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The Stanford Theatre
Rating Details »
221 University Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 324-3700
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 324-3700
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
138 reviews for The Stanford Theatre
The Stanford Theatre is a wonderful place. I recently attended my first movie there- a showing of Mr Smith Goes to Washington paired with The Man Who Knew Too Much. I enjoyed the experience so much I took my wife there on a date last Friday. The experience transports you back to a different time- you almost feel like there will be huge black Fords and Buicks parked outside when you exit the theatre. The prices are right- $7 for an adult and $1.50 for medium popcorn.
There is a wonderful organist who plays before the shows begin and at the intermission between movies. Your ticket gets you in for both the 7:30 and the late show. A great place and one worthy of your support.
They are currently showing the top 50 grossing movies in their 20 year history...check online for the schedule, especially if you are a fan of old classics or of cool experiences!
I used to go to the Stanford when it was a mainstream theater, in the 70's just before it closed. It was nice then, but now that it has been renovated and upgraded it is really a treat.
They play old movies from the 20's on ... the old classics, and they are surprisingly good. There are occasional duds, but they have double features, and the popcorn and drinks are affordable.
Did I say I love this place!? Yes, I do.
To see Casablanca on the silver screen is a real treat, right where it played when it came out too.
There are so many other old movies that I would never see or watch on TV, I have learned to trust the Stanford and I go there sometimes just to see what a movie is like. Randomly the movies I see are in general better than what comes out in the theaters these days.
I saw the "Thing From Another World", "Casablanca", "The Wizard Of Oz", so many other movies I cannot think of, and they are so cool to watch, and then there is another feature, and all for the seemingly unchanging price of $7.00.
There are many older folks there too. it is fun to see them enjoying the movies some of them saw in younger years.
The restrooms are clean and well maintained, the staff is nice and helpful, all in all a trip to the Stanford is total joy, and I can walk there from my house. I just feel really lucky and I hope they stay open forever.
There are so many movies with actors like Bogart and others that one has never heard of that are really memorable. One that blew me away was called "In A Lonely Place". I had never heard of it, but it was amazing. And there are many movies like that, a mind expanding experience to see what the country was thinking and watching as far back as there were motion pictures.
There is a balcony, and before the movies and during intermission there is organ music played on the built in pipe organ.
The Stanford Theater is a time machine! Enjoy!
Wonderful old school theater! With wonderful old school pricing, $7 a head gets you a double feature. And old school concession prices too!
They have an organist that plays at intermission, and sitting in the balcony is always a treat!
If you enjoy old movies in an old movie theater, this is an experience for you!
such a cool place!!! i came for the first time to see breakfast at tiffany's, sat down and thought, "is this place for real?". the movie was $7 and i got a medium popcorn for a whopping $1.50. Not to mention you can bring in your own popcorn, drinks and candy. there was a red velvet curtain and someone playing the organ before and after the show. i loved it, it was like a time machine, and i can't wait to come back for more!
I am absolutely in love with this theater. This place makes going to the movies a purely joyful experience... it just feels *special*. It has everything to make a perfect night at the movies -- fabulous old Hollywood films, the theater itself (physically gorgeous, with a balcony!), organ interludes in between films, very reasonable ticket prices and affordable concessions! I really couldn't ask for anything more, absolutely adore this place, and cannot say enough good things. After a night out I always leave the Stanford Theater walking on air. (Can you tell that I've just come from there by the gushing nature of this review?) Heaven for a movies fan.
We caught a hitchcock double feature here last month... I don't even like hitchcock that much... but the experience was just great... we sat in the balcony, tix were reasonable, maybe $7 each? and the theatre is just awesome... made for a romantic date. I'll be back...
A friend who lives in San Francisco mentioned this amazing movie theatre that he frequents. After hearing his wonderful description of the charm, ambiance and classic movies I new that this was one place I had to experience myself.
Right before I left PA I asked if we could please go to the movie theatre that he had mentioned to me a few months earlier. He was more than willing to share his find with me.
