The Parkway Speakeasy Theater

The old Parkway may be closed but I got a sneak preview of the New Parkway last week and Oaklanders are in for a real treat. This is unlike any movie theater we’ve been to. Sure films will be projected on a big screen but the seating is not traditional, the food is going to be great and you will be able to buy drinks too. They will play second run movies for only $ 6 and have lots of special events, live music, etc.
Local artists are being supported in many ways including a tie in with Creative Growth down the street.
The plan is to open on December 14. The location is on 24^th Street between Broadway and Telegraph, around the corner from the YMCA gym.
Check out their website.

This was a wonderful, fun, local theater. My one star is NOT for the now closed theater but for the blight on the neighborhood the owners have let it become. It is covered with horrible graffiti, ghetto images covering every inch of space in garish spray paint that is completely ruining a neighborhood where people are working hard to improve and uplift. Businesses have remodeled, there are new lights and roads and then this theater makes us look like a slum. (With the combined apathy of the new O’reily’s auto part store, also covered with graffiti.
Please repair or tear down this eye sore. You do a disservice to everyone.

Absolutely fantastic! Simple pub food. Great Beer. Cheap tickets. Great cult flicks. Need I say more. COME BACK TO US! The landlords need to get over themselves and lease the space to someone who wants bring the Parkway back.
Hopefully the new Parkway off telegraph does not make old parkway obsolete.

Simple math equation for you: 1 pitcher of microbrew + 1 pizza+1 order of nachos + a good movie+ 1 comfy couch= an awesome evening. The Parkway is a great place for a movie freak to go and see classics, b movies, new blockbusters and documentaries. Most places you have to sneak in your goodies, here they provide them. There are great beers like Anchor Porter, Anderson Valley Boont Amber, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone IPA (fantastic!!!), and Eye of the Hawk Ale as well as wine. Though the food is not phenomenal but it is decent. The theater, a classic movie house from yesteryear is definitely beautiful.
The food and ticket prices are affordable so those on a tight budget should still be able to have a fun time on the cheap. I definitely recommend a visit as there is only one other theater in the Bay Area like it.
IT NEEDS TO RETURN ASAFP!!!

The Parkway was THE BEST theater in the Bay Area. Cheap tickets, couches and beer… and the occasional zombie movie. What more could you ask for? I especially enjoyed the Special theme nights like Thrillville, Shat-​Fest (tribute to William Shatner), or cult the classics they’d occasionally show like Army of Darkness and Goonies. Every visit to Parkway was a treat, but my personal favorite was a Thrillville screening for «Night of the Lepus» (giant killer bunnies!) which also featured a live burlesque show beforehand!
(Usually they show second-​run movies i.e. movies that just finished playing in the main theaters)
It was a sad day when the Parkway closed, but…
Now there’s a serious attempt to revive the Parkway.
They’re also currently raising some money here with some nice treats for donors (I believe the fundraiser ends today):
Please come back, Parkway!

I haven’t lived in California in years, so I was a little late to hear this terrible news. When I lived in Lake Merritt, I was at my beloved Parkway every weekend. So many wonderful memories of sitting in a $ 5 movie while strangely quiet ushers brought us food. Since there was just one baby night, the rest of the week was ours. Specific moments I treasure:
–waiting in line outside on Oscars night alongside a woman in a full Bjork swan outfit;
–watching a funk band introduce the movie Shaft while sipping a glass of the late great Brothers Ale of Grand Ave, one of the only black-​owned breweries;
–laughing through a ridiculously funny movie in Esperanto at the William Shatner Film Festival;
–winning trivia prizes from the fez-​wearing Will the Thrill and his beautiful wife, Monica the Tiki Goddess (God, I hope they still have a gig);
–enjoying Will and Kyle’s previews, recorded somewhere in Kyle’s backyard (credits: «Napoleon — Chairman in Absentia»).
The Fischers showed me how entertainment should be: local, cozy, personal. And with beer.
I’ve lived around the country and haven’t found anything like this place.

So, there’s a movement to re-​open the Parkway Theater in Oakland.
You can sign up for the I Like the Parkway mailing list here:
, follow the movement on Twitter here:
, and join the movement on Facebook here:
.
We miss you, Parkway Theater. Please come back!

WHAT??? IT CLOSED!!! NO!!!
Ugh, I loved the Parkway. I know times are tough but where else can you get a pizza & beer and watch a movie on the big screen? On couches! Or watch an older flick that everyone gets into and talks to the screen and it’s not annoying? Or a place where women can have a movie night and bring their kids and no one is yelling at them?
This was an EXPERIENCE… it wasn’t just a theatre.
I’m bummed… I was thinking of having my bday here…
El Cerrito is still open. but it’s so far for me :(

I wish I had known about this place sooner. But I’m glad I was able to experience Parkway before it closed this past Sunday, March 22^nd.
This theater is truly one-​of-​a-​kind. It’s small, but definitely inviting. Cozy couches and tables for food and drinks. It provides a similar comfort you get when watching a movie at home. (
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It was quite sad to see this establishment go due to the current economy. And this was explained by the owners of the Parkway, Kyle and Catherine Fischer, whom recorded a heartfelt message for the patrons. (
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Fortunately, the Fischers are able to keep their other speakeasy theater in El Cerrito.
Farewell Parkway! (
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I love this place — they have a great community feel and show movies that I often want to see. They host things like the Black Gay film festival — hats off to them.
I only wish I enjoyed the food. If the food was good they would get 6 stars.

