AMC Kabuki 8

AMC Kabuki 8 is a movie theater in the Japan Center complex in San Francisco's Japantown neighborhood.

AMC Kabuki 8
A multistory, windowless white building in an urban environment, with the words "Sundance Cinemas" on the side.
Exterior of AMC Kabuki 8 circa 2009
Former namesAMC Kabuki Cinema 8, Sundance Kabuki, AMC Dine-in Kabuki 8
General information
StatusCompleted
LocationJapan Center
Address1881 Post Street
Town or citySan Francisco, California
CountryUSA
Coordinates37.785°N 122.433°W / 37.785; -122.433
Opened1960
Renovated2006–2007

History

Kabuki Theater originally opened in 1960 as a large dinner theater.[1]

Interiors of Sundance Kabuki in 2010

The theater was the first multiplex in San Francisco.[2] As part of the original Japan Center mission to showcase Japanese culture, it was the first authentic Kabuki theater in America, designed in a traditional 17th century style with a proscenium, stage entrance/exit ramp, revolving stage, and trap doors. The theater was designed with dining tables so audiences could eat while watching Kabuki performances. The restaurant, named the Kabuki Theater Restaurant, was limited to serving Chinese and American food so it would not draw business away from the Japan Center Japanese restaurants.[3]

It has hosted San Francisco's Cherry Blossom Festival activities,[4] is one of a small number of theaters showing performances by the San Francisco Opera,[5] and has screened several films for San Francisco International Film Festival and San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival as recently as 2011.[6]

Ownership

Formerly the AMC Kabuki Cinema 8, it was acquired by Robert Redford's Sundance Cinemas chain in 2006 as part of an anti-trust agreement allowing AMC to acquire Loews.[4] Sundance renovated the theater, and reopened it under its current name in December 2007, as the chain's second theater.[7] On October 6, 2015, it was announced that Carmike Cinemas has acquired Sundance Cinemas for $36 million.[8] On November 15, 2016, Carmike was purchased by AMC Theatres for $1.2 Billion, bringing the theater back into AMC's control.[9]

AMC announced on March 1, 2017, that the Carmike owned brands would be retired and all theaters would be placed under one of three new AMC brands. The Sundance Kabuki as of April 2017 was renamed the AMC Dine-in Kabuki 8.[10] On April 4, 2018, the theater was re branded as the AMC Kabuki 8 and dropped the AMC Dine-in menu.

References
  1. Selvin, Joel (1996). San Francisco: The Musical History Tour. Chronicle Books. p. 102. ISBN 9780811810074.
  2. Natasha Chen, History is tucked away in this Japantown theater, L.A. Pilot (University of Southern California School of Journalism), archived from the original on September 6, 2008, retrieved December 31, 2011
  3. Page & Turnbull (May 2009). Japan Center (PDF) (Report). San Francisco Planning Agency. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  4. Sundance Cinemas to buy Kabuki theater / City, Japantown leaders welcome deal for multiplex, San Francisco Chronicle, March 24, 2006, retrieved December 31, 2011
  5. Grand Opera Cinema Series locations, San Francisco Opera, archived from the original on April 15, 2012, retrieved December 31, 2011
  6. 54th San Francisco International Film Festival showcases what's unusual, San Francisco Examiner, March 29, 2011, retrieved December 31, 2011
  7. Hamlin, Jesse (December 12, 2007). "Kabuki upgrades the moviegoing experience with dinner, drinks, art". SFGATE. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  8. Lieberman, David. "Carmike Agrees To Pay $36M For Sundance Cinemas". Deadline. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  9. Faughnder, Ryan (November 15, 2016). "China-owned AMC seals deal to buy Carmike Cinemas, making it the largest theater chain in U.S." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  10. Carmike amctheatres.com
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