So last Saturday (10/24/09) my friend so generously took me to one of his favorite places. I was totally in awe of the beauty and grandeur of this old theatre. I was transported back to a time when life was simpler and Hollywood and it's stars could be summed up in one word, Elegant.
The careful attention to even the smallest of details in the theatre is a testament to the love that was put into renovating this glorious treasure. The double feature was An Affair to Remember and Bringing Up Baby. Two wonderful old Cary Grant films that I was thrilled to see on the big screen for the very first time.
Unfortunately, the organist was not in the theatre when I was there but I am still in love with my trip back to the glamorous days of Hollywood.
With everything that I mentioned about the decor, I almost forgot to mention about the price of admission which is $7.00 ( for a double feature no less ) and the concession stand prices are not to be beat. either. Instead of paying $65.00 for two movies, popcorn and soda for two how about $22.00? What a wonderful place to have date night with your special someone or take the whole family without breaking the bank.
Thanks so much for the experience and I hope to do it again someday.
.
I absolutely LOVE coming here. It is in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. Tickets are a mere $7 compared to $10 at AMC. Food is also super cheap. Popcorn is under $3 for any size and drinks are under $2 so it doesn't hurt your pocket too much. For youngins like me it's amazing to be able to see the likes of Aubrey Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, and Marlon Brando on the big screen. From the plush seats to the beautiful decor to the organist playing as you enter the theater it's a wonderful experience. They do not take credit cards so make sure you have cash with you and sit back and enjoy some of the most wonderful films of all time.
Cost: $7 for entry
Commentary:
- I usually come in the summer because I love the summer sessions (Audrey Hepburn, there's almost always a showing of My Fair Lady, Casablanca, and other such favorites)
- Park in the parking structure around the corner, I've never had an issue with it there.
- If you're into walking into yesteryear, take a stroll down the block to the Borders, once inside it feels like walking into an old library a la Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
- Amazing place for people of all ages.
Good
- Seating is usually never a problem...even when arriving late.
- The audience always seems to know the films inside and out and laugh at all the appropriate sections.
- The Organists who play the Wurlitzer are amazing. During intermission for longer films and between features, they often play songs from the soundtracks of the movies playing for that day.
- Truly a walk back in time.
- Brings you back to the days of yesteryear...the glamor, the splendor and simplicity.
- Has none of the bam, wham, and crudeness of today's comedy's and action packed film, just good stories and amazing cinema.
Bad
- Tickets cannot be purchase in advanced, you must wait in line and buy a ticket right before the showing you want to go to, so plan accordingly.
- Bathroom lines during intermission can get terrible! Remember there's a bathroom on both floors.
- It is terribly DARK in the theatre, so be on time. I've actually had someone sit on me because they came in late. T_T And I've gone in late and had a terrible time finding my way.
- Not as beautiful as the California in Downtown San Jose, but beautiful all the same.
Tonight the film caught on fire.
At first we weren't sure what happened; the film seemed to burn up on the screen and the place went mostly dark. Then, the alarms sounded.
Stanford Theatre patrons truly are the most awesome, warm, caring people, holding doors for each other on the way out, letting people on the way in know that we all had to exit immediately.
My sweetheart called for help from his cell and we heard the sirens as we got on our way home. Patrons spilled out onto the front walk, some of them standing in a parking space to help "hold" it for the coming fire truck.
I pray that everyone got out safely and that no other damage was done to the beautiful theatre.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/15/2008
The movies, atmosphere, organ performances, decor, prices, nearby places to have lunch/dinner, and… Read more »
What a delightful and simply lovely place to watch classic movies. It is truly an excellent movie watching experience. The live organ music is wonderful, the decor is beautiful, and the movie selection is superb. It is a wonderful way to spend an evening!
I'm so happy this place exists - a classic getaway from the blockbuster world. It has so much character with the balcony, the eclectic decor and the organist.
The programming is great. I've seen a bunch of timeless classics here ranging from Casablanca to Roman Holiday and Rio Grande and many others. Great films, atmosphere, $7 for a double feature, what else would you want? It's definitely my favorite movie theater.
