The company that manages the Castro Theatre in San Francisco's LGBTQ neighborhood and the family that owns it have balked at a proposal from a conservancy group to buy or lease the space and operate it as a moviehouse with its own programming.
Another Planet Entertainment, which is leasing the theater from the Nasser family, told the Bay Area Reporter in an April 27 statement that while it appreciates "everyone's passion for saving the Castro," the plan from the Castro Theatre Conservancy is "neither feasible nor funded." In a letter dated May 1, Chris Nasser stated that "CTC's latest proposal ... does not meet the minimum expectations for investment, rehabilitation, and preservation of the building."
The conservancy's plan, announced April 26, would "fully activate the theater within 60 days of purchasing or leasing the historic venue," according to a news release.
The conservancy proposes in its 15-page plan that it acquire the theater's operations from APE by either buying or leasing the theater and within two months operate it "every day of the year, including 200 days of repertory, first run, and other films that CTC itself presents, 52 days of film festival presentations, at least 24 days of LGBTQ+ focused programming, and 24 live performance events."
But Another Planet stated that it has no plans to abandon its management of the theater, which began in January 2022.
"Another Planet has presented a well researched and well funded plan that has been available for the public to peruse for over a year, and updated five months ago to include valuable input from the film and LGBT communities, including the Conservancy, individual Castro businesses, and residents that have made it even better and more adaptable," David Perry, a gay man who is a spokesperson for APE, stated to the B.A.R.
"We stand behind our plan and are grateful to our many and growing supporters," Perry added. "We are saddened that the Conservancy has rejected our repeated and multiple good faith efforts to work with them in a realistic and forward looking manner."
The conservancy differs with that assessment.
"The Conservancy's plan shows that we can preserve the intrinsic values and crucial features of the historic building, while restoring it as an active business operating 365 days a year," stated Peter Pastreich, executive director of the Castro Theatre Conservancy. "The Castro Theatre is a beloved and integral part of the Castro neighborhood, and it must maintain LGBTQ+ and community programming.
"The Conservancy's plan is to operate the Castro as a financially sustainable community resource without desecrating a national [sic] landmark," Pastreich added. "While Another Planet Entertainment insists that they must remove the orchestra floor seating of the Castro, we know the theater can accommodate diverse and varied programming — and real community benefits — without demolishing its interior." (The theater's exterior was designated as a city landmark in 1977.)
In a statement to the B.A.R. April 28, Castro Theatre Conservancy President Rob Byrne responded to APE's statement by saying the company "has failed to negotiate in good faith."
"We seek to preserve this irreplaceable landmark — not to destroy it," Byrne stated. "We want to operate the theatre for the benefit of the community — not to maximize profits for a single, private corporation. We want the Castro Theatre to be open every day, not a handful of days per month."
Separately Pastreich told the B.A.R. that the conservancy has not been in touch with the Nasser family since its plan was released, but knows they prefer APE unless its plans are obstructed.
"We have been in contact with members of the Nasser family and their attorney, but not since the plan was issued," he stated. "We are certain that they are aware of the conservancy's desire to purchase the theater, and have told us they prefer to lease it to APE. What we don't know is how they will feel if APE is not permitted to destroy the Castro's historic and beloved orchestra floor."
The Nasser family's attorney, Jim Abrams, who has spoken at several public meetings in support of Another Planet, did not return a request for comment.
The interior of the theater, particularly the orchestra level, is the subject of much disagreement between the two sides. Last year, gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman proposed landmarking the interior of the theater. That process has gone through various local government bodies and now rests before the Board of Supervisors' Land Use and Transportation Committee, which on April 24 delayed a decision for two weeks. Before the committee is an amendment by District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston that would declare "fixed seating" be maintained in the orchestra.
Another Planet prefers the "presence of seating" that the Historic Preservation Commission recommended in February, and has proposed replacing the current fixed orchestra seating with a motorized floor that'd make both raked seating and tiered standing arrangements possible.
The land use committee is expected to take up the matter May 8, as the B.A.R. previously reported. It would then go to the full Board of Supervisors, which has final approval over the local landmark designation.
Long road
The imbroglio over the theater began 15 months ago, when APE — which runs the Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium near San Francisco's Civic Center, and the Fox Theatre in Oakland — was announced as the new operator of the 101-year-old Castro Theatre.
Some Castro neighborhood, LGBTQ, and film groups — such as the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District and the Castro Theatre Conservancy — formed the Friends of the Castro Theatre Coalition in opposition to the proposed changes, which would allow the theater to sometimes operate as a concert venue.
