
This time I commented on the clearly SHRUNKEN size of the large popcorn bag since my last trip to the Castro.
And my favorite punk flunky, Tony T, cracks, "Whaddya want? A wheel-barrow?" Tony T, you see, thinks he's real quick with the clever comeback.
Well: the CHINTZY Castro might just as well offer popcorn in wheel-barrows--they're already charging wheel-barrow PRICES for Dixie cups!! I mean, really: $10.25 for a "large" over-iced soda and dinky-sized "large" bag of popcorn! And the only wheel-barrow in sight rings Tony T's fat mouth and gut!
Knock multi-plexes as you may, but at least for prices like those they serve up KING-sized cups of soda and BUCKETS of popcorn with FREE REFILLS happily obliged and UN-begrudged--and not exploited by punk flunkys trying to rip you off further by stuffing their tip jars for their cigarette change.
Shocking-in-the-extreme are the majority of SLOBS attending this theatre: after this flick we were utterly aghast at how TRASHED the theatre rows were with littered popcorn puffs and soda cups--as if most had come to feed something underneath the seats rather than ingest snacks themselves!
Last and most importantly, of course, is the Castro's ABYSMAL film booking/programming, which in recent years has proved to be lame-ass and piss-poor at best!
Now patrons are supposed to be all-atwitter that the notorious Nasser family owners have hired one KEITH ARNOLD to book/program Castro flicks with the coming new year of 2012.
Keith Arnold(if you don't know)was back in the day the owner/programmer of the Berkeley BOG's so-called "Fine Arts Cinema," together with the defunct UC Theatre another of the Berkeley BOG's FAILED single-screen cinemas. All that's today left of the Fine Arts Cinema is its faux-facade, which fronts one of profiteering developer, Patrick Kennedy's Berkeley BOG apartment buildings.
So if the warped idea of Berkeley-cizing this magnificent CITY theatre's programming gets you all worked up and excited, then you should feel more than gratified. Personally, though, I'd be rather wary of hiring the programmer of a defunct cinema to schedule the Castro's cinematic calendar; but that's just me.
Remember that old TV ad: FARMS in Berkeley?! RUBES at the Castro?! -
Review from Lily K.
Sausalito, CA
12/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Beautiful beautiful beautiful theater and they have some wonderful film events. Went to the Sound of Music sing-a-long and I must say...it was one of the best experiences that I have had at an event.
We got little goody bags that involved interactive props for the songs, people came dressed up, and E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E in the theater sang along and it was AMAZING!!!! There was no bad seat, even the way back of the balcony was excellent.
Did I mention the inside of this theater is beautiful? Yep, they deserve all 5 stars and then some! -
Review from Will P.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012
Great movie theatre, classic as it gets! I watched movies and volunteered here so many times!
-
Review from Nora S.
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been here a few times- once was to see "The Little Mermaid" Sing A Long, and most recently I came with Julia D to see a preview of "Dirty Girl."
The Castro Theater really knows how to put on an event, whether it is a movie screening or their famed sing a longs. My favorite part about the sing a longs is that it is totally acceptable to talk during the movie, and yell things at the screen ("Ariel- you're not 18! It's not a legally binding contract!").
Looking forward to coming back! -
Review from Jaclyn A.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2012
Sometimes I forget to watch what's in front of me on the screen because I just want to scare at their majestic ceiling.
-
Review from Thomas O.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2011
All I want for Christmas is peaches, sliced peaches. Oh, what a fun & frightful event THE SHINING was! It was my very first time to see that film--and during the INTENSE scene where Shelley Duvall discovers that all her husband has been writing for weeks at a time is "All work and no play..." the music gets more & more strained... as she sees typewritten page after page after page of "all work and no play," her expressions of confusion & discovery & horror all converge--it was at that exact second, someone brushed up against me, and I SCREAMED loud enough to wake the dead. It was embarrassing @ the moment it happened. But after reflecting, it was one of the best tributes I could possibly give to that film. The director & actors collaborated to create a horror film that has stood the test of time. Peaches Christ makes it all fun! And that imagination! The pre-screening parodies of the films, staged with such cleverness that mixed wit, camp, and magic--all make for the full houses of happy campers who return forever & ever & ever...I am now inspired to find isolation in Colorado & abandon the Internet, keeping company with a real typewriter.
