Homage to the Parkway Speakeasy Movie Theatre in Oakland California
by Jaden
Sadly, one of my favorite places in Northern California shut its doors: the Parkway Speakeasy Movie Theater on Park Boulevard in Oakland, a culturally diverse lounge style theater full of couches, tables, and chairs where you could drink beer or wine, eat pizza and popcorn, and make new friends. Depending on the night, ticket prices ranged from $2.50 to $5.00!
In honor of the Parkway Theater and Oakland (famed for its rappers like Too $hort and musician Raphael Saadiq), below are two reviews of musical films I saw at the Parkway just before it closed.
You may read the theater’s public statement below.
PURPLE RAIN (1984)
Screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn
Purple Rain, starring the musician Prince, was the last movie I saw at the Parkway.
The screening was a fundraising event put on by East Bay Innovations to assist adults with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes and to be employed in jobs of their choosing.
Due to the dramatic 1980s styles and bad acting, the audience was laughing throughout the movie, even through some of the dark serious subjects.
Mostly, Purple Rain is a concert on film with some drama weaved into it, like a theatrical musical. Watching this movie, one is reminded of Prince’s phenomenal musical abilities, and for that, the movie is priceless.
Go big when you watch this movie — it’s no small screen event. With a good sound system and a large screen, Purple Rain is an excellent choice to project during a party or for a fundraiser.
CADILLAC RECORDS (2008)
Screenplay by Darnell Martin
Sony Pictures: “In this tale of sex, violence, race, and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, “Cadillac Records” follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.“
Shunned by many critics and the Academy Awards, Cadillac Records was enjoyed and honored in Oakland at the Parkway Theater and by the Black Reel Awards. Being the rare case that the writer / director is a woman, and an attractive one at that, it is no surprise that her cinematic achievements were dismissed.
Like most Hollywood movies, Cadillac Records is highly stylized; no one should expect a fiction film to portray the truth, yet that was the complaint of the critics.
Overlooked were the outstanding musical and acting performances, along with the stunning array of Cadillacs and fashions exhibited from the 1940s through the 1970s.
Cadillac Records is gorgeous and entertaining. When I saw it, I wondered why it went quietly to the wayside with little recognition.
Lovers of music, Cadillacs, and retro styles, put this on your birthday wish list; it is a breathtaking movie starring beauty Beyonce Knowles, Cedric the Entertainer, Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short, Adrien Brody, and Eamonn Walker who plays Howlin’ Wolf and will absolutely rock your world!
PUBLIC STATEMENT
FAREWELL PARKWAY
After more than twelve years of serving the great cultural crossroad of Oakland, the Parkway Speakeasy Theater will be closing at the end of business day, Sunday March 22, 2009.
From African Diaspora to Thrillville to lesbian fashion shows and educational porn, the Parkway has offered an eclectic array of movies and events. It was the first theater in California to offer food, beer and wine service in a lounge style movie theater. With a nudge or a push from the community, there was little programming the Parkway theater would not try in order to better be a community center and a safe haven for diverse ideas.
The Parkway brought Baby Brigade for the shuttered and abandoned parents of newborns, the first international black gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender film festival and Sunday Salon, a free event for cultural and community enhancement.
We, at the Parkway Speakeasy Theater, are deeply proud of the Parkway and will profoundly miss serving its community. Thank you for your patronage.
(This decision does not affect the Cerrito Speakeasy. Most of the Parkway’s regular and special events will move over there.)
Speakeasy Theaters nurtures and grows local communities by entertaining, challenging and feeding the mind, body and soul through irreverent, respectful and whimsical entertainment and tasty, local, housemade food and drink.
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4 Responses to “Homage to the Parkway Speakeasy Movie Theatre in Oakland California”
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Purple Rain is definitely a classic. It was 2 before my time, but I think I’ve watched it enough times by now that I could quote some of the silly dialogue, sing my favorite songs, and wait for the best scenes… which usually involved music anyway. It’s be interesting to see this on a big screen for sure.
Cadillac Records was good… I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from it, but I guess it was good enough. I couldn’t tell you what I thought it was missing compared to other movies I like that are like it (The Temptations and The Five Heartbeats come to mind). Perhaps it’s the notable songs, I’m not familiar with their work. But overall, I still say it was a good movie and a shame it didn’t get the recognition it deserved.
And it’s always sad for me when a theatre closes down. Or a drive in. Or a regular cinema. Each performance or showing of whatever you are watching is a lasting memory and much different that watching it at home. At least it is for me. This sounds likes a great place and I would’ve had loved to see just about anything… especially for $5!
Purple Rain is one of my favorite films of all time! I would have lo ved to see it in a DRIVE IN or CINEMA!
t.sterling — Thank you for your thoughtful input. Purple Rain is fun. That’s hilarious you have seen it so many times. I saw it once when I was a kid and then once recently. Yes, I will admit that Cadillac Records lost me at the Etta drug scene when Brody…. and then the wife… and then…. Could maybe use a stronger script? Since it got so much negative press, though, I wanted to focus on some of the good stuff.
trench — Yep, time to bring back the drive in! We can bring our own projectors and launch them on the walls of ghost malls and park in the empty lots! :-)
Jaden–I agree, Cadillac Records could’ve used more of something. But for what it’s worth, I’m glad it was made. I know there’s someone out there that saw the movie and brought a new interest to that music. And as long as you got one, I think you did your job.
And yes, bring back the drive ins!