Grand Lake Theatre — Attraction in Oakland

The Grand Lake is my absolute favorite movie theater in the East Bay and perhaps the Bay Area now that many movie houses have closed especially in Berkeley and SF - many of the Landmark Cinemas chain.

I’ve been attending screening here since the late 1970s when Disney films were shown on the weekends for children. The Might Wulitzer organist is a major draw and appears on the weekends in the main auditorium.

To my knowledge the Grand Lake is one of the last original 20th century built cinemas in the Bay Area with a gigantic screen in the main auditorium. It dates back to 1928! The interior will please those into glorious architecture. There is a small exhibit detailing the Grand Lake to the left opposite of the main theater. For those who lament the closing of the UC Theater in Berkeley (which had the largest original screen in America), you may find yourself here often.

Since it is an old theater do not expect modern theater seating. They are spring loaded velvet seats from yesteryear. There is a small concession stand before the main cinema.

In 1981 the theater expanded to accommodate another theater in the balcony space of the main auditorium. This was followed by a 3rd and 4th cinema added. An accessible restroom was added as well on the ground level. Gendered bathrooms are located upstairs.

The restrooms need an update and remind me of the ones at the old now closed California Theater in Berkeley. Graffiti, missing doors, stand up urinals, sometimes no paper towels or...

4 screens 1,619 seats

Built in 1926 by West Coast Theatres with 1,700 seats in its single auditorium, The Grand Lake Theatre was opened March 6, 1926 with Matt Moore in “The First Year”. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer Hope Jones Unified Orchestral Organ which has 3 manuals and is still played today.

Built as a vaudeville and silent movie house before switching to an all-movies format, the Grand Lake Theatre was bought and sold five times from 1926 to 1980. The most recent owner, Renaissance Rialto Inc., purchased the Grand Lake Theatre in 1980 and spent $3.5 million renovating the worn movie palace. Part of the renovation also added a second screen in the former balcony on June 19, 1981 which has 450-seats. On July 12, 1985 storefronts were converted into two more screens, bringing the total seating capacity to 1,600. The new screens are designed in an Egyptian Atmospheric style and a Moorish style. It suffered damage in the 1989 earthquake, and repairs were carried out. The main curtain in the original auditorium is the center section of the house curtain originally installed in the Fox Theatre San Francisco. The main original auditorium is equipped to screen 35mm & 70mm films as well as twin 3D capable film projectors as well as digital projection.

Despite the changes, the Grand Lake Theatre has retained the charm of its original appearance and its original illuminated roof top sign. It still screens first run movies. In August 2018 it was sold to its leaseholder...

I've been going to this theater since I was a little kid. I remember when it was just one screen (now they have four). It's one of the few, old and classically-styled theaters left in the Bay Area that have the fancy marquee signing outside. (The Orinda theater is another.) My favorite theater room is the main one because it's the largest, while also having the big curtain that opens up when the trailers start. On certain days, they have an organist perform on an organ that rises from below the front of the screen. My second favorite is the Egyptian-themed theater which also has some old theater memorabilia just outside. The owner of the theater will occasionally post a progressive political message on the outside marquee, which is pretty cool. There's also a huge illuminated sign on top of the building with animated fireworks display. That sign is only turned on at night, of course. Since this is one of the few locally owned theaters left in the Bay Area, I try to make it a point to support them. Last but not least, this theater is in an awesome location because of the proximity to Lake Merritt and all the cute shops and yummy restaurants nearby. I definitely recommend this place to people whenever the subject of great movie...