I feel so lucky to have been introduced.
Wonderful place to see well-known classic film and to discover new.
My latest discovery was "Margie."
I hope this theater stays around for generations. It is a beautiful place with beautiful movies!
This place is totally amazing. I love going there to see the old films. It's incredibly clean, and restored to its original style. It's as good as it gets.
What luck to have such a gem in our midst like the Stanford Theatre. We've been going here for years and it never disappoints.
The plush, red, old creaky seats. The under $10 ticket price. The friendly staff. The awesome old-school posters all over the walls. The MOVIES. The experience of settling in and being transported to another time. The intermissions...why don't more movies have intermissions??? A girl can only drink so much water!
If you have never checked this place out, you must do so. However, I think it's better in summers...there's something just so fun about having dinner at a downtown joint in PA, grabbing yummy gelato, and walking over to the Theatre on a warm summer night. Is it June yet?
What is not to love...even when the line stretches about 100 people deep around the block? The wait is worth it! Gorgeous, lush, comfy w/classics, classics, classics. i have NEVER been disappointed. (And how often can you say you have thoroughly enjoyed the conversations w/others waiting in line? Everyone comes here w/happy expectations for a wonderful movie theater experience!).
Lots of seats, GREAT classic B&W flicks from the 30s & 40s, mostly...and honest-to-god organ music to entertain you while you wait. I'm on the mailing list....get on it....see what strikes your fancy. If you have never been, it's a MUST in Palo Alto.
I walk out happy, happy, happy every time I go. I hope you do, too!
We go walking on University Avenue all of the time and even though I have personally passed this absolute gem appx 50 times, I have only seen one movie here. It was a movie called FUNNY FACE with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn. FUNNY FACE is known as a classic dancing movie 'cause both Astaire and Hepburn could really hoof it with the best of them. For some reason, I kind of admit that I really like dancin' movies (Singin' in the Rain for example) after getting hooked on Kristi Yamaguchi on Dancing with the Stars however personally I really never could get into this flick completely. To suspend all sense of reality, you would have to believe and accept the premise that 'ol man Fred could have pulled young innocent Audrey in real life. No way. Maybe in Hollywood, that's possible. Or at Hugh Hefner's, AHEM!
Anyway, off of the fantasy scene back to the theatre review. This place is just so awesome and so much fun that if I lived up here, I would go every week to see classic after classic on the big screen with that great atmosphere and organist playing. It is live, in the flesh, TCM, and the great movies can be seen like they were when they were new and unknown. Only $7.00 per ticket too which is awesome. I was very pleased and the concessions were fairly priced too with no gouging the customers like you can find in some other newer establishments.
The Stanford is just great for all generations and with all of the frankly unwatchable newer movies out there, what is there to go see except these automatic winners? Plus, you have all of the great eating places around here to go to before and after the movie. It is just the best ever for a family or a date. A++++ all around.
In fact, University Ave may also be the best date street in the Bay Area, you have an incredible amount of varied entertainment. Borders for us book lovers (Frankly, I could just go there and read books all night but that would be a terrible date I know). Andale's. Miyake's. Pluto's. Walgreen's. Indian food. My fav, the classic pizza. Old Pro. On and on it goes. What is better than parking at a secret parking spot that very few know about, a dinner place of her choice, then browse the books at Borders, a hop, skip and jump for a decaff coffee or tea, followed by a nice romantic-type movie at the Stanford, then an ice cream, or second tea to end the night? Come on, it's perfect.
If it is a warm night, so much the better but if it is cold, you have the no-pressure, gentlemanly opportunity to ask your date if she's cold and can you put your arm around her to keep her comfortable? She just can't say "No" to that offer, can she? It's just the kind thing to do for her.
I've loved coming here my whole life; it has basically been responsible for my film experience and has made film an integral part of my life. Great spot, thank you David Packard! (and they've got legit old-school popcorn, mmm butter)
I simply adore this place. I wish I could rent a room here...
Beautifully preserved theatre, high cellings, cushy red velvet seats; this to me is what a movie theatre should be.
