It took them ages to get there, but they’ve finally destructed the Coronet Theater on Geary St. “This Streamline Moderne cavern is San Francisco’s Church of the Big-Budget Blockbuster. Both “Star Wars: Special Edition” and “Phantom Menace” made their debuts here, with people camping for weeks in the dumpster-strewn parking lot. Despite its massive appeal, gigantic screen, and state-of-the-art sound system, the Coronet was closed in March 2005 and is slated to be razed for a senior-care facility.”
The facility, the Institute on Aging is now officially under construction and doing some heavy destruction:
If you hurry, you might still be able to project a few hand shadow dogs and bunnies, maybe even a butterfly, on the big screen.
What it will be (photo from SFgate):
Thanks to our reader, AC, for sending the photos!
I miss that theater! It really was one of the best…
Here’s where I jump in as the resident architect.
What a piece of CRAP that new Senior Housing is. Thanks to the dumbing down of our illustrious and untalented SF Planning Department. They really do want all new architecture to look like it came from the past, whether it be Victorian, Edwardian, or, oh-so-quaint Spanish Mission style, like this thing.
Of course a lot is to blame for the design-by-committee by the neighborhood activists. Most hate change. most want new projects to look like their dear or grandmother designed it..and would be happy to live out her last days pretending she lives in San Juan Bautista in the old mission.
This is not authentic architecture. this is not good architecture. this is architecture for the masses. and it only serves to make SF look more and more like San Ramon or Walnut Creek as more of this junk gets built.
Sad that they have to tear down the Coronet. That place brought back some fine memories. Now, the only largest seating movie theatre in San Francisco is now the one of the 8 screens at the Kabuki (it also has a balcony too).
I’ll just let the irony of the Kabuki always looking half-closed these days hang in the air.
I believe the Castro Theater is the largest remaining theater left in SF (and also a single screen theater). The Kabuki was being renovated earlier this year after being bought by Robt Redford’s Sundance Cinemas and is now fully open.