San Francisco is home to some of the best little independent art house theaters in the country. Some are intricately designed and decorated, but most are tiny, no frills with bench seats and popcorn served by the owner in wooden bowls. All show the movies that they want to show, movies that either played in theatres decades ago or have only graced the screens of the festival circuit. If you’re looking for something out of the mainstream, here are a few for you to choose from:
Castro Theatre: Castro http://www.castrotheatre.com/
429 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 621-6120
The Castro Theatre is likely one of the most famous landmarks in San Francisco with its towering neon sign, single theatre with intricate architecture and domed ceilings inside and, of course, the famed organ that rises from the stage. More than just a movie theater, The Castro Theatre is a community experience. Look for midnight showings of 1950s horror movies and sing-a-long versions of musicals from West Side Story to The Little Mermaid.
Unless it’s a special performance with special guests-often stars of the silver screen from decades ago-adults pay $9.50, seniors and kids pay $7. Matinee tickets are $7, also, and they’re famous for 2-for-1 double features. Check the site for show times or pick up a full color, poster-sized flier with their upcoming shows at the ticket window.
Clay Theatre: Pacific Heights
2261 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 267-4893
Landmark Theatres also owns Lumiere Theater, Embarcadero Center Cinema, Bridge Theatre and Opera Plaza Cinema in the city but I’m noting the Clay Theatre specifically as a hot little art house theatre because this single-screen theatre is one of the oldest theatres in San Francisco. In 1972, they were the first to host a midnight movie in the city, showing John Water’s Pink Flamingos. What’s more San Francisco than that?
Adults pay $10.50. Seniors, children, and bargain matinee goers pay $8. Check the site for show times.
Red Vic Movie House: Haight Ashbury
1727 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 668-3994
The Red Vic is so San Francisco in that it’s not owned by any one person, per se, but instead is run by a collective and a bunch of volunteers who just love the place. The couches, the church pews, the organic snacks, the popcorn served up in wooden bowls and cups of cocoa in chipped mugs make this a cozy theater closer to your own living room than any other theater in the city. The movies they choose range from 2006 Hollywood hits to obscure classics from the ’50s to independent and foreign films. They, too, publish a poster-sized flier detailing their one- and two-day runs. Pick one up at the ticket window or at various coffee shops and bars around town.
Adults pay $9, seniors and kids pay $6, and bargain matinee attendees pay $7.
Roxie Cinema: Mission 3117 16th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 863-1087
The Roxie is hipster heaven in the Mission, with its attachment to New College, numerous film festivals and a favorite spot for local filmmakers to premiere their work. None of the movies that play here will be gracing the screen of any multi-plex theater, and if you’re interested in an upcoming movie, you’ll likely find yourself standing in line the night of the show if you don’t get your tickets early. But surrounded as you are by about 15 different types of food in a one-block radius, not to mention 20+ bars and other entertainment options, a night out at the Roxie will not disappoint.
Ticket prices vary according to the show. Check website or call for details.
Artists Television Access (ATA): Mission
992 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-3890
Artists Television Access is the artiest art house movie theater in San Francisco. With a couple of couches in the front row and a couple dozen creaky metal folding chairs for everyone else, this place has an open door policy as far as outside snacks are concerned because they don’t offer any of their own most of the time. Most of the shows are locally made student films, often shorts, where the filmmaker is not only present at the showing but likely taking tickets at the door. If you catch the film bug while you’re here, you can sign up for film editing classes and studio time to edit together your own masterpiece.
Ticket prices range from sliding scale/ free to about $6, with most averaging $3. Most of the time, no one is turned away for lack of funds.