It takes a village to support a Peaches Christ genius & we are lucky, indeed, to have such Drag Queen Royalty & the Village that goes along with it. Captain Spaulding salutes you, Peaches! -
Review from Emily M.
12/16/2011
Long live the Castro. I've seen 3 films here - Harold and Maude, H.P. Mendoza's Fruit Fly, and Singalong Sound of Music. All have been great, and the Castro is a moviegoing experience like no other. If you spend any time at all living in the Bay Area, you need to go at least once.
-
Review from Jeff H.
9/1/2011 1 photo
Whether it was a Sound of Music sing-a-long, a screening of Unsinkable Molly Brown with Debbie Reynolds in person, kicking off ski season with the latest Warren Miller flick, or catching Notorious on a big screen, every event here has been well worth the price of admission.
Yes, the sound system could use an upgrade, the floor is sticky, and the concession lines can be quite long. But all in all, the place is a classic and the experience is well worth it. My only real complaint is that sometimes certain members of the crowd want to be as much of a show as the actual movie. I think this is great before and after, and somewhat ok during the sing-a-longs, but during a quiet scene of a classic movie I really don't want to hear some bozo yelling out a line that he/she thinks is funny. Watch the movie people.
My advice is to go here at least 3 or 4 times a year for different activities. Try to catch a special event or simply watch a classic movie you haven't seen in years. I know the Kubuki and the Sundance have rocking seats, some places have bars, and all the newer theaters have large bathrooms and concession stands, but if you want a truly Big Screen theater, there are only a few left. So support them while you can before they are all gone.
The Castro itself is a classic, like the Paramount in Oakland. It's a great theater so walk around it, check out the décor and the construction. Then sit an enjoy one of the largest screens in the bay area. -
Review from Julia D.
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
1. Seats are pretty uncomfortable.
2. Often great comedy shows put on by Sasha Soprano.
3. Great local programming from the gay community and not.
4. Saw a great sneak preview of Dirty Girl (not a porn) here.
5. Sing-a-longs.
6. Jewish Film Festival.
7. Frameline FIlm Festival.
8. Hot Cookie nearby!
9. Old classics and new movies.
10. Beautiful ceiling! -
Review from Julie S.
San Francisco, CA
8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
A beautiful theater and an all-around delightful experience. The Castro Theatre truly is a gem in the city. From the moment we arrived to the Saturday night showing of Casablanca a few weeks ago, our experience at the Castro Theatre was exceptional. The theatre makes you feel like you stepped into a different era - very appropriate for the old movies they often play. There is also an organist who plays songs from the movie while you are finding your seats.
If you haven't already, check out the Castro Theatre's current calendar. They play a mix of old movies, sing-alongs, and more modern favorites. That's right, there's something for everyone! I can't wait to come back. -
Review from Ellie F.
9/30/2011
I just had my first Castro Theatre experience at the Little Mermaid sing-a-long, and I was thoroughly impressed by the event planning.
The timing was just right, the hosts were hilarious, the gift bags brilliantly put together...it was a superbly enjoyable night.
I will be back, as entertainment managed well is worth the travel time and money...pretty much every time! -
Review from Jackson Q.
San Francisco, CA
8/26/2011
Let's see here, this one's a little more complicated for me. I hold movies and the experience of viewing them very, VERY dear to my heart. The Castro Theatre seems like the perfect place to go, classics played out on the big screen in an historic theater full of film snobs.
