DEAR FRIENDS,

It is Balboa Birthday time. You do not want to miss this show…possibly our best ever. THE CAT AND THE CANARY is the classic haunted house film…with laughs. We have selected some hilarious short subjects and our vaudeville acts, both live and on the big screen, will provide the best in entertainment.

Add to the fun by dressing in vintage clothing. We expect to have vintage cars in front (weather permitting). The birthday cake is going to be a spectacular one-of-a-kind by Diane Boate and librations will be served with it after the show.

We have some fantastic silent film DVD’s courtesy of www.kino.com and classic film box sets from Universal. Every attendee will get a classic poster book courtesy of Bruce Hershenson’s EMovie This site has 3 poster auctions each week and I never miss it. I have found good deals on posters of movies set in San Francisco and unusual foreign films. Just to look through the collection is great fun.

Where else can you get all that for only $10? Bring your family and friends and join us as we remember what it was like to go to the movies in 1926…and help us remember Irma Levin who recently passed away. Irma allowed us to operate the Balboa and keep it alive.

MORE SPECIAL EVENTS

Our film and concert for THE MIGHTY UKE was a near sell-out and what a great show. Next week is our annual Oscar Party and it will be great fun. See details below. And also look at our other upcoming events. We will be announcing more soon..

YOU COULD WIN A CRAZY HEART SIGNED POSTER

The director of CRAZY HEART, Scott Cooper, has agreed to get some of his cast members to join him in signing a poster to be given away exclusively at the Balboa. Just enter to win in our lobby. No purchase necessary. The random drawing will occur after the Oscars.

We will be giving away screenplays for CRAZY HEART to lucky winners over the weekend.

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ONLY AT THE BALBOA- Win Great Prizes

Once again we are pleased to bring our audiences the chance to win prizes only available at the Balboa Theatre.

We’ll also be giving away passes to enjoy classics movies at Oakland Paramount movie palace. Check out their schedule below.

And a very special prize will be given away at the end of our engagement. On Spirit and Academy Awards weekend the cast and director of THE LAST STATION will sign a poster to be given away to a lucky Balboa patron. For your chance to win just fill out an entry form in the Balboa lobby. We will also be giving away a copy of the book THE LAST STATION autographed by author Jay Parini.

For the Birthday Bash and Oscar Party, we’ve got plenty of Movie Poster Books to give away, courtesy of eMoviePoster.com, and classic DVDs courtesy of Kino International, Universal and more.!

Sincerely,
Gary

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Sunday Feb. 28: BALBOA BIRTHDAY BASH

In Memory of Irma Levin.

Get ready for the annual Balboa Birthday Bash when we take you back to 1926. We’ll be showing THE CAT AND THE CANARY with Laura LaPlante accompanied live by Dave Miotke., selected short subjects, a live vaudeville show featuring magician James Hamilton and singer Linda Kosut, the Balboa Premiere of a short film shot here at the theater and birthday cake by Diane Boate, who each year creates a themed and delicious work of art to eat. Read about her here.

The show starts at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30. Jack Tillmany will be signing and selling copies of his books on the theatres of San Francisco and Oakland.

The program will start with the world premiere of a delightful new silent short filmed at the Balboa, DOUBLE FEATURES.

Lots of Prizes.

Advance Tickets

COME DRESSED IN YOUR BEST 1920s ATTIRE. If you have a vintage car, let us know in advance so we save you a parking space in front.

Great article about the film, proclaiming, "The Cat and the Canary is quite simply the finest spooky house movie ever made."

And another.

Magic by James Hamilton

Bay Area magician and magical entertainer, JAMES HAMILTON, is in great demand as one of the West Coast's finest magicians. A native of the Hollywood area, he has performed on television, in movies and at private parties for many Hollywood celebrities. Now residing in San Francisco, he has been acclaimed by his peers as the Best Magician in Northern California. He is equally adept at intimate gatherings, as well as large stage productions.

In addition to being a consumate performer, Mr. Hamilton has achieved an international reputation as a Magical Historian and Lecturer. He is the Magic Consultant for the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum and is a member of the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, as well as the prestigious Magic Circle of London. He is recognized as the world authority on the legendary magical Herrmann family. www.amazingmagicshow.com

Dave Miotke

Pianist/Accordionist/Vocalist

After singing and playing piano as music director at Max's Opera Cafe in San Francisco for five years, ending in October, 2002, David is currently freelancing, performing solo and with groups in styles as varied as jazz, cabaret, tango, Italian, strolling strings and classical. He specializes in performing the standard American songbook repertoire such as Cole Porter, Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, etc.

