About Us

The historic Grand Lake Theater has been designated as one of the top ten vintage theaters in the nation. Located in the lovely Grand/Lakeshore District, the surrounding neighborhood offers a tremendous variety of dining options. Winner of the East Bay Express Reader Poll as the “Best Movie Theater” almost every year, it offers the Bay Area's best movie going experience at the lowest price.

Main Auditorium
Photo copyright: Tom Paiva 1991

Auditorium 3 - Egyptian 1920’s style
Photo copyright: Tom Paiva 1991

Auditorium 4 - Moorish style
Photo copyright: Tom Paiva 1991

See more beautiful photos of the Grand Lake Theater in the Photo Gallery.

The Historic Grand Lake Theater

In 1926, the Reid Brothers’ design for the Grand Lake Theater was completed for West Coast Theaters, Inc.

March 6, 1926 marked the grand opening of this Vaudeville Show and Silent Movie House. In 1928, West Coast Theaters, Inc. became part of the Fox Theater Chain. Vaudeville Shows were discontinued after talking pictures (known as ‘talkies’) became popular. In 1980, Allen Michaan, owner of Renaissance Rialto, Inc. purchased the ground lease, opening the theater as a single screen Movie Palace and beginning a process of restoration and upgrades that continues to this day. While currently all digital in the projection of movies the Grand Lake retains the capability of exhibiting 35mm and 70mm films when needed.

Two main expansions:

Expansion #1 - 1981 The main balcony seating was transformed into auditorium #2, which seats 450 patrons in a stadium seating configuration.

Expansion #2 - 1985 Storefronts along Grand Avenue were transformed into small movie palace themed auditoriums. They were connected to the main theater by enclosing an exterior alleyway which connects to the main lobby. Theater 3 was designed in an Egyptian atmospheric style and Theater 4 as a Moorish palace.