Sounds nice, but the experience is a tad bit...underwhelming. I was irked by the pretentious ramblings of all parties surrounding me, trying desperately to sound intelligent (maybe they were pulling it off).
The auditorium itself is a bit of an aesthetic nightmare, Neoclassical mashed up with a gaudy, over done middle eastern-inspired ceiling. I felt trapped in a virtual threesome between Napoleon Bonaparte and Mohammad, not sexy.
The sound system was shoddy and needed some tuning and maintenance, which was even more noticeable as it failed to mask up the banal chatter of aforementioned snobbery.
I'll stick to Sundance Kabuki and Netflix Watch Instantly, thanks anyway though.Listed in: Movie Theaters
-
Review from Noelle J.
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
The World According to Noelle
Allergic Girl's Guide to Life
My husband and I have never been to the Castro Theater. Our first time to the Castro Theater was last Saturday. We were there to attend, "The Power of Two" Bay Area Premiere Gala. This was a private event to screen a new documentary.
According to the Castro Theater Website parking is difficult, your two options being metered parking or parking in one of two public parking lots.
My husband and I had VIP tickets to attend the Power of Two Gala so we had VIP Parking in a private lot (half a mile away). It wasn't hard finding the theater. We arrived, picked up our tickets at will call and headed up to the VIP reception upstairs. The Castro Theater had a very old, retro feel.
Inside the theater it had all the old Hollywood charm of yesteryear. Seats were tired looking as were the armrests where the wood was chipping away. Without a doubt its a beautiful theater, just not as beautiful as the Stanford Theater in Palo Alto. -
Review from Fannie S.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Why the hell do I not have a review for this place?
Well, I do now.
Go here for some classic movies, and special movies. Including but not limited to their Little Mermaid sing-a-long.
Truth be told, it is my first and only (and probably last) sing-a-long movie, ever. But I truly love this theatre.
I've seen Milk here, and the crowd...fabulous. I've seen some Hitchcock films here.
Honestly though, the best and lasting thing about this place, is the guy who plays the organ. No show is complete without the organist. So, above all, support this place and come early for the pre-show. There are rarely previews.
Check out the walls--lots of World's Fair Expo remnants...and make sure to look up. It's gorgeous to ogle too!
Prices = moderate. It's an older theatre. The seats are comfortable. The cupholders are a bit large. But overall, it has that old time feel...so go and support your local theatre! -
Review from Sue Y.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love this theater!! It's incredibly beautiful mystique adds an element of history to anything you watch here.
I also love the variety of productions/films that they have here. Thanks to Yelp (Thanks Yelp!!), we had tickets to a special viewing of Connected by Tiffany Shane for the Jewish Film Festival. The thought provoking movie was rounded up with a Q&A with the director herself.
Beautiful theater + fascinating movie = One great day. -
Review from Elaine L.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here one evening for the Disposable Film Festival and had a great time. Parking, of course, is very challenging as it always is in the Castro. After the show, there are tons of great places to go eat or check out nearby. The building is old but beautiful and truly is a great S.F landmark.
The auditorium itself was amazing with very high ceilings and a monumental chandelier, which I was told was made from papier mâché. That's absolutely incredible! I would love to come back for a play or another film fest someday. Someday in the near future. -
Review from Kelly S.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This venue offers a slew of great filmy events. If you love film, there are a ton of quirky and eclectic events continuously hosted and decently priced for your viewing enjoyment.
Inside it's guilded, gorgeous, with floral arrangements, comfortable seats, a balcony and more. As well, in between shows or before one, there is a killer organ player that plays entirely by memory and makes you basically feel like you didn't do enough with your life.
Midnight for Maniacs, hosted by Jesse Hawthorne Ficks. "Jesse teaches Film History at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and curates/hosts the Midnites for Maniacs series at the Castro Movie Theatre. He writes film reviews for the San Francisco Bay Guardian and Film Arts (Release Print) Magazine.