Tina Aguirre, a genderqueer Latinx person who is manager of the cultural district, stated to the B.A.R. that they are pleased with the conservancy's "promising approach" that "sets a standard of community engagement."
"It also provides clarity that there are multiple options in keeping the Castro Theatre open. This is important considering that the Castro Theatre Conservancy attempted to negotiate with APE and was precluded from sharing information about their negotiations," Aguirre continued. "My understanding is that this was out of respect for Supervisor Mandelman, who facilitated them and APE's request to maintain confidentiality of the negotiations. It is now clear that those negotiations failed. I am happy that the Castro Theatre Conservancy has shared their plan. I am especially encouraged about the LGBTQ+ Film Series and proposed community advisory board."
According to the plan, that advisory committee would start in Year 1 and be comprised of key stakeholders, including representatives of the Friends of the Castro Theatre Coalition, the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, SF Heritage, the Castro Merchants, the Art Deco Society of California, GLBT Historical Society, Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza, the Roxie Theatre, and others.
Opponents of Another Planet are supporting a landmark designation of the theater's interior that would landmark fixed orchestra seating, as introduced by Preston.
In announcing its plan, the conservancy stressed films. Another Planet has stated that under its management, movies would only be shown about one-third of the time. The conservancy also addressed the renovation work that is needed inside and outside the moviehouse.
"The conservancy will begin showing films virtually as soon as we gain control of the theater, hiring the required staff and making only the most urgent repairs to the building: stop the water leaks to the basement, improve the amplified and movie sound, improve fire safety — smoke alarm system, smoke exhaust, repair fire escapes and landings — and restore the famous 'blade' sign. We will also repair the HVAC equipment," the plan stated. "Once the theater reopens, there will be something happening in it every day and/or evening of the year."
According to the conservancy's proposal, people in the performing arts and fundraising communities would draft a three-year plan that would lead to a $20-40 million capital campaign for the renovations and improvements.
Mandelman, who represents the city's LGBTQ district, did not return a message seeking comment.
Terrance Alan, a gay man who is the Castro Merchants Association's president, told the B.A.R. April 28 getting the theater open is priority No. 1.
"From the perspective of Castro Merchants, the important thing is to get the theater fully reopened as soon as possible and reactivated as many days and nights as possible. The theater's closure has really been hurting our members," Allen stated. "We've asked for an economic analysis of the impacts of APE's plans for neighboring merchants, and it would be interesting to study the impacts of the conservancy's proposal as well. At this point, it's all speculative, but obviously, the plan with the most activation is better for foot traffic."
Another Planet is proposing $15 million in renovations, as the B.A.R. previously reported.
The conservancy plan has a three-year phase-in.
"Five full-time staff would be engaged during Year 1, which will also see the most urgent repairs to the building made, and establishment of a nonprofit membership and contribution program," the conservancy plan states. "During this time, the expectation is that the theatre will be immediately and fully activated. Year 2 will feature engagement of an architect and engineers, completion and city approval of plans, and the quiet phase of a capital fundraising campaign. The campaign will be completed in Year 3, as will any capital improvements that require the temporary closing of the theater."
The conservancy's plan proposes that Pastreich be the first executive director, to be replaced by a fully developed board of directors within six months.
"The Conservancy's plan shows that we can preserve the intrinsic values and crucial features of the historic building, while restoring it as an active business operating 365 days a year," Pastreich, a straight ally, stated. "The Conservancy's plan is to operate the Castro as a financially sustainable community resource without desecrating a national landmark ... While Another Planet Entertainment insists that they must remove the orchestra floor seating of the Castro, we know the theatre can accommodate diverse and varied programming - and real community benefits - without demolishing its interior."
The Castro Community Benefit District, members of which circulated a petition to neighborhood businesses in favor of APE's plans without conditions, declined a request for comment.
"We have not had the time to review deeply or discuss as a board," stated Andrea Aiello, a lesbian who is the executive director of the CBD. "We do not have any comments."
Jeffrey Kwong, a gay man who is president of coalition member Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, told the B.A.R. that "I don't even walk on the theater side of Castro [Street] when I'm out anymore" because "it's always dark — in Chinese 'like squatting flies.'"
"It's night and day when you see businesses like 440 [Castro] and [Cafe] Mystique hopping with patrons and the only thing lit on the other side are four of the six neon letters on the Castro Theatre," Kwong said. "The theater has always been a vibrant queer cultural center and a plan to keep it alive and active 365 days a year gets the community out and about and into the streets."
Updated, 4/28/23: This article has been updated with comments from the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District.
Updated, 4/29/23: This article has been updated with additional comments from the conservancy and the Castro Merchants Association.
Updated 5/2/23: This article has been updated with comment from the Nasser family.
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