He recently released a CD of original songs set to the poetry of Francis Brabazon entitled, In Dust I Sing. While he takes his inspiration from many sources and is always trying to grow spiritually as well as musically, he is most often compared to Bobby Short, Michael Feinstein, Mel Torme and Tony Bennett. Never having tried to sound like anyone but himself, he considers these comparisons to be the highest of compliments.

David studied at Northwestern University and earned a bachelor s degree in music theory and composition and a master's degree in applied piano. He graduated with honors and proceeded to be successful at singing, playing and arranging countless national radio and television commercials. While still an undergraduate at Northwestern University, he took time off to tour as co-lead singer and keyboardist with the well-known folk-rock group, H. P. Lovecraft, recording two highly successful record albums.

Linda Kosut

www.lindakosut.com

"San Francisco-based jazz/cabaret vocalist Kosut —amazing Bay Area canary — brings her skills as an actress to her insightful interpretations of songs underscored with a fusion of jazz, pop and folk." - Don Heckman, The International Review of Music

Linda Kosut’s warmly dark sound, her strong acting chops and engaging presence, make this Bay Area award-winning jazz/cabaret vocalist pure entertainment. Linda seamlessly weaves diverse influences and inspirations into a delightful fusion of jazz, pop and folk. She has performed to full houses at some of the most renowned jazz clubs in the country from New York's Iridium Jazz Club to Los Angeles’ Jazz Bakery to San Francisco’s Yoshi’s Jazz Club. She opens her 2010 6-show series at San Francisco's Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko on March 22, 2010.

Growing up in New York City and transplanted to San Francisco over 20 years ago, Linda only began pursuing her dream of performing a few years ago as she approached “boomer” status, and she has not stopped since. “I am sure that I am not alone in my journey to satisfy a creative bug I’ve had my whole life; but one that up until nearing ‘retirement’ status, I did not pursue,” says Linda. “The excitement of doing my dreams translates to my audience. I have nothing to give but myself and I know that I give that to them. They tell me how I have inspired them. It is my sheer pleasure to do so.”

Kosut is a recipient of BackStage Magazine’s Bistro Award – the BMI Award for Outstanding Recording for her inspired tribute CD “Long As You’re Living, the songs & poetry of Oscar Brown Jr.” She has also garnered nominations for Best Female Jazz Vocalist and Best Jazz Recording from MAC, Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs; plus the Cabaret Hotline Members’ Choice Award.

Linda, a founder of Kitchenette Productions, is a singers’ coach working with vocalists on their performance technique, lyric interpretation and stage presentation, as well as producing showcases for emerging vocal performers. In addition, she designs marketing material for performing artists and performing arts organizations. (jizelmusic.com). She lives in San Francisco with her fiancé, their 2 dogs, 4 chickens, 2 turtles and 40 aquariums!

THE BALBOA PREMIERE OF DOUBLE FEATURES, A SHORT FILM SHOT HERE AT THE THEATER!

Awhile back, a short film called Double Features was shot here at the Balboa. It tells the story of “a brokenhearted young man who waits for a date that never shows, and a lonely projectionist mourning the past while dreaming of a better future. They meet one night at an old art-house cinema and find that at the movies, anything can happen.” The short was beautifully photographed, and really makes the Balboa look spectacular, with striking shots of our marquee and projection booth.

Balboa Manager Austin Wolf-Sothern and our esteemed Chief Projectionist Jim Cassedy even have credits on the film as Projection and Technical Advisors. The film is very much a love letter to old theaters, so we figured who better to see it first than our most devoted fans at the Birthday Bash!

Director will be in attendance.

View the trailer here

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About This Week's Movies

CRAZY HEART (R)

Nominated for 3 Academy Awards!

• Jeff Bridges – Actor in a Leading Role
• Maggie Gyllenhaal – Actress in a Supporting Role
• Music (Original Song)

Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhall, Robert Duvall

Official site         View Trailer

Four-time Academy Award nominee Jeff Bridges stars as the richly comic, semi-tragic romantic anti-hero Bad Blake in the debut feature film "Crazy Heart" from writer-director Scott Cooper. Bad Blake is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who's had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can't help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. As he struggles down the road of redemption, Bad learns the hard way just how tough life can be on one man's crazy heart.

