Why the fight to preserve Bay Area movie palaces has become cultural history vs. new housing

We have seen buildings like this preserved in cities around the country, and they're all happy they preserved them, said Allen Michaan, the owner of the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland. That's because they're an important part of civic life.

But cinephiles and preservation advocates argue that without the Bay's historic theaters, a cultural touchstone in the region will be lost. We have seen buildings like this preserved in cities around the country, and they're all happy they preserved them, said Allen Michaan, the owner of the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland. That's because they're an important part of civic life.

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