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?When it first opened in 1932, the Alameda Theater was an Art Deco movie palace with one of the largest screens in the Bay Area. On July 31, 1979, after 47 years, the theater closed down due to financial difficulties.Ā The theater reopened in March 2008 and has remained a movie theater. The Alameda Theater is designated an Alameda Historic Monument.
