Warfield Theatre facts for kids
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Loews Warfield
Fox Warfield |
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| Address | 982 Market Street San Francisco, California United States |
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| Coordinates | 37°46′58″N 122°24′37″W / 37.782667°N 122.410268°W |
| Public transit |   Powell Civic Center Market and 6th Street / Market and Taylor Street  |
| Owner | David Addington |
| Operator | Goldenvoice |
| Capacity | 2,300 |
| Current use | music venue |
| Opened | May 13, 1922 |
The Warfield Theatre, often called The Warfield, is a cool place in downtown San Francisco, California, where people go to see live music. It has seats for 2,300 people! This building first opened on May 13, 1922. Back then, it was a special kind of theater called a vaudeville theater, where many different acts performed. It was known as the Loews Warfield.
A Look Back: The Warfield's History
In the 1920s, The Warfield was a very popular spot. Famous performers like Al Jolson, Louis Armstrong, and Charlie Chaplin appeared on its stage. The theater was named after David Warfield. Later, it became known as the Fox Warfield.
Music Legends at The Warfield
The Warfield got a new burst of energy in 1979. That's when music legend Bob Dylan played 14 shows there. He came back in 1980 for 12 more shows. The Warfield was a great place for rock concerts. It felt more personal than a huge arena, and the sound was amazing. Plus, it could still hold over 2,000 people!
Like many old theaters, the seats on the main floor were removed in the 1980s. This made space for people to stand and dance during concerts. Before the seats were removed, Joe Strummer from the band The Clash even refused to play unless the first two rows of seats were taken out so fans could dance! Many entertainers love performing at The Warfield.
In 1980, the famous band Grateful Dead played 15 shows that were completely sold out. These concerts celebrated the band's 15th anniversary. They were a special thank-you to their loyal fans. The band played both acoustic (unplugged) and electric sets. These shows, along with others in New York, were recorded for two albums: Reckoning (acoustic) and Dead Set (electric). Jerry Garcia, a member of the Grateful Dead, also played at The Warfield 88 times with his other bands.
On May 9, 1991, the band Guns N' Roses played some "secret warm-up" shows here. These were before their big "Use Your Illusion Tour" officially started.
The Warfield Today: A Music Hotspot
The Warfield continues to be a popular place for concerts.
In 2001, the metal band Slayer recorded their concert film War at the Warfield here.
On November 12, 2003, the hard rock band Korn played a rare small club show at the venue.
In May 2008, The Warfield got new management. The last show under the old management, Bill Graham Presents, was with Phil Lesh.
The venue then closed for a short time for updates by the new company, Goldenvoice/AEG Live. It reopened in September 2008. Comedian George Lopez gave the first performance after the reopening.
In September 2011, the band Dream Theater played their first U.S. show with their new drummer, Mike Mangini, at The Warfield. This was part of their "Dramatic Turn of Events Tour." It was their first show in the U.S. without their original drummer, Mike Portnoy.
