Geary Theatre
Also known as: Columbia Theatre
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Why it's listed
Opened on January 10, 1910, as the Columbia Theatre, this brick playhouse at 415 Geary Street was designed by the San Francisco firm Bliss and Faville. It was one of eight downtown theatres built after the 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed the city's earlier houses. Today it is the oldest surviving downtown theatre in San Francisco and the only one of those eight to operate continuously as a professional theatre. The exterior blends neo-classical and baroque elements, with comedy and tragedy masks above the entrances and a wrought iron marquee. Inside are three seating levels, a carved proscenium, and wall carvings of cherubs and theatrical symbols. The building takes the Geary name in 1928 and has hosted performers such as Sarah Bernhardt, Ethel Barrymore and Paul Robeson. Its acoustics allow unamplified speech to carry well, and it has needed no interior changes to improve them. Since 1967 it has housed the American Conservatory Theatre.
Significance in brief: Built during reconstruction after the 1906 earthquake, it is the oldest existing downtown theatre in San Francisco and the only one of the eight theatres built in that period still in continuous year-round professional use. It has hosted many legendary performances and has unusually good natural acoustics. Its interior and exterior remain faithful to early 20th-century theatre design.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75000472, listed May 27, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 415 Geary St., San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | May 27, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000472 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906-1910 (post-earthquake reconstruction) |
| Architect / builder | Bliss and Faville |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts Classical |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition, and in use as a theatre; it has been home to the American Conservatory Theatre since 1967. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.78673, -122.41019 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75000472.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q118583159
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.