Another Planet Entertainment test proposes Castro

last week, another planet entertainment (APE) takes Hoodline on a historic ‘behind the scenes’ tour Castro Theaterwhich includes viewing models of proposed seating changes and a tour of the backstage area.

more than a year has passed APE takes over the programming of The 100-year-old Castro TheaterOwnership remains with the Nasser family and Bay Properties Inc.

Ape has proposed a much-needed renovation The neglected Castro Theatre, and the removal of the orchestra-level seating and its replacement with a four-tiered platform section with movable seating.

Four proposed seating options for the Castro Theater. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

in january, APE Releases New Renderings Its proposed changes to the seats, which include electrically tilting floors.

APE Senior Vice President Mary Conde led the Hoodline on a tour, starting with four possible models of seating options atop the riser.Two of the pews were made by a church pew maker Bertolinithe other is Eldridge, and the other is Series Seats Called the Model K chair.

Sit on the proposed chairs inside the Castro Theater to watch a video of the electric floor.

“Another Planet has been testing a range of new seats for the Castro Theater over the past few weeks, and we have many more ‘seat tastings’ to do,” APE spokesman David Perry told Hoodline. “Goal: Make sure we have the most comfortable, most adaptable, movie-friendly seats possible, including sightline considerations and cup holders.”

After evaluating the chairs, the group continued backstage with a tour of the stage of the Castro Theater, which APE also proposed to restore.

In the background, standing water can be seen, and Conde told Hoodline the basement is currently flooded and inaccessible. According to Kant, four sump pumps were used to pump out water from a recent storm that flooded the basement.

Additionally, a small green room on one side of the stage will also be upgraded and expanded, Conder explained.

Looking at the ceiling of the Castro Theater, Conder told Hoodline that the restoration will take about six months to complete. Restoration crews will need to carefully inspect the ceiling to determine the extent of the restoration work that needs to be done.

The ceiling at the Castro Theater will also be restored. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

the back wall of the castro theater is eliminated decades ago To accommodate larger screens. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

Other renovations include removing the commissary in the lobby area, expanding the ladies’ restrooms, improving ventilation and electrical systems, adding ground-floor changing rooms, and possibly adding an elevator from the lobby to the second floor.

All of these efforts are currently on hold while District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman Proposal to update landmark name City approved with additional permits.

January, San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission (high performance computing) unanimous vote for Recommendation to the Supervisory Board to extend the landmark designation of the Castro Theatre. On September 3, 1977, the Castro Theater was officially designated as San Francisco Landmark #100.

“Another Planet Entertainment has long supported the iconic building inside the Castro Theater and is pleased with today’s unanimous vote,” said APE spokesman David Perry at the time.

However, the hearing left ambiguity around seating at the orchestra level. As gay historian Gerard Koskovich explains, the landmark designation fact sheet “categorically states that seating ‘arranged in a gently curved row in the style of a classic film court’ constitutes the ‘defining feature’ of the Castro Theater and must therefore be be protected.”

A mockup of the proposed platform. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

April is going to be a marathon month of hearings about the theater.The landmark name will be in land use committee (Melgar, Preston, Peskin) are approved by the full Supervisory Board on April 3, subsequently on April 4 or 11, and enter into force 30 days after approval. A joint hearing between Planning and HPC is scheduled for April 13.

Mandelman told Hoodline that while the update won’t be officially released by the time of the joint hearing, “planning and HPC say the updated landmark will inform their decision on the 13th, even though it’s not technically live yet”

Mandelman added: “I take Planning and HPC at their word and, moreover, the project needs at least one approval that can be appealed to the supervisory board.”

In recent months, APE has gained from Frameline Film Festival, San Francisco Gay Choir, Association of Castro Organ Lovers, madmen movie, Castro/Upper Market Community Welfare Areaand donna sachet.

Opponents of the proposed plan include the Castro Theater Alliance, which includes Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, castro merchant, Castro Theater Preservation Society, Friends of Harvey Milk Square, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, SF ExpressSF Neon, Dan Nicoletta, Cleve Jones, Joshua Grannell (aka Peaches Christ) and more. [Full disclosure: Steven Bracco, Hoodline’s Castro reporter, is a board member of the CQCD and member of the Castro Theatre Coalition.]

Earlier this month, APE released a summary Community welfare package“The Castro Theater and Another Planet Entertainment are deeply committed to revitalizing the iconic theater and ensuring it remains the heart of the Castro community for the next century,” APE explained. This is an excellent example of how local businesses and performing arts organizations can support and honor our city’s past while adapting to the realities of future needs to ensure the spirit and operation of the Castro Theater is passed on for generations.”

A recent rendering of the proposed standing room floor plan. | Image: Castro Theater

“We envision and plan to present an eclectic program of film, music, comedy, private and community events, and LGBTQ+ content that is affirming, diverse, and always mindful of the historic neighborhood in which it resides,” APE added. $15 million has been committed to the restoration and upgrade of the Castro Theater.

APE says it “commits that 33% of the theater’s programming will go to film screenings and film festivals, such groups include but are not limited to Jewish Film Festival, Arabic Film Festival, Italian Film Festival, Third I South Asian Independent Film Festival, Berlin and other , and the silent film festival.”

“The Castro Theater’s robust community benefits package from Another Planet has been combined with extensive input from local businesses, community members and stakeholders and is now available online,” Perry told Hoodline. More details will certainly be announced as time goes on.”

january ape told the san francisco chronicle It intends to hold 175 events a year – keeping the theater dark for about 190 days. 33%, equivalent to 58 days of movie-centric programming. Frameline has committed 11 days, leaving 47 days for all other festivals and screenings.

last week perry tell bay area reporter“Daily movie screenings are not going to happen anymore. That’s a fact. Will there be a strong movie schedule? Yes.”

“[T]Their idea of ​​an heir to a movie show seems to be when someone else comes in and pays for it.how are they,’ said Marc Huestis, longtime event producer, Castro Theater“These guys from another planet and their well-paid publicists are selling a list of merchandise that looks good on the surface, but one only has to scratch the surface to see what’s going on.”

From Bong Joon-ho to Francis Ford Coppola—it’s March Madness in Castro style! https://t.co/mHUp8kG57l pic.twitter.com/nMo4Lyl3WS

— Castro Theater (@Castro_Theatre) February 27, 2020

“I’m appalled at how hypocritical APE is in describing their plans for the Castro Theater to the community,” said Castro Merchants board member Terry Beswick. “I’m not interested in anything they say unless it’s part of the signed contract.”

In March 2020, just before the pandemic closed, the Castro Theater was scheduled to be closed for just one day. In contrast, the Castro Theater currently has a performance scheduled for April 29.

Perry told Hoodline, “By early April, you’ll see some additional confirmation of activity coming into Castro.”