This great old movie house opened in 1926. It has managed to survive nicely in this day of sterile cardboard cutout movie houses. Although it hasn't survived completey intact - it's been divided into main floor/balconey/and two small side rooms - it's kept most of its character. The lobby is beautifully decorated, with a sweeping staircase up to the second floor and huge chandelier. Each smaller section has its own theme - Egyptian and Moorish are two examples.
If it's Saturday afternoon, and you are very lucky, arrive early for a special treat - the enormous Wurlitzer will rise and be played by a very talented individual. You know the show is about to start when it sinks back down accompanied by boundless applause. My wife and I saw "The Iron Giant" on a day the Wurlizter was to be played - we were the only adults without kids in the entire audience!
The outside facade is architecturally interesting, and a 60'3000 bulb sign on top "shoots" fireworks at night.
It's located in the wonderfully quirky Grand Lake/Lakeshore district at the East end of Lake Merritt (see neighborhood guide in my other Oakland journal).