Last week, I saw the Maltese Falcon for the first time and let me tell you, what a way to see it for the first time! To be able to experience films as they were originally presented is like going back in time. A live organist plays music from the soundtrack before the show. No obnoxious ads or previews. When the lights dim, the curtains pull open and they get straight to business and begin the movie.
The Standford confirms my theory that I was born in the wrong era... Somehow I feel closer to Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Bogie and all my favorite old stars when I'm here*sigh*.
My dad has been telling me about the Stanford for years. He worked on the restoration of the building several years back. (interior plaster columns, etc)
The building really is amazing. Many Yelpers said how they felt transported back in time, and I agree completely.
The movie was great, of course.
The crowd was refreshing. My biggest complaint about the movie going experience are the rude people. Everyone was quiet and respectful. No cell phones, texting, kicking of the seat, chomping popcorn. My wife even forgot her purse under the seat and we ran back only to realize it was gone. Someone rushed it to the front counter lost and found. Thank you, whoever you are!
I look forward to going again.
I looove this place. it is amazing.
Excellent theater! It's right on University Ave., close to other cool places (like to get something to eat before), and is Caltrain-accessible. Also, the prices are cheap-- only $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. It's just a nice, warm, friendly, historic movie theater that plays classics. I just read the schedule, and they'll be playing "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve! Good for those folks who either don't celebrate Christmas or aren't going out of town and will just be celebrating Xmas Eve with roommates or an S.O.
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The World According to Noelle
~Allergic Girl's Guide to Life~
When I'm 100 years I will still be going to the Stanford Theater to watch movies. My favorite seats are located in the balcony section of the theater. The Stanford Theater first opened up in 1925 and is still going strong. Its a beautiful old fashioned theater. Watching movies here is a really wonderful experience. They have many different film festivals- such as Frank Capra, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock and many others, too many to list!
A double feature only costs $7.00
Popcorn, coffee, candies are sold at the concession stand on the first floor. They do not offer bottled water here, so if you want water you will either have to bring your own or drink out of the water fountain.
I LOVE old movies- black and white ones, so this is a place I frequent. I especially love listening to the Wurlitzer Organ played during intermissions usually before and after the 7:30 P.M. show. Kudos to Bill Taylor, David Hegarty, Jerry Nagano, Dennis James, Clark Wilson, Jim Riggs, and Christian Elliott who play the Wurlitzer and delight the Stanford movie going crowd!
Noelle's Notes:
For Saturday shows its best to get to the box office a little early!
I took my first real girlfriend to the Stanford to see a double-feature of Casablanca and the Big Sleep. A decade later, I took my then-fiancee to see a double-feature of Casablanca and The Big Sleep. When we broke up about 4 years later, I drowned my sorrows in a double-feature of Casablanca and The Big Sleep.
Along the way, I also attended about a dozen other movies, ranging from absolutely crap-on-a-stick (a Jayne Russell Nurse movie that was horrible) to the greatest films of all-time (the Magnificent Ambersons and The Maltese Falcon). I have never regretted a night at the Stanford, even when I saw the less than great films, because the theatre feels like a movie theatre should.
The greatest things are the Silents with the organists. I saw the original Ben Hur there and was blown away by how powerful the music made the film. I sat next to Don Knuth and watched two Keaton films, laughing hysterically. I saw Safety Last and confirmed that Lloyd was the master of silent comedy. It's an amazing thing and I wish they did them all-year, but what are you gonna do?
The Stanford is a gift to movie lovers and local filmgoers alike. It's the kind of place that people think about when they think about movies, and there are very few theatres like that left.
The Stanford is one of my favorite places in the world.
I came here for the first time on the 50th anniversary of the release of Casablanca - they were showing a clean copy from the UCLA film archives, and I fell in love - with Casablanca, with the theater, and with their popcorn.
Seeing a movie here is a wonderful way to see classic films the way they were meant to be experienced - on the big screen, in a lovely theater.
The programming here is wonderful - the classics get their play, but so do little-known gems like The Reluctant Debutante.
