San Francisco Landmark #195 Alcazar Theater 650 Geary Street Between Jones and Leavenworth Built 1917 This eclectic Moorish/Byzantine building, commissioned by the Shriners as the Islam Temple , Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of Mystic Shrine , was designed by architect Thomas Patterson Ross . The façade, with Byzantine arches and filigree lattice work, is primarily of ornate polychrome terra cotta with a granite water table . The June 1917 edition of Architect and Engineer noted that the temple was "an adaptation from Alhambra , a building that stands as the highest mark of Arabian art and civilization." The Islam Temple was used for Shriner meetings and ceremonies from 1918 to 1970. Later it functioned as a small theater in the tradition of the original Alcazar Theater which was located on O'Farrell Street. (The original Alcazar opened in 1885, was destroyed by the 1906 Earthquake and Fire , was rebuilt, and was razed for a parking lot in 1963.) (Sou...
With a degree in Art History, writer takes a formal analysis of emerging and current art, art history, and architecture art that are around the United States, and globally. In addition, an avid book reader turn amateur reviewer on books that stimulates the mind and triggers thought provoking issues in our little world.