Picture this. You stand before the Market Street Theatre. A grand building. Once a vibrant hub of entertainment. Now just a memory. Market Street Theatre. A name that echoes with the laughter of audiences and the strains of orchestras.
This wasn’t always an adult cinema. It began in 1912 as Grauman’s Imperial Theatre. David and Sid Grauman opened its doors. They were ambitious. They wanted a grand theatre in the heart of San Francisco. They succeeded.
The Imperial Theatre was more than just movies. It featured vaudeville acts. A Wurlitzer organ filled the space with music. It was a place of spectacle. A place where dreams unfolded on stage and screen.
Later it became the Premiere Theatre. Then the United Artists Theatre. Stars graced its stage. Dirty Harry premiered here in 1971. The iconic film cemented the theatre’s place in cinematic history. This theatre hosted the world premiere. Clint Eastwood himself probably walked these very streets.
But times change. In 1972 the Market Street Cinema opened. It became a hub of adult entertainment. It was one of the first venues to allow lap dances. This controversial aspect drew attention and legal battles. The Justice Department even sued its owner. Yet the Market Street Cinema thrived. Photographer Leon Mostovoy documented its unique place in San Francisco’s history.
The Market Street Cinema’s legacy extends beyond its adult film era. It even inspired a novella. Michele Machado wrote Market Street Cinema. It tells a fictional tale of a dancer in 1998. The theatre became a part of popular culture. It appeared in Ghost Adventures. It also became the backdrop for a low budget horror film. G-String Horror.
The building was demolished in 2016. Now a condo complex stands in its place. Stage 1075. Its lobby features photo murals. They pay tribute to Market Street’s lost cinemas. Yet the spirit of the Market Street Theatre remains. A reminder of San Francisco’s vibrant past. A legend lives on. Remember Market Street Theatre.