Speakeasy Theaters
Encyclopedia
Speakeasy Theaters was an independent movie theater
operator. Now closed, they once operated two theaters, the Parkway theater in Oakland, California
and the Cerrito in El Cerrito, California
. Both theaters showed late first-run movies (films still in release that have gotten cheaper to exhibit) and various special event programs. Due to the serving of beer and wine, attendance at most films was restricted to age 21 and over (IDs are checked), although weekend matinees and some special events were open to people of all ages. On March 22, 2009, the Parkway theater went out of business.
and the Academy Awards
).
The Cerrito Theater had been closed for decades when a group of locals developed funding to rehab it to its historic art deco
beauty (see Friends of the Cerrito Theater below). As construction started, the Speakeasy Theaters were chosen as the organization to run the venue.
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
operator. Now closed, they once operated two theaters, the Parkway theater in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
and the Cerrito in El Cerrito, California
El Cerrito, California
-Transportation:The city's primary transportation infrastructure consists of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations along with several local bus lines, operated by AC Transit, providing access to the surrounding area and the nearby cities of Albany, Berkeley and Richmond...
. Both theaters showed late first-run movies (films still in release that have gotten cheaper to exhibit) and various special event programs. Due to the serving of beer and wine, attendance at most films was restricted to age 21 and over (IDs are checked), although weekend matinees and some special events were open to people of all ages. On March 22, 2009, the Parkway theater went out of business.
Theater Histories
Both venues are converted theaters with histories. The Parkway Theater was in disrepair when the Speakeasy Theater took it over and converted the seating, created the kitchen, and opened their unique offering of late first-run movies, seating, food and beverages. The theater style turned out to be successful, and many movies and events are well attended. The management tries to be responsive to the neighborhood and patron community, and offers special screenings for political, social, and popular events (including screenings of the Super BowlSuper Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
and the Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
).
The Cerrito Theater had been closed for decades when a group of locals developed funding to rehab it to its historic art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
beauty (see Friends of the Cerrito Theater below). As construction started, the Speakeasy Theaters were chosen as the organization to run the venue.