Go early, see/hear the Mighty Wurlitzer emoting to the people (in a really cool way) and enjoy the experience.
I'll be seated in the balcony.
I absolutely love this theater. I saw my first big screen black and white film here a few yrs back. Every since then I've fallen in love w/ this theater. From the organist playing before every movie and lowered down when the movie begins to the architecture.
Roman Holiday was made to be seen on the big screen and for all of Audrey Hepburn classics. You'll feel like your in a time capsule. If you love the classics as much I do, you'll try the Stanford Theater.
The atmosphere is extremely inviting, warm and simply gorgeous!
The seats are pretty comfortable andthere's seating both on the floor and the balcony. In the evenings after the last film an (I THINK its called) organ player will perform. The snacks are really good pricing!! (especially for theatre standards)
All their movie programs are excellent! There's never a season that goes by without (at least) a handful of films I MUST go off and watch!
Only downsides: Parking can be a pain (just stick with the parking garages) and you can't buy tickets before hand. You have to wait in line(at least an hour) before the film starts.
So I finally made it to the Stanford theater and I loved it. It is a beautiful, grand old space with a cool theater, reasonable prices and lot's of room. I love the idea of old-tyme films butI haven't had much opportunity to view them so going to see my first black-n-white on-screen was a treat!
Luck has it that it was also Bettie Davis weekend...
I will definitely be back.
See ya there! :)
As an ex Palo Altan, some of my fondest childhood memories are of biking with my twin sister and friends to Town and Country Village, Los Altos Hills, Stanford University, Allied Arts Guild, the shops on University Avenue, and of course, the beautiful Stanford Theater.
I think the last movie I saw there was Love Story - a few of us sat in the balcony pelting popcorn at the patrons below us - especially during the really weepy parts. Kids!
Old classic movies you can't see anywhere else? YES!
Cheap concessions that are so quintessentially movie-food-like of the old days in those little popcorn cups? YES!
Gorgeous clean theater with balcony seating? YES!
Although... if you're afraid of heights like I am, the balcony might not be a great place to sit for 2 hours.
Parking is easy. Just park in the city hall parking garage at Hamilton and Ramona and walk a block to the theater.
After the movie, Starbucks or Satura are just a block away too. I would totally come to this theater more often, but my friends aren't into classic movies :(.
5 shimmering stars for a theatre experience that will bring you back to the glory days of movie houses. Before Netflix, before Blockbuster, before corporate omniplexes, before $11.00 movie tickets, there were places like the Stanford Theatre. Take a trip back in time and experience a glimpse of that golden age.
The theatre has a beautiful art deco interior, clean and well-kept, complete with balcony seating, gigantic screen with draped curtain and an actual pipe organ with organist who plays between shows. $7.00 for a double feature, $1.00 or so for candy & drinks and $2.50 for a large bucket of popcorn. (It also functions nicely as a champagne bucket if you should happen to bring some in.) Ice is free.
Seeing Vertigo in its full Hitchcockian glory with Coit Tower looming large and Jimmy Stewart unraveling with every pulsating bead of anxious perspiration visible on the big screen...absolutely priceless.
This place is why I like to hang out in Palo Alto.
Catching a flick or two at the Stanford Theater after grabbing a bite to eat or cake at Satura or something makes for a great evening. Everyone who I've introduced to this place has fallen in love with it!
They show an amazing selection of films that you wouldn't get to see on the big screen otherwise. The silent films with the Wurlitzer accompaniment are my favorite though!
Still, even if you aren't too into movies or old movies, this place is worth checking out--and you can afford to with ticket and concession prices being so low!
Much like the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland, this is a fantastic old theater with Art Deco interior and a Wurlitzer organ that gets played before and after films on the weekends. Unlike the Grand Lake, however, The Stanford Theatre shows primarily classics from the Golden Age of Cinema. The foyer of the theater reflects this, as it has large posters of Casablanca, Top Hat, and such, as well as a small museum with several Hollywood artifacts from the period.
