Roxie Theater facts for kids
The Roxie Theater marquee in 2009
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| Location | 3117 16th Street San Francisco, California, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 37°45′53″N 122°25′21″W / 37.76472°N 122.42250°W |
| Type | Movie theater |
| Opened | 1912 |
The Roxie Theater, also known as the Roxie Cinema, is a very old and special movie theater in San Francisco. It first opened its doors in 1912. You can find it at 3117 16th Street in the Mission District. The Roxie is not just a regular movie theater; it's a non-profit place that shows unique art films and independent movies. This means it's run to serve the community, not just to make money.
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History of the Roxie Theater
The Roxie is one of the oldest movie theaters in the United States that has been open continuously. Its story goes back more than 100 years!
Early Days and Name Changes
The theater started with about 300 seats. In 1933, it got a big makeover and changed its name to the Roxie. It also got its cool, unusual sign with neon lights. This sign doesn't even have a spot for movie titles! Later, in 2003, a smaller theater called the Little Roxie opened nearby. It has 49 seats.
Over the years, the Roxie had many different names:
- The Poppy (1912–1916)
- The New 16th Street (1916–1920)
- The Rex (1920–1926)
- The Gem (1926–1930)
- The Gaiety (1930–1933)
- The Roxie (1933–present)
Becoming an Art Film Center
In March 1976, some movie lovers named Robert Christopher Evans, Dick Gaikowski, Peter Moore, and Tom Mayer bought the Roxie. They fixed it up and turned it into a place for art and independent films. These are movies that are often made outside of big Hollywood studios.
The Roxie has shown many important films. For example, from November 1 to 15, 1979, it showed the U.S. premiere of L'Âge d'Or. This movie by Luis Buñuel had been banned for almost 50 years!
Hosting Film Festivals
The Roxie is also famous for hosting many different film festivals. These festivals bring special movies from all over the world to San Francisco. Some of the festivals held there include:
- Frameline Film Festival
- San Francisco IndieFest
- San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
- Arab Film Festival
- San Francisco Transgender Film Festival
Changes in Ownership and Leadership
In December 2005, a college called New College of California took over the Roxie. It became part of the college's Media Studies Program. An anonymous helper even paid off the theater's debts, making it a non-profit organization.
However, New College closed in 2008. Rod Holt, a board member, and his son Alan then took over the Roxie's lease. In 2010, Alan Holt joined the board, and Christopher Statton became the new Executive Director. Christopher Statton worked hard to make the Roxie a strong community non-profit. He started the Lights. Camera. Action! Awards to honor filmmakers who make social justice documentaries. He also raised a lot of money to support the theater. In 2013, he won an award for his great work.
Later, Isabel Fondevila became the director in December 2013. She brought even more film festivals to the Roxie. She also started RoxCine, a series of Spanish-language films. In 2015, Dave Cowen became the executive director. He helped the theater become profitable again. He also improved the projection and facilities. The Roxie's classic neon sign was fully restored during this time. In 2017, the California State Assembly honored the Roxie as Small Business of the Year.
In August 2017, Elizabeth O'Malley took over as executive director. Lex Sloan became the general manager. The Roxie continues to be a beloved part of the San Francisco community. As of April 2025, the Roxie announced a fundraising campaign to buy its building. This will help it stay a community cinema for many more years.
Roxie Releasing
The Roxie Theater also has its own film distribution company called Roxie Releasing. This company helps independent films get shown to more people. They are especially known for distributing documentaries. One famous film they helped re-release was George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead for its 30th anniversary.
See also
- Castro Theatre
- Victoria Theatre
- Atheist Film Festival
