We've written about the financial travails of San Francisco's Red Vic Movie House a couple of times before, and now it looks like the end is finally near.
The Vic's current calendar runs through July 25, which coincidentally marks the end of the theater's 30th year. Claudia Lehan, one of four members who run the movie house as a co-op, says it will "probably close" after that, barring a sudden infusion of cash.
"We're near the end," Lehan said. "We sure don't want to close but we're financially strapped. We're hoping for a miracle. But it's not looking good. It’s quite a loss for us personally and for San Francisco. It’s a great San Francisco institution. I'm happy and grateful to have been a part of it for so long.”
The Vic is one of the remaining retro houses in the city. The Roxie, in the Mission, was in similar straits years ago but managed to survive several near-death experiences.
Red Vic staff had been hoping fundraising events would help close the financial gap. And while members of the film community did step up, Lehan said, it just wasn't enough to save the theater.