The Warfield

If you believe that historic buildings have soul, then you have been surrounded by it at The Warfield theatre in San Francisco. This grand dame of a theatre opened May 13, 1922. It was built by showman and theatre chain owner Marcus Loew, who named the showplace after his old friend David Warfield, a native San Franciscan who began as an usher and grew to be one of the greatest silent film actors of his time. The Warfield was built as a vaudeville and movie palace. Originally called Loew s Warfield, it became the 300th theater in mogul Marcus Loew s growing theater chain. The interior is movie palace ornate. The lobby features marble, guilt and chandeliers, and opens to a grand staircase to the balcony. The main theater features a lyrical mural above the proscenium arch painted by Albert Herter.