The Geary Theatre: A San Francisco Landmark
historic place
The Geary Theatre, located in San Francisco County, opened in 1910 as the Columbia Theatre, rising after the 1906 earthquake. Designed by architects Walter D. Bliss and William B. Faville, its exterior reflects Classical Revival and Late Victorian styles. Over its early decades, the theater hosted notable performers such as Sarah Bernhardt and Isadora Duncan. Between 1924 and 1928, it was renamed the Geary Theatre. In 1967, it became the home of the American Conservatory Theater, known as A.C.T. The Geary Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 27, 1975, and designated a San Francisco Landmark on July 11, 1976. The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake caused significant damage, leading to a multi-year restoration and seismic stabilization project. The theater reopened in 1996. In 2022, the venue was renamed the Toni Rembe Theater. This site remains a significant historical place for San Francisco's performing arts.