"Mainstream theaters didn't want to screen the film because of how political it was. We did, and we had packed houses. Years later, we screened 'Black Panther.' The first week, we showed the film on screens one, two, and three, and we were selling out every show."
"Since the Grand Lake Theater opened its doors on March 6, 1926, it has become an Oakland icon - a hub for political protests and a home to Oakland filmmakers so familiar that its towering neon sign, studded with nearly 3,000 lights, has become synonymous with The Town."
"For years, landing a screening at Grand Lake Theater has been a rite of passage for Oakland filmmakers."
Grand Lake Theater, opened in 1926, stands as an iconic Oakland venue that has become central to the city's cultural identity and political activism. The theater's distinctive neon sign with nearly 3,000 lights symbolizes Oakland itself. Theater owner Allen Michaan has championed local filmmakers since 1979, screening politically significant films when mainstream theaters refused. Ryan Coogler has held special screenings for all his films at Grand Lake, beginning with his 2013 debut "Fruitvale Station" about Oscar Grant's death. The theater's commitment to local cinema has made it a rite of passage for Oakland filmmakers, hosting multiple hometown premieres annually, including Coogler's "Black Panther" and Boots Riley's "Sorry to Bother You."
Read at The Oaklandside
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]