ACT (American Conservatory Theater) has purchased the Strand Theater at 1127 Market Street. To the east is a vacant lot with a For Sale sign (408 655 0392). This was the site of the Embassy Theater. Next to that, ACT has offices in an four story building at 1119 with a black box theater, The Costume Shop, on the first floor, opened in September.
The unique features of the Strand are the narrow windows, which should be restored on the second floor, and the signage, which also should be restored ... to extend over the sidewalk.
The Embassy Theater (seen in 1988 ... with The Trinity office building under construction) could again enhance the theaters on this block, in a new way, if ACT could sell air rights to the buyer of the now-hole-in-the-ground to benefit both parties.
The Artists Theater (seen near the bottom of this page) was toured by Joe Landini of The Garage and Central Market Arts along with ObserveSF on June 29, 2010. It currently operates as The Market Street Cinema, a porno business at 1077 Market St. One of the two owners let The City know that they would consider selling the building. The mezzanine remains intact --- it is built of solid concrete. It has access to the lobby and with a new stage, could serve as a 300 seat theater. The former orchestra section (now demolished) could hold three or four “black box” theaters of 100 to 200 capacity each. Above this would the stage for the larger (former mezzanine) theater.
The building custodian says he believes it was built in 1906. No original details remain within. Some art deco details are present in the lobby There are fantastical exterior details behind a false front, as the 1919 photo below shows. These are worthy of restoration.
Bill Schwartz, founder of the long running San Francisco Theater Festival, is working to create a complex of four or five quality theaters, with 100-300 seats each, in the Central Market Arts district. The Mid-Market Marquee website has a visual presentation, info on similar ventures in other cities, and a way to sign up HERE