There is presently a Hitchcock festival running through the end of March, and there are typically two films shown each evening, so you can make a double feature night of it. This theater is a great deal and is not to be missed - it was only $34 for our party of six to catch some classic Hitchcock and live organ music on a Saturday night.
My boyfriend and I came here twice for the Hitchcock Film Festival (I think we were the youngest people in the theater by at least 30 years). Although both of the movies we saw were duds, it was still a fun experience.
This theater takes you back to the 50s - it's very ornate and designed for the days when going to the movies was a big deal. After the film is over a live organ player pops up out of nowhere and plays music from the soundtrack. The tickets are really cheap - $7 gets you a double feature.
It makes for a fun afternoon to walk around downtown Palo Alto and then check out whatever is playing. It's nice to watch an old film in an old theater.
The Stanford Theatre is as good as it gets in terms of a night out for an old movie. First of all, the snacks and drinks are dirt cheap. Tickets are $7 for adults. The organist that plays before the show is stellar AND if you manage to catch a double feature, you can enjoy the tunes during intermission too!
I caught a few of the movies during the Hitchcock festival... and fully plan on attending a lot more this summer.
Overall, it's just a really fun experience. So grab yourself a meal on University Ave and stop in to the Stanford Theatre for a show!
Thank you so much for holding the Bette Davis film festival here! Holy crap.
It's a huge 1 screen theater that maintains it's classic, art deco interior, complete with live pipe organ playing. I usually sit on the vertigo inducing balcony to get a prime view of the movie. Tickets are reasonably priced and I believe if you buy one ticket you can stay for the other showings. Popcorn and other snacks are also reasonably priced and I was informed that they pump actual butter on your p-corn.
I will sell my right lung to keep places like this going. It's my new favorite way to "step out" on a Friday night.
I caught a Hitchcock movie with a friend after some serious rock climbing. And boy, I felt a little out of place. Why? Well, a lot of people cleaned up well for the show! From the grandpas in suit n' tie to the teenage hipsters with the popped up collar shirt with sweater over, people were looking their Sunday's best. And there's me, in my sweat soaked t-shirt and running pants. Yeah!
While, I'm too young to remember what "theatres used to be," I can still appreciate the nice aesthetics and live organ music at the very end.
Last year I found out the Stanford was doing a Fred Astair festival - and since my kids and I love to watch Fred and Ginger movies, I took them both one evening. Parking was a bit of a hassle, but now that I know where the parking garages are, I will just go straight to them next time, so not a big deal there.
We got to the theatre, bought our tickets, and headed in. Inside, our jaws all dropped. What a gorgeous place! The carpets are plush, the walls have vintage movie posters, and I always love a theatre with a balcony!
We were running a bit late, so we snuck in the back of the theatre and found seats in the back row. I then spent the movie enjoying Fred ang Ginger like never before - not only larger than life, but with an audience responding to the plot, laughing at the jokes, applauding aftter ever dance routine. It was magical - as was watching the older couples, heads together, watching the film. As one dance started, the gentleman in front of us turned to his wife and said "remember?" and she just smiled. It brought tears to my eyes!
The kids loved the experience and we headed home appreciating Fred and Ginger even more.
Later that week I took my daughter back and we met up with a friend to see "Funny Face." It was a matinee and we got there earlier, so parking was easy and we had time to look in the little museum next to the theatre.
This time we sat up in the balcony - front row. The organ was up and being played between movies, and we made plans right then to go back to see a silent film (which we still need to do!). Audrey Hepburn is as wonderful on the silver screen as on the tv screen (more so, actually) and it made for another wonderful movie experience.
In fact ... I think I'll go head over to their website now and see what movies are coming up!
The perfect date! My girlfriend "dragged" me here to see an Alfred Hitchcock film. I then demanded we go back for more...I was hooked. I think we ended up seeing 4 films within a week. The place is charming, they did an amazing job remodeling it. The film selections are great and really take you back to the era. And the pop corn and sodas are ridiculously cheap. You can take a date on a $20 bill.
A gem in the Bay Area...we're lucky to have it.