Rated R for language and brief sexuality. – 111 minutes.

"This show belongs to Bridges, who starts off as a magnificent train wreck and then takes a journey with the character."
- Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Read More About Crazy Heart Here

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THE LAST STATION

NOMINATED FOR TWO ACADEMY AWARDS!

• Helen Mirren – Actress in a Leading Role
• Christopher Plummer – Actor in a Supporting Role

Official Website        View Trailer

THE LAST STATION focuses on two contrasting love stories along with the problems faced in and around the relationships. One is the extraordinary relationship between Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer), the famous Russian novelist, and his wife of 48 years, the Countess Sofya (Helen Mirren); and the other is the burgeoning love between Valentin (James McAvoy), Tolstoy's idealistic young private secretary, and Masha (Kerry Condon), a teacher equally committed to the writer's values.

Sofya is engaged in a ferocious battle for her husband's soul against Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), Tolstoy's trusted disciple, and Tolstoy's daughter Sasha (Anne-Marie Duff). Using every bit of cunning and every trick of seduction, Sofya fights for what she believes is hers; while Chertkov is able to persuade Tolstoy of the damage she will do to his glorious legacy.

THE LAST STATION was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and 5 Spirit Awards and is expected to be nominated by the Academy Awards.

Rated R for a scene of sexuality/nudity. 112 Minutes.

"The complicated marriage between Leo Tolstoy and his wife Sofya has been turned into a showcase for tasty acting by Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren."
- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

For more Reviews and Interviews: Click Here

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Coming Sunday, March 7: ACADEMY AWARDS PARTY

Our first Golden Globes was great fun and the big one is coming. We will be having our annual Oscar® celebration with the popular Reed Kirk Rahlmann returning as your Master of Ceremonies. And through the miracle of DVR, you won't miss any of the Academy Awards® while we have a little fun during the commercials.

Oscars Behind the Scenes;

Oscar writing team and producers

Search the Academy Awards® Database

Come dressed as your favorite nominated film (bad puns and outrageous spoofs encouraged) or performer. We'll have a costume contest and lots of surprises and prizes including autographed posters of nominated films.

Lots of Other Prizes.

Advance Tickets

A message from our Oscar host:

Dear Friends of the Balboa Theater,
Once again, it’s time for the Balboa Theater Oscar Bash on Sunday March 7th, the most entertaining Oscar party in San Francisco.

Why sit at home when you can watch it in the best neighborhood theater in San Francisco? It's better than hosting a party yourself--no having to supply snacks, no one poking through your medicine cabinet, no friends breaking your furniture during fistfights over Best Short Subject nominations. This is my experience of home Oscar parties—yours may vary.

During the commercials, I give away lots of movie related swag, test knowledge of Oscars, let people show off by reciting favorite lines, and encourage the audience to express opinions about nominations and winners. Opinions such as why James Cameron is getting a best director nomination when all he did was screw around with computers for 4 years?

Why is Sandra Bullock getting nominated along side the likes of Meryl Streep and Gabourey Sidibe? I'm betting it's because she had an accent and furrowed her perky brow a lot.

So bring your opinions and all those people who would be cluttering up your sofa and ruining your coffee table when forgetting to put a coaster under their drinks. And if you bring alcohol, bring enough to share with someone sitting next to you. Or me.

GUESS THE WINNERS AND WIN A 2010 VIP PASS TO THE BALBOA

Once again the person who guesses the most actual Oscar® winners will win a 2010 VIP Pass for two people to the Balboa Theatre. In the case of a tie, we will draw one from a hat. There will be prizes for all winners.

Only one entry per person. No purchase is necessary and you do not have to be present to win. . . but you'll be sorry if you miss our Oscar® Party. Ballots must be mailed with postmark no later than March 5, 2010 or dropped off at the Balboa no later than 4:30pm, March 7, 2010.

They may be mailed or brought in person to;
Balboa Theatre
ATTN: Oscar Ballot
3630 Balboa St.
San Francisco, CA 94121

Please include your name and phone number on the ballot.

Download and print your ballot here.

Your Host,
Reed Kirk Rahlmann

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Coming Tuesday, March 16 @ 7:00pm: REMEMBERING PLAYLAND AT THE BEACH

A full length documentary about San Francisco's famous 10-acre seaside amusement park, Playland at the Beach. Located next to Ocean Beach, it was torn down in 1972 to make way for a condominium development. Gone now for more than 3 decades, it remains one of the city's lost treasures. Go back in time to see Laffing Sal, the Fun House, the Carousel, the Big Dipper, the Diving Bell, Dark Mystery, Limbo, Fun-tier Town, and much, much more, all through the eyes of the people who were there. The first and only documentary ever made about Playland. Written & Directed by Tom Wyrsch.

