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Learn All About Castro And San Francisco Gay Lifestyle @ www.castropedia.com Perhaps no other landmark building has played a greater role in helping define the community that surrounds it. Stay tuned to learn the history of the Castro theatre one of the oldest movie palaces still in existence coming up next. Hi I?m Neil Garcia with Castropedia.com your video guide to being gay in San Francisco and the Castro lifestyle. The Castro Theatre was built in 1922 by pioneer San Francisco theatre entrepreneurs, the Nasser brothers, who started with a nickelodeon in 1908 in the Castro neighborhood. The Castro was built at a cost of $300,000. The Castro's designer was Timothy L. Pflueger who went on to become a famous Bay Area architect. In 1977, the Castro was designated City of San Francisco registered landmark number 100. It is one of the few remaining movie palaces in the nation from the 1920s that is still in operation. The Castro's interior is very diverse. One can sense Spanish, Oriental and Italian influences. The auditorium seats over 1400 in a setting that is both lavish and intimate. The interior showcases a dramatic Wurlitzer pipe organ that is played before performances. The large neon "Castro" sign, visible from much of the city, is emblematic of both the theatre and the Castro District. The mezzanine and balcony above it are reached from the lobby by two dramatic staircases which are highlighted by large mirrors framed in gold. Hanging on the walls of the mezzanine are rare film posters. From 1922 until 1976 the Castro showed first and second run mainstream films. Then, in 1976, the theatre was leased to Surf Theatres and later to Blumenfeld Theatres. These two chains proceeded to change the exhibition format to repertory cinema, foreign films, film festivals and special first run presentations. When the last lease expired in 2001, the Nasser family again took over operation of the theatre where improvements were made to enhance and preserve the beauty and functionality of the th