It's also rumored he is the stunt double for Peter Sarsgaard."
All M4M are triple threat billings for only $10-$15 total, thematically chosen for the film geek, movie fanatic, story hound.
For past M4Ms: http://www.midnitesfor... -
Review from Tom M.
Philadelphia, PA
8/31/2011
If there's every a time when I get told I can only go to one movie theatre for the rest of my days, it will be the Castro Theatre please.
Oh and only for the evening show ( yeah, no trip to the Castro is complete with out the organ music before the show)
I've planned vacations to see a movie at the Castro ( It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World). I've seen some of my personal other favourites there. Hail Hail Fredonia, 3 D movies, Christmas releases. It's awesome. -
Review from Jon T.
9/10/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I'm pretty sure this is the coolest theatre I've ever been to. It reminds me a little of coolidge corner in Brookline (Boston), but much bigger and cooler. Afterall, there's an organ player! That alone makes the experience worthwhile.
I saw the ferris bueller/rushhmore double feature here the other night - $10 for two movies. Granted, I didn't really care about bueller but even still that's a great deal. Audience was a bit vocal, which normally would annoy me, but for bueller seemed appropriate.
I can't believe how many times I've walked by here, seeing great films playing on the marquee, and not checking it out. Not anymore! I think this will be my new home away from. -
Review from Prague G.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011
Nice theatre.
-
Review from sonya d.
6/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cher in the morning? Yes.
People shakin' their tush in the isles waiting for the movie to start? Yes.
Do I love it? Of course.
I mean how could you not?
Seriously, the Castro is why SF is a bubble, and the Castro Theater is a perfect fit. I don't know how it is possible that I hadn't seen a movie here before. But now that I have, I will make it a priority to come back and see more. I'm not sure what it's like at night, because I came to watch a film for the LGBT film fest at 10:30am (yes that early) called Trigger: http://www.youtube.com....
There were many people, but it was definitely not packed.
I also love how a real person announces the film and a little background before they play, and how people clap and cheer after the film. The inside of the theater itself is old school beautiful, and the theater is grand.
Definitely the best place to see a movie in the city by far. -
Review from Asper K.
Chicago, IL
7/5/2011
The theater is a gem. Authentic, stylish, and grand. You feel like a tourist visiting the 20s. Or Owen Wilson swashbuckling around in Par'ee in a woody allen movie. A couple of sniffs of popcorn in the lobby and a quick peek at the ornate ceiling in the theater will give even the most bitter cubicle dweller a not so mild case of golden age syndrome.
Don't miss the organist, if he's playing that nite. Rising from the floor via old school elevator contraption, playing showtunes, and carrying on with a certain amount of grace, it's a delight to see. I don't know where in the world you could find a movie theater where a organ pops out from the floor and you get a free 15 minute show before the movie. Not many left like this, I'd guess. (Jerks at Kabuki Sundance Theater who tack on $3 extra for "no commercials", please take note)
With all this atmosphere, I was in a great mood to see some Marx Bros comedy. I remember it as hilarious from when I was about 10. Plus I had had three beers. So I was good an ready for some vintage and quality humor. My good mood slowly dimmed however. I had the unfortunate realization that Harpo hitting the Maestro over the head with a hammer + other vaudevillian slapstick ...is less than.. same, when you are 10 and a jacked up on sugar. What can I say, even Groucho Marx's one liners barely got a smirk from me. And while some folks did laugh a little, it seemed more forced than real. Family Guy Ostrich style if you will. http://www.youtube.com... . I was checking my watch a lot.