Running time: 62 minutes plus related short subjects.

Tickets now available at the box office, or online here.

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Coming Thursday, March 25 @ 7:00pm: CREATURE FEATURES PRESENTS: HORROR EXPRESS

RELIVE THE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING A "CREATURE FEATURES" SHOW FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF TV!

WITH HOST JOHN STANLEY, WHO PRODUCED THE SHOW AT CHANNEL 2, KTVU IN OAKLAND, FOR SIX YEARS

JOHN STANLEY INTRODUCED ON STAGE BY DENNIS WILLIS, KGO-RADIO

FILM REVIEWER AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW MOVIE BOOK "FLICK NATION"

HORROR EXPRESS (Spanish-British 1972) Starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Telly Savalas . . . A train speeding through the trans-Siberian wilderness is terrorized by a supernatural entity with blazing red eyeballs (someone from the IRS?) who mesmerizes his victims and turns them into corpses with bleeding eyeball sockets . . . It's enough to bring tears to your eyes.

Savor John Stanley’s classic four-part interview with actor/voice impressionist FRANK GORSHIN . . . Frank discusses his career and imitates several famous actors. See dramatic footage from TV's BATMAN, STAR TREK and "BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL."

See Bob Wilkins interview John Stanley on Market Street in downtown San Francisco . . . a rare treat not shown since it was first aired in 1977

For the first time in 30 years, John Stanley’s minimovie classic THE DEMON STRIKES BACK, a roller-coaster ride into a fantasy dimension from which you may or may not return.

Plus KTVU Station Promotions and Original Television Commercials . . . the kind they don’t make anymore.

View Trailer

Advance tickets on sale soon.

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WIN TICKETS TO SEE DAN ZANES AND FRIENDS

Dan Zanes & Friends
Sat, Mar 6, 11 am & 4 pm; and Sun, Mar 7, 3 pm
Zellerbach Hall Tickets start at $16
Half-Price for ages 16 and under for all performances!

Concerts by Grammy-Award winners Dan Zanes and Friends are always cause for celebration. Dubbed “the Crown Prince of contemporary kids music” by People magazine, kids and parents alike love joining Zanes, his band, and his surprising and eclectic special guests as they perform their unique brand of multi-cultural songs. Filled with irresistible grooves drawn from a wealth of musical traditions, including American traditional songs, dance classics, and smart, inventive originals, Zanes and company create a rollicking “Woodstock for Kids.”

For more information on the show, videos, and buying tickets

HOW TO WIN TICKETS

We are giving away tickets for Saturday March 6 at 4pm. To qualify, send an email with your name and email address in the body of the email and ZANES in the subject line. To qualify all entries must be received no later than Monday, March 1 at noon.

Please be certain that you can attend, as the tickets are not transferable. One entry per person. Multiple entries will disqualify all of them. If you have won tickets in a Balboa contest during the past three months, please do not enter.

Please send your entry to balboafans (at) yahoo.com . (Change (at) to @. We are trying to avoid spam.)
Good luck.

TRIBUTE TO JAN TROELL IN MARIN

Many people will remember the epic pair of movies, THE EMIGRANTS and THE NEW LAND starring Liv Ullmann and Max Von Sydow. THE EMIGRANTS was nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Picture (losing to THE GODFATHER), Actress, Director and Adapted Screenplay. The great Swedish director made many other equally wonderful movies, some released in the U.S. but others have not been seen here. In 2008 we invited Jan Troell to be the subject of a Tribute at the Telluride Film Festival where he also unveiled his newest film, EVERLASTING MOMENTS which went on to Golden Globe and Spirit Award nominations.

Critic John Simon wrote: "Troell's films have such feeling for life and understanding for humankind as to envelop the viewer in a warm friendship with the filmmaker... "

The Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael is bringing Jan Troell to the bay area for a collection of his movies that cannot be seen in the United States. There are no prints in this country so archival and new prints are coming from the Swedish Film Institute. Do not miss this rare opportunity to see these great movies and meet a master of cinema.

The Chronicle featured interview1 Sunday

The Chronicle featured interview2 Sunday

For the complete schedule

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FREE POPCORN WITH YOUR "I’D RATHER BE AT THE BALBOA" DISCOUNT CARD!

