The Castro Theatre

It seems our little Castro Theatre will be going all 'big time' on May 22 with the opening of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (I always wondered why The Castro never brought in the big Hollywood movies). Totally jazzed about this! Kelly will be in from Austin for the Mem. weekend and we plan on seeing Indy.
If you have never been to The Castro Theatre, it's a place that harkins back to the day of yore of the grand movie houses with cool murals and a really awsome chandelier hanging from the center of the theatre. Take a look at the pictures and read some of the history here, if you would like. Anyway, watching Indy at The Castro should be cool.


While I am totally jazzed about Indy at the Castro, I really am excited that The Black Hole will be playing. I was nine years old when The Black Hole came out and thought it was the coolest thing (not as cool as Star Wars, but almost).
Here's the discription from The Castro's website:

Long lost delusional genius Maximilian Schell has sights set on sailing his spaceship into a black hole, Robert Forster and his crew favor the opposite direction. Will it be Heaven or Hell - or both? One of the more bizarre sci-fi films of its time, the spectacular visual effects and impressionistic sets still impress as JB sucks you into his grand symphonic vortex. With Anthony Perkins, Yvette Mimieux and Ernest Borgnine, directed by Gary Nelson

"Robert Forster and his crew favor the opposite direction" - heh. Yeah, I'm thinking I would want to go away from a Black Hole, too. Then, again, I'm not filled with awsomeness like Maximilian Schell. Who is? I love that discription. That's one of the things about the management of The Castro, they have a great sense of humor. Anyway, how can you go wrong with Maximilian Schell and Ernest Borgnine. Ernest Borgnine!
The best part about The Castro? It is right around the corner from me.

P.S. Saw Planet of the Apes on Wednesday. I have to say, cool movie, but Charlton Heston? Bad, hammy actor - "Gawd Dammmmn Youuuuu Tooo Helll!"

Retro Castro In Pictures

I know housing prices are supposed to be going down, but wow!

The entrance to Castro Street MUNI station

Louie's Barber Shop is now Pinto's Barber Shop

Used to be the Sprint store

In-Jeanous in now Jambalaya

US Bank (I think) is now Eureka Federal Savings

Daddie's (or 420 Castro as it is now called) is now Toad Hall

Hot Cookie is now Double Rainbow Ice Cream Shop

Castro's Looking A Bit Dated

David Corbell has some photos of the transformation in The Castro for the filming of "Milk"

It is kinda of cool walking out of the Castro MUNI station everyday after work to see the changes, especially The Castro Theater. It's so colorful now!



Sometimes I can forget that I live in a neighborhood that holds such history for the gays.

No Castro Halloween - Yay!!!

As one that has lived in San Francisco for 15 years and the Castro for 8, I am very happy about this.

"City officials said Wednesday that there will be no official Halloween celebration anywhere in San Francisco in October - not in the Castro neighborhood"

As to the whole "it's a tradition" nonsense? Yeah, whatever. Tradition can suck it. I stopped going to Halloween in the Castro when I kept hearing punks always talking about why all "these fucking faggots" are around. Seriously. "faggots" in the Castro. Amazing.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out especially since Beven Dufty is trying to get business' to close on Halloween.

"But officials are still trying to prevent any festivities in the Castro. On Wednesday, Supervisor Bevan Dufty sent a letter to 110 owners of bars, restaurants and stores in the Castro, asking them to close shop on Halloween night to discourage party goers."

via SFgate