Stanford Theatre (Palo Alto)
When you visit Stanford Theatre, you feel like you are going back in time. Classic movies from long ago (think 1920s through 1960s) are the specialty genre. This theater, located in Palo Alto, is in a perfect location in downtown. Surrounding the theatre are lots of fantastic restaurants (one of which is Nola, that I will review later), so it’s in a convenient location to first grab dinner and then head over to the show.
The Stanford Theatre was established in 1925. Can you believe it? It was restored a few decades ago, and it’s a simply grand building. Large movie posters from the olden days line up the walls of the theatre. Inside, there’s an area that showcases articles about the theatre and additional memorabilia from the movies featured there.
It’s an old school theatre, so you’re not going to get cushy lounge chairs with heated seats. No, instead you’ll see seats with crushed red velvet, matching the curtains that outline the stage. You step into the Stanford Theatre and it gives you vintage vibes for sure!
What’s even cooler about this theatre is that there’s a Wurlitzer organ, which was used to accompany silent films. A Wurlitzer player provides musical entertainment before and after certain shows. Imagine my surprise when the song ended and the Wurlitzer, along with the musician, slowly sunk down into the stage to disappear out of sight! Way to make a grand exit!
The Wurlitzer in action!
You might imagine that the Stanford Theatre attracts a much older crowd (think 70s and 80s), and that is true, but there are some younger people who go to the theatre as well. The charm and nostalgia are ever present in the theatre, and it’s a great way to spend a few hours on the weekend! If you ever go, tell me what you think.
So inquiring minds want to know: Do you like classic movies? What’s your favorite?