Now, as an added treat for our most regular movie-goers, each discount card gets you one free complimentary size popcorn per card. You choose the visit that you would like to redeem it--just bring your card to the concession stand to receive your free popcorn on us. Thank you.

More Info

PARAMOUNT THEATRE WINTER CLASSICS SERIES

We are blessed in the Bay Area to have a handful of true movie palaces still showing great movies….the Castro, Stanford and our favorite, The Paramount in Oakland. The theater will once again host a selection of great classics with cartoons, prizes and tremendous fun.

The Balboa will be giving away passes at weekend shows.

Next Show is FRIDAY, MARCH 5 @ 8:00 PM
WAIT UNTIL DARK
Running time: 108 minutes
Box Office opens @ 6:00pm | Doors open @ 7:00 | Curtain rises @ 8:00pm
All Tickets: $5.00

WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967) - A year after losing her sight in an accident, Susy (Audrey Hepburn) is still learning how to be self sufficient. But when three criminals on the trail of a heroin-filled doll inveigle their way into her home, the stakes suddenly become life or death. Alan Arkin plays what just might be the creepiest psychopathic killer in film history and his two accomplices (Richard Crenna and Jack Weston) are almost as revolting as they manipulate and terrorize the blind Susy. Even 40 years after it was made, this tension-filled spellbinder has not lost an iota of its incredible impact.

2025 Broadway, Oakland ~ (510) 465-6400
Take BART and exit at the 19th Street Station

Paramount Schedule

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PHOTOS IN THE LOBBY QUANG-TUAN LUONG’S INDIA SERIES

Must End March 4th

Quang-Tuan Luong, the artist responsible for our very popular National Parks series, has brought in a new show with some of his gorgeous prints from India.

For More Information:

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BALBOA THEATRE INFO

3630 Balboa Street (37th Ave)
San Francisco 94121
(415) 221-8184
www.BalboaMovies.com

Bike Rack in front of the Balboa
Muni Bus #31 Balboa or #18 46th Ave stop at Balboa &37th., Also #5 Fulton and all 38 Geary Street buses stop two (long) blocks from Balboa.
Relatively easy Parking

San Francisco's Favorite Neighborhood Theatre
Voted by the Bay Guardian, SF Weekly, SF Gate's A List and San Francisco Magazine

General Admission: $9.00
Seniors (60+) and Children (11-) $6.50
Bargain Matinees: All Seats $6.50 for shows in ( )

SCHOOL NIGHT - Mondays are School Days and Nights. With proof of being a student, faculty or staff member, your admission is only $6.50 on Mondays.

On Your Birthday, You Are Our Guest.

The Balboa is Wheelchair and Handicapped Accessible.

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YOUR FAVORITE SNACK BAR

Great Snack Bar selection at reasonable prices. Your favorite candies including Dove, Toberlerone, and Ghirardelli chocolates.

We serve Caffe Trieste Coffees, fine Tazo teas, chai, hot chocolate, hot dogs, Aidells' poultry Sausages, Veggie Dogs, Dreyer's Dibs, and Delicious Cookies.

And of course fresh popcorn made with sunflower oil and real butter.

No More Naked Popcorn.

Have you tried our complimentary popcorn seasonings?

We have a wide assortment from Kernel Seasonings.

Try White Cheddar, Caramel, Parmesan, Garlic and more...

We also have Nutritional Yeast that has proven to be one of our most popular toppings. And now hot sauce!

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS

One of the strengths of the Balboa is our neighborhood. Other than the bank, all the businesses are family owned and operated. The restaurants are especially wonderful. On the outer Balboa strip there are 24 eating establishments by my count. You can eat Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian, Italian, American, Mexican, Seafood and Vietnamese cuisines. The foods are fresh, distinctive and all reasonably priced. The media food critics have only discovered a few of them but the locals know a good thing. We encourage you to enjoy a meal at one of these fine eateries while visiting the Balboa. All are within easy walking distance. And please send us reviews and recommendations we can share with our other guests. Send reviews to balboafans (at) yahoo.com . (Change (at) to @. We are trying to avoid spam.)

We love it when you send us a review of a neighborhood restaurant you've enjoyed. We encourage you all to write about your culinary adventures in the Outer Richmond.

Check out the Menu Book in our lobby and our COMPLETE NEW RESTAURANT LIST.

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