There are so many beautiful historic movie theaters in the East Bay (Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Oakland) that have been deeply affected by the pandemic. Some have already shuttered or converted into something else, but for those that remain open, I wonder how long the velvet curtains will keep rising?
Many of the theaters were built in an Art Deco style or in a conglomeration of different architectural influences from abroad and were cultural landmarks and references when they opened. They have shared similar fates of closing at different times due to a lack of funding and then reopening at a later time either as a renovated movie theater or a theater with a different purpose.
After two years, many people have become accustomed to streaming new movies in the comfort of their own home. The question remains, can movie theaters successfully usher themselves back into 2022 and beyond? The Grand Lake Theater opened on March 6, 1926 and was built in the Art Deco style. The main auditorium is also equipped with a Mighty Wurlitzer organ that rises from beneath the floor for a brief concert before movies on Friday and Saturday night. The Grand Lake has also received recognition for its owner’s use of its marquee as a political message board. At the time of these photos, the marquee stated “We are with Ukraine” in reference to the current war in Ukraine.
