Alhambra Theatre
- Architect
- Timothy L. Pflueger
- Year
- 1926
- Style
- Moorish / Mudéjar
- City
- San Francisco, CA
The Alhambra Theatre opened on November 5, 1926, as a 1,625-seat Moorish Revival movie palace at 2330 Polk Street, designed by Miller & Pflueger — the firm of Timothy L. Pflueger — at a cost of $500,000. It closed as a movie house in 1998 and is now a Crunch Fitness gym that has kept much of its ornate interior and still projects films onto its original screen.
the building
The 1930 bombing. In 1930, someone planted a bomb inside the theater; it was discovered and removed before it could detonate.
From twin theaters to gym. The single grand hall was split into twin theaters in 1976, reopened as one screen in 1988, and closed for film altogether on February 22, 1998. Crunch Fitness moved in afterward but kept most of the interior detail intact.
Cardio in the balcony. The theater's balcony still has its original aisles, now widened to fit about 80 cardio machines, and the big screen above the gym floor still plays movies.
the style
Pflueger designed the Alhambra in the Moorish Revival style typical of 1920s movie palaces, which used exotic ornament to sell the fantasy of the picture show — the same architect's hand behind the Moorish-tinged Castro Theatre a few miles away.
More on Moorish / Mudéjarthe architect
Timothy L. Pflueger, working with the firm Miller & Pflueger, was a major San Francisco architect of 1920s movie palaces, also responsible for the Castro Theatre in San Francisco and the Paramount Theatre in Oakland.
significance
The Alhambra was designated San Francisco landmark #217 on February 21, 1996.
nearby
- McElroy Octagon House
- Feusier Octagon House
- Haas–Lilienthal House
- San Francisco Art Institute
- C. A. Belden House
- Spreckels Mansion