Scroll through the timeline to see more of The Golden Gate Theatre's rich history.
Designed by architect G. Albert Lansburgh, the spectacular new theatre is praised as “spacious as the outdoors” by the San Francisco Examiner. The Gate is Lansburgh’s first theatre commission; he went on to design such notable theatres as Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld, and the El Capitan, Shrine Auditorium, Wiltern and Orpheum, all in Los Angeles.
San Mateo-born G. Albert Lansburgh designs the Gate to be as “spacious as the outdoors,” according to the San Francisco Examiner. Other notable Landsburgh designs include the War Memorial Opera House and libraries in the Mission, Sunset, North Beach and Presidio. The Gate was his first theatre commission, but other notable Landsburgh theatres include Broadway’s Al Hirschfield and the El Capitan, Shriner’s Auditorium, Wiltern and Orpheum, all in Los Angeles.
From its early days, the theatre is integrated in the auditorium and backstage. William “Bill” Hamm is the first African-American stagehand, working at the Gate, the Orpheum and the Curran.
First run movies combined with stage shows make the Golden Gate the premier theatre of San Francisco.
The Orpheum Circuit, of which the Golden Gate Theatre is a part, is absorbed by the RKO company and the theatre is renamed the RKO Golden Gate.
The Golden Gate presents films and stage-shows in a continual program, meaning that there is never a break in a day’s activities. The world’s biggest stars perform at the Golden Gate including Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Roy Rogers, Jack Benny, The Marx Brothers and Rin Tin Tin.
The Golden Gate is the only theatre remaining in SF that features both stage and screen entertainment.
The world’s biggest star, Frank Sinatra, brings his Big Stage Revue to the Gate as a way of selling War Bonds. Sinatra calls the Gate “an important stepping stone in my career.”
Billionaire Howard Hughes purchases RKO and in one of his first tasks, eliminates combined stage and movie presentations. The Gate alternates between live shows and movies.
A new medium, television, is emerging as America’s pastime and fledgling start-up KGO broadcasts its first program from the stage of the Gate.