I've been to the Castro a few times. Once I saw a movie about this guy Shackleton, who evidently had some trouble getting to North or South Pole back in the day. It was a recent movie narrated by some other dude who seemed to want us to believe that this was the craziest sht that ever happened. Really?!? What about those Chilean Miners. Or those dumbasses up in the Int Space Station for years on end. I didn't get what the big deal was and was bored silly. This movie was definitely pushing the theory of old stuff being amazing/new stuff totally sucks. Golden age syndrome deluxe
They fill the seats at the Castro. In large part because it's such an awesome venue. My advice. Be careful about the movie selection. Taking an old Peugeot up a hill and being transported to another time is is amazing, as long you don't end up going to see some crappy movie. -
Review from Jimmy G.
8/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Caught the Mallick double feature here this week (Badlands / Days of Heaven).
Kind of an overwhelming theatre - I'm no student of architecture, but not everything in here seems coherent. But I absolutely loved the organ player and I'd come back just to hear some more of that. -
Review from Jonathan F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 7/13/2011
Went to the Castro this past Sunday night (July 10) to see TV star Barbara Eden live in an interview with Marc Huestis. The entire evening was a festival of Barbara Eden Day. She talked about her new book, "Jeannie Out of the Bottle" now in bookstores.
It was good to see her. She is still glamorous and with a uplifting sense of humor. Her book is full of recollections of not only the "I Dream of Jeannie" show but also of her early life growing up in San Francisco and of Hollywood.
I like the way the Castro has these events of inviting stars to make an appearance and present their classic movies and iconic moments that were important in their careers.
I guess these types of events are the closest San Francisco will ever get to old fashioned movie premieres. Well worth the time and money spent.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/9/2008
Castro Theater is a classic! What else is there to say...other than needing some air-freshening and… Read more »
-
-
Review from Eric Robert T.
Hilo, HI
10/10/2011 1 photo
Wonderful super old theater in the middle of the Castro. It's old, cold, dark, and oh so wonderful! Watched Nosferatu here with a live orchestra.. Like a flash back to the 1920's! Nothing modern... just a super old, well maintained "art" theater.. the types that are harder and harder to find now. Lot's of history here. A treasure for sure...
-
Review from Alex C.
San Mateo, CA
6/15/2011
So last week, I had tickets to see a screening of the new movie, Super 8, which was showing at the Castro Theatre. Never having been to this theatre before, I quickly hopped onto Yelp to look up the address and briefly skim down the reviews written here by my fellow Yelpers. While the movie was suppose to start at 11pm (actually didn't start till around 11:30pm), we had to get there early to make sure that we were going to get in. By 8:30pm when me and my friend got to the theatre, there was already a line that was wrapped around the corner. 2.5hrs BEFORE the show even starts! YIKES!
While waiting outside in line for 2.5hrs though, I got a chance to take in a brief glimpse of the Castro night life and the surrounding district in general. While the neighborhood seems to be very safe at night, with many pedestrians casually strolling the streets on a wednesday night, the visuals of the nearby homes, streets, and shops are not one that I will be forgetting anytime in the near future.
First off, there was the apartment with disco strobe lights illuminating the street facing windows. At first I thought they were having a kicking party inside. Then I noticed that the rest of the lights were off and it was just a regular lighting decoration that apparently no other passerbyers even took a second look at.
Then there was the lamp post next to me in which roughly 20mins into my wait in line, someone came and plastered a ton of postcards advertising "Red Meat at the Meat Locker" and prominently displayed a guy wearing a very tiny thong. While I can't say that I'm an insecure person, it was awkward having nothing else to look at except these postcards smack in my face.
Halfway through our wait in line, my friend commented on how he was rather hungry and mentioned seeing a cookie store farther up the line. We discuss grabbing some cookies before entering the theatre and began to imagine all the wonderful cookies that were awaiting our hungry little tummies inside. By the time the line moved far enough up that we made it in front of the cookie store, I noticed the store was named "Hot Cookies" and despite myself, could not help but wonder if this was indeed a cookie store or another "Meat Locker" esque shop. Looking inside however, we were quite relieved to see that they were actually selling cookies. However I couldn't help but notice the big collage on the right wall of pictures of random men in their thongs.
