Any old time San Franciscans out there who had a favorite Market Street theater, or 2, or 3?

[red dog 1]

I especially loved three market Street theaters:

- The Embassy, which had the "Ten-O-Win" game at 8 PM each night
["IN THE BALCONY!!"]

- The Telenews, which was on Market St. near 5th Street
You could go there the day after a 'Pay-to-View" championship fight and see the fight for 75 cents)

- The Fox Theater, which was so huge, they didn't even let you go up to the balconies.
There was a rope across the stairway on the ground floor
I think the first floor alone sat nearly 1,000 people.

[leftieNanner]

1. Oh, memories!

I loved the Fox Theater! It was beautiful and I was so sad when they tore it down. But I also remember taking the street car down Market Street, stopping in the Walgreens for candy (because it was much cheaper than in the theater) and going to the Embassy. Can't believe my Mom let my sister and me do that on our own. We lived near West Portal and we used to walk down to the Empire theater too. I think the matinee cost a quarter. Times are different now. Yes they are.

[red dog 1]

2. Yeah, I was sad when they tore down the Fox Theater too

I remember going there when I was very young one night with my aunt & uncle to see the new "colorized" version of "Gone With the Wind" in the 1950s.

It was the only time I ever got to see the upstairs balconies, and I actually got to ride on the elevator they had.

The place was packed!

[leftieNanner]

3. Back in the day

we NEVER went downtown without hat, gloves, and shiny Mary Janes! My mother was very conscious of those things. Downtown included H. Liebes, Ransohoffs, Joseph Magnin, Saks (in the original location), I Magnin, and City of Paris. The Christmas tree at the City of Paris in the rotunda was always spectacular! Mom would take us to Townshends (sp?) for lunch. Remember the tiny nut shop on Geary Blvd. just a half block from City of Paris?

I don't live in the Bay Area any more (moved to Oregon 10 years ago), but I'm afraid that I miss the San Francisco of my youth, not necessarily the San Francisco of now.

[red dog 1]

4. Did you ever go to the Emporium around Christmas when they had the rides on the roof?

That Ferris Wheel scared the crap out of me because when it got to the top, you could see just how far up from street level it really was.

I remember how great the corn dogs were there too.

Also, did you ever go visit all the big department stores around Christmas time and check out the toy departments?
(I remember I.Magnin had an actual roller coaster that you could buy in their toy department)

[leftieNanner]

5. Oh, I do remember the rides on the roof of the Emporium!

My sister and I loved the Ferris Wheel, mostly because it terrified our mother! But she would be brave and take us down there every year.

I. Magnin was one of my favorites too. I actually worked there for a few years in the 80s in the gourmet foods department in the basement.

[red dog 1]

6. I. Magnin's had the best toy department around Christmas time.

I wonder how much that roller coaster they had cost?