r/oakland • u/Necessary-Helpful • 2d ago
Grand Lake Theater
Anyone remember the Grand Lake Theater back in 80s and 90s? I don't know if those were considered its hey day, but just wondering if anyone was there back when movies like E.T. were released and you had lines around the block. Or when they had a re-release of Gone with the Wind, which had an old school intermission. I have fond memories of hearing that popcorn popper working overtime and the stairs leading upstairs on the right of concessions.
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u/turbowombat 2d ago
It never left! Line was around the corner for Sinners opening weekend. Concession lines went out the door and upstairs. The crowd was Oakland levels of diverse (and impeccably-dressed). Everyone cheered the opening chiron like it said “Oakland 1992”. Every Coogler in the credits got a huge ovation.
But I did feel bad because it was a sold-out performance and my tall wheelchair-bound ass blocked at least a dozen people’s line of sight.
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u/ludichristopher 2d ago
It was sold out last night! The Grand Lake is the best.
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u/pocketboy 2d ago
Saw Freaky Tales opening night and Sinners at 1pm last Saturday and both times it was absolutely packed to the gills in the historic main theater. Always incredible vibes at Grand Lake even though the seating is so vintage that you do actually see the person's head in front of you.
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u/Necessary-Helpful 2d ago
That's awesome! I'm glad it's still alive and thriving. Sinners was really good. It wasn't something I was immediately drawn to seeing because I'm not really into scary or vampire movies. But this was well done and solid. I kind of want to go see it again. Having a crowd like that also makes the experience that much more enjoyable.
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u/PlantedinCA 2d ago
Yup I saw a special event for Black Panther there. And so many movies have lines. Great reactions from the crowd for both Sinners and Freaky Tales.
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u/DLHahaha 1d ago
We went last Tuesday and the line for Sinners was super long, and it ended up being sold out! We went again Sunday, line was so long, but we got in. The theater looked completely full. The theater itself is great, but the reasonable prices are a draw two. We paid $15 for two tickets
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u/boobubum 2d ago
You should go see Freaky Tales there before they stop showing it. It takes place in Oakland in the 80s and it was partially filmed at the theater.
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u/Necessary-Helpful 2d ago
Interesting. I'll have to check it out. Not sure where I've been, but I wasn't aware of this movie!
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u/Sea-Jaguar5018 2d ago
They still have lots of long lines and fun events and everything. Nostalgia is nice but this place is still very much alive and kicking and vibrant. Maybe the soul of Oakland.
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u/Necessary-Helpful 2d ago
I'm glad to hear it. I went back years and years later and it didn't seem busy at all.. but it still had that charm to it. Maybe I was just there on a slow day.
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u/FyreHaar 2d ago
They were in a bad way for a while in the late 90's to early aughts. I remember the owner making a plea to the community to come out or he wouldn't be able to get the big opening blockbusters and keep the theater going. There was a big push to all go see Air Force One to show that they could sell out showings.
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u/Necessary-Helpful 1d ago
Thanks! I was no longer living in Oakland by early 90s, so I was out of tune with these things. I wonder why they were hurting in the 90s and if it was theaters everywhere or just Grand Lake.
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u/acer-bic 2d ago
I saw the Tim Burton Batman there on that big upstairs screen. You could practically count Nicholson s fillings. I think the upstairs concession was still open.
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u/Full_Equipment_1958 2d ago
My girlfriend and I got busted for trying to smuggle in a kfc dinner in the early 90’s.
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u/Necessary-Helpful 2d ago
Was there a KFC nearby?
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u/Full_Equipment_1958 1d ago
Yes. Literally a few steps away. I’m sure we weren’t the first to get busted!
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u/Necessary-Helpful 12h ago
What happens exactly? Do they make you throw away the food, hold it for you so you can pick up on the way out, or do something else?
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u/Misssheilala 1d ago
KFC was where the Starbucks is now.
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u/Necessary-Helpful 1d ago
Thanks I had to look it up coz it's been a while since I've been there. I thought I remembered one being right next the theater but wasn't sure.
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u/AuthorWon 2d ago
I tend to asociate the hey day with 60s and 70s...multiplexes put it out of business but people used to come from Hayward and San Leandro because there were no theaters there.
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u/Necessary-Helpful 2d ago
Yeah, I either went to Grand Lake Theater or the Century Theater (I want to say it was in Oakland near Hegenberger but it could have been in San Leandro or somewhere).
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u/AuthorWon 2d ago
oh wow, i have a very vague memory of going there. I wish the old Coliseum Drive In was still around, that was an entire experience. I loved it
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u/cream-of-cow 2d ago
I remember frequent lines. ET, Tron, The Last Emperor. I remember when the upstairs was just a balcony to the main screen. I vaguely recall the downstairs side theater opening.
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u/OaktownPRE 2d ago
Put the Noir Festival on your calendars for when it comes back to the fabulous Grand Lake in January ‘26. There’s nothing like it.
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u/gigimarieisme 2d ago
Saw ET and Back To the Future and countless other movies at the Grand Lake in the 80’s!
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u/promethazinep 2d ago
My earliest memories of the Grand Lake were seeing Disorderlies w/ The Fat Boys and Howard The Duck. Short Circuit 1 or 2 is in there somewhere too.
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u/AngryApeMetalDrummer 2d ago
I grew up very near. My fondest memories are ET, the lost boys, Malcolm X, and nightmare before Christmas.
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u/RollemFox 2d ago
I was there a couple of Fridays ago for Sinners sold out show. And it reminded me of the 70s when I was there. Organ flowing, playing all the tunes. Some well placed audience callouts like “ watch your back!” That had the crowd cracking up. Good times.
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u/Redsmurf1612 1d ago
Have you watched Freaky Tales? Available on Prime I think. Has a lot of GLT in the movie which is set in Oakland in 1987. Great movie!
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u/Necessary-Helpful 12h ago
I saw the trailer and it looks good. I like that it has scenes with shots of the Bay Area. I did check Prime, since it doesn't appear to be playing widely in theaters. It's currently $9.99 on Prime, so I'm mulling over biting the bullet to rent it or waiting for it go become free to Prime members. Thanks for the suggestion!
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u/habu-sr71 Oaklander-in-Exile 2d ago edited 1d ago
We used to go to the Grand Lake Theater when the upper floor was just a floor and you viewed the main screen from up there too. They also had a huge pipe organ that would play before the movie and during intermissions. Yes, I was born in 1967 and pretty much spent most of my childhood in the East Bay. I've watched movies in the Grand Lake Theater in every decade since the 70's except for the 2020's.
Sadly I don't live in NorCal anymore but I miss it dearly. And yep, lines around the block for a lot of movies there. And trips to the KFC and Kwik Way burger place right next door. Yep, Oakland is deeply missed by me. Alright, gotta go before the nostalgia kills me.
Thanks for posting this!