Help save San Francisco’s fabulous ROXIE THEATER the oldest continuously operated cinema in the United States

Having just returned from a flying visit to San Francisco, it’s nigh on impossible to get the city out of our mind again…. hence the last few postings on QG.  Like nearly every gay man in the US we not only have such fond memories of time spent there but we are also anxious to preserve and cherish it for future (queer) generations.

That includes the legendary ROXIE THEATER on Market St  ….. our 2nd favorite after the glorious CASTRO THEATER.  The Roxie is one of the oldest continuously operated cinemas in the United States, with its history tracing back to the early 1900s.  Even today it continues to shine in the community as a beacon of unwavering independence, originality, and integrity. Guided from the start by crazy visionaries who pursued dreams over profit, they strive to keep the weird and wonderful alive in their little corner of San Francisco.

It has served the community so very well for all these years, and now it’s time for us to pay back.  It’s’s not an easy time for theaters– art house cinemas and mainstream multiplexes– are disappearing all over the country, especially in San Francisco. After a 40-year collaboration, the multi-generational family of landlords has agreed to sell the property. The Forever Roxie campaign demonstrates a commitment to securing a permanent home and ensuring the Roxie’s long-term survival. 

In March 2024, the Roxie signed a purchase and sale agreement with the owners, agreeing to a timeline and purchase price. With the agreement in place, the Roxie staff and board then kicked off the first-ever capital campaign: $7,000,000 to purchase the theater and ensure that community-driven cinema thrives in a historic home for generations to come. Completing this campaign will allow them to invest in the cinema, expand the programming, and explore ways to deepen impact and enhance the reach. During the campaign’s silent phase, The Roxie has fostered a growing community of over 40 individual donors and foundations, including a leading gift from the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Nearly $5,500,000 of the $7,000,000 goal has been raised in less than a year. The building purchase is on track to close in 2025.

The Roxie will work to close the remaining $1.5 million gap by the end of 2025 through broad community engagement. It invites the community to join in by contributing, spreading the word, and attending upcoming events. The leadership team has launched The Poppy Society to honor and celebrate this milestone. People can learn more, join the Poppy Society, access a toolkit to spread the word, and donate at www.roxie.com/forever or at the theater. 

For over a century, the Roxie Theater has been an anchor in the Mission District, where the neon sign shines brightly as a San Francisco icon and symbol of unwavering independent spirit. The Roxie’s vision is to thrive, growing into a sustainable organization that presents impactful cinema and nurtures the Bay Area community of filmmakers and film lovers in perpetuity.

 As an LGBTQ+ community we are more than aware that its our history that shapes our present and our future.  Now with this extraordinary dangerous political climate where no part of our cultural heritage is safe under  the currnet resident in The White House, we so need to ensure we that stand up together and help save the Roxie