Now mind you, while I have driven THROUGH the Castro on a few occasions when needing to reach certain other parts of the city, I have never actually WALKED through Castro. So what I saw that night might have simply been limited to the part of the Castro district that I was in.
Of course all that is fluff and ultimately what you came here to read about was the theatre. So here it is........
My initial impressions of this theatre from the outside was of curiosity. It was one of the few theatres left that still had a single boxed ticket booth in the center of the theatre. Once inside the theatre however, that curiosity turned into awe. Me and my friend had the pleasure of sitting in the upstairs balcony and I can say that the view was breathtaking. While the theatre itself was not large, the domed ceiling was very high and intricately designed. It looked like something you would see at a grand opera house. At the stage below, the had a fellow playing an organ which rested upon a platform that actually lowered itself into the ground when not in use. The acoustics in the theatre were also phenomenal. The seats however reminded me of the old seats we use to have back in the high school auditorium and were a little disappointing in the fact that it lacked a cup holder =(
While I would probably never come out of my way just to see a movie here, if anyone happens to be nearby and was considering watching a showing here, I would highly recommend! -
Review from Bryan B.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2011
There is very little to say about this theatre as it demands to be seen. It is simply beautiful.
In terms of programming, the theatre has done a great job of mixing old and new. Popular films that are playing in other movieplexes will have weeklong runs here. However, it is the older films that truly make the experience more lovely. You know how some people say "that film must be seen on the big screen!" Usually they are speaking about some film with stunning visual effects. however, there is something magical about seeing even simple films on the big screen-- it transports you. The charm of this theatre simply adds to the time-traveling sensation.
Oh, and how could we forget about the ORGAN! Listening to it being played before a picture.. once again, little words to describe, but try to go and not be hypnotized by its sound.
What's not to miss are the recurring sing-a-long treats. Grease and the Sound of Music usually happen once or twice a year, as well as a few popular Disney movies. Nothing like a sense of coming together when you see twinks, teenage girls, leather daddies and dykes all singing The Little Mermaid's "Part of Your World." -
Review from Ken G.
5/19/2011
Wow an incredible venue for watching pretty much anything.
I've seen a ton of different movies and performances here and it's always been a great experience to be in such a historical building with incredible artwork and detail that is rarely found in modern buildings. -
Review from Margaret R.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2011
I came here for the Little Mermaid sing-a-long (which was great and super fun). The theater was much larger than I expected. I loved the piano / organ, loved the stage, loved the architecture...
-
Review from Denise S.
7/26/2011
Castro Theater is great.
I went one evening for the Wizard of Oz sing a long night which turned out to be a great time. It was a huge turnout and people were pumped. The theater is beautiful and very regal. You feel as though you are stepping back in time and the organist that plays on stage makes it that much more charming.
Check out their calendar, they play great movies and are always having events. -
Review from Jonathan N.
Chino Hills, CA
8/9/2011
The great things about the Castro Theatre:
1) Hot Cookie is right next to it.
2) Hot cookies sit next to you. ;D
3) OLD MOVIES! I love how it picks movies from the past. It really displays how old things aren't necessarily meant to collect dust. They are meant to be SHOWN! And Castro Theatre understands this :)
4) Double feature! I love double feature! It's a pretty cheap admissions price so it's like more bang for your buck! My asian senses were tingling :3 hehehe.
The movies I watched:
Bunny Lake is Missing: This movie started a little slow but I loved how it had this sense of mystery. It also has a pretty good twist. I recommend.
Repulsion: A black and white film. I think it would be categorized as a thriller? It was somewhat scary and eery in my opinion. I got goosebumps watching this. -
Review from Danny L.
4/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love theatres like this... full of history, quality, and elegance. The artistic details in the walls, ceilings, and grandiose pillars take the breath away. And the chairs... nice and plush. Gotta love that!
Perfect venue for the Asian film festival!
