Alcazar Theatre (1976) facts for kids
- See also Alcazar Theatre (1885) and Alcazar Theatre (1911) for two earlier SF theaters.
(2017)
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 Alcazar Theatre
Location in San Francisco County
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| Address | 650 Geary Street San Francisco, California United States |
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| Coordinates | 37°47′12″N 122°24′50″W / 37.78666°N 122.41399°W |
| Capacity | 511 |
| Designated: | October 18, 1989 |
| Reference #: | 195 |
The Alcazar Theatre is a well-known theatre located in San Francisco, California. It has 511 seats, which means it can host a good-sized audience! This theatre is a popular place for many different kinds of shows.
You can often see big touring Broadway plays here. The Alcazar also hosts Off Broadway shows, fun variety acts, and performances by comedians. It is a busy spot for entertainment in the city.
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History of the Alcazar Theatre
The building that is now the Alcazar Theatre was first built in 1917. It was not originally a theatre. Instead, it was a special meeting place for a group called the Shriners. They are a fraternal organization, like a club, that does a lot of charity work.
Original Design and Purpose
The building cost about $150,000 to build. It was designed by an architect named T. Patterson Ross. He created it in a style called "Exotic Revival." This means it looked like buildings from faraway lands.
The design was inspired by Islamic temples, especially the famous Alhambra palace. When it opened, a magazine called Architect and Engineer said it looked like "the highest mark of Arabian art." The building served as a Shriner's Temple until 1970.
Becoming a Theatre
Before this building, there were two other theatres in San Francisco also named Alcazar. The last one, at 260 O'Farrell Street, closed in 1961 and was later torn down.
In 1976, this former Shriner's Temple on Geary Street was changed into a proper theatre. It then took on the famous name, Alcazar.
Renovations and Landmark Status
In 1982, the theatre building needed a lot of work. Parts of it were taken out to be fixed. It reopened its doors to the public in 1993, ready for new shows.
The Alcazar Theatre is located near Union Square. This area is known as the city's theatre district. In 1989, the Alcazar Theatre was recognized as a San Francisco Designated Landmark. This means it is an important historical building that the city wants to protect.
See also
