American Conservatory Theater
Although the performing arts community was stricken, the city so known for its culture quickly rebounded and began reconstructing the city, and gave number one priority to rebuilding its artistic venues. Between 1906 and 1911, architects designed and built eight new theaters in the downtown area, each of which reflected the latest designs and modern technology. The great theatrical legacy of San Francisco quickly resumed. Out of those eight original venues, only the American Conservatory Theater stayed in operation as a full-time professional theater. It has often been referred to as the birthplace of San Francisco’s legitimate drama since 1910, which was the year the theater was completed and opened to the public.
Designed by one of the most prominent architecture groups in San Francisco, Bliss and Faville, the theater’s construction began in 1909. The exterior of the building reflects the style of the late Victorian era, combining elements of a baroque influence with styles from neoclassicism designs. The façade of the building is composed mostly of yellow brick and terra cotta glazed with polychrome. The marquee, which was originally made of metal and glass like other theaters of the time, was replaced in 1987 by a reproduction made of all metal. But for the most part, the theater since its construction has retained most of the original design elements and character both on the outside and on the inside. Standing as a proud example of early 20th-century architecture, the theater remains faithful to the period in history in which it was built.
The building, which opened in January of 1910, was known originally as the Columbia Theater. It was named for a theater hat had been destroyed during the earthquake. The theater picked right up where it had been before the fire, presenting distinguished companies as well as stage celebrities with international reputations, such as Isadora Duncan, Sarah Bernhardt, and Nazimova. Along with changes in management between 1924 and 1928, the theater changed names briefly to the Wilkes Theater and the Lurie Theater, and then reopened on February 6, 1928, with the name The Geary Theater. That name remained until the building’s 40th anniversary celebration in 2006, when the building was renamed to the American Conservatory Theater.
Over the past century the theater has been home to historic productions that featured many legendary figures of American 20th-century dramatic works, including Basil Rathbone, Edward G. Robinson, Lionel Barrymore, Frederic March, George Arliss, Ethel Waters, Alfred Lunt, Boris Karloff, Ina Claire, Paul Muni, Katherine Cornell, Laurence Olivier, Lynne Fontanne, and Judith Anderson, among many others. In addition to memorable stage productions, the theater presented the premieres of two classic American movies, Disney’s Fantasia as well as Citizen Kane by Orson Welles.
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