I love that I can go here and watch an inexpensive movie while enjoying beer and pizza. I also greatly appreciate that since they serve beer and wine, they only let people 21 and up in the place… unless it is screaming baby night which is fabulous for people with screaming babies but I will avoid until I have one of my own.
I suggest visiting their website and getting on their e-​mail list so you find out what is playing before it is posted for everyone to see. Oh, and arrive early if you want a good couch spot.

It’s well known that I’m a huge pizza snob. I had the pizza the last time I was here and wasn’t all that excited about it.
This time, I decided to try the nachos.
OMG they’re beyond messy but so good — you can’t stop eating them. My hot date ;) leaned over half way through the plate and said, «I feel like we’re feeding»…
OHhh yea — lemme lick that sour cream off your pinkie.

This is what a cheap theater should be like… This place has beer that they serve you during the movie, tables and counter tops with bar stools, recliners, love seats… you name it and they got it…
nothing like going to watch a flick for 5 bucks and having a slice of pizza or some veggies n dip with a beer or rootbeer on tap…
This place is great… I dont know what else can be added that everyone else has not already said… it just is the perfect kind of place to go and enjoy yourself at for a few hours…
they also host special events such as the presidential debates, primaries and election night coverage free to the public… but food n drink are at your expense… so a nice combo… now if only they did this for football games… then we would seriously have an even greater thing here… but i dont know what else can move this place up the list…

Heard about this place from a friend and me and my boyfriend decided to come here on our 6 years anniversary date. I really enjoyed the whole concept of it. movies, food, alcohol, and a couch to sit on and cuddle with your significant other on. =) really can’t complain about that! we did this deal where it was $ 35 for 2 movie tickets, a pizza, a pitcher of beer, and a bowl of popcorn. Not bad if you ask me. They also have other food that you can order, but we just stuck with that $ 35 deal. Keep in mind that the movies are not the new release movies and there are only like 2 – 3 different movies playing and limited show times. but it’s not really a big deal. If you’re looking for something «different» to do than your usual movie theater date, i recommend going here. I would seriously want to go here all the time, if they had one closer to me.
Oh yeah, minus one star cuz the beer we had was hellllla gross. =(they have a limited selection of beer too. hopefully they’re not all gross. but if you don’t want beer you can get wine, too!

Lounging on the comfy chairs at the Speakeasy, my beverage on the table in front of me, my food delivered by the hardest working food dropper offer person I’ve ever seen, I pondered my life so far, and here’s what I discovered…
Top Ten Things «The Princess Bride» has taught me:
1) Leather pants, a suede vest, and a long intricately-​made sword on a man (or a man in black) is infinitely sexier than those pansies who carry little daggers and wear velvet tunics and tights, no matter how puffy their sleeves are. Little daggers are very unbecoming compared to a long intricately-​made sword, if you know what I mean.
2) Fred Savage did not always have his life narrated by Daniel Stern, which I am truly thankful for because Peter Falk has a much better voice.
3) The six fingered man is clearly a sadist who probably has a secret stash of snuff «films» on parchment paper. He also seems to worship Humperdinck eerily similar to the way Flanders worships Mr. Burns.
4) Eyebrow grooming was apparently NOT a priority to a lot of these folks, regardless of social class. The king, gatekeeper and old hag both needed a wax in the WORST possible way.
5) As hot as Inigo Montoya is, and although his revenge quest is completed, he probably will continue to have daddy issues. I wonder how long it took him to come up with one of the best movie lines ever. Did he try it in haiku first? Iambic pentameter?
6) Fezzik becomes more unintelligible with each viewing, but manages to get funnier and sweeter each time anyway.
7) I want to aspire to having a marriage as fiery and passionate as Miracle Max and Valerie. I bet those two are HOT in bed. And if he can make a pill to bring someone back to life, who knows what else he could make to spice up the bedroom?
8) I wish the Impressive Clergyman was available to perform my imaginary wedding. Sadly, he has moved on to the speech impediment club in the sky.
9) The albino REALLY needs to get that thing on his lip checked out. What is it? Toxic Mold? The herp? Leftover lunch?
10) Every man I date needs to say «as you wish» to me every day, whether or not we are engaging in our BDSM play. This is mandatory (the «as you wish»…the BDSM is optional).
11) In honor of Christopher Guest, who was also in «This Is Spinal Tap», which went all the way up to eleven, there was some weird 6 degrees going on here– both Westley and Vizzini starred in a movie with Alicia Silverstone. How’s THAT for useless movie trivia knowledge?
Thanks to the gorgeous Keeks, The Birthday Girl, The Lovely Gracie, and my Partner in Ass Crime for making this night memorable. I’m still pissed that I did not get to sit on Matt’s lap, but the tasty nachos and beer more than made up for it.

I can not think of any reason to complain… and I’m trying!
It’s very close to home, has pitchers of beer, cheap movies, couches and all that jazz!
Wednesday nights = 2 for 1!
Sure the movies are older and the system isn’t the best but what do you expect?
Why don’t you go pay $ 10 for a movie plus parking at Bay St and stay sober if you care that much. Snobs!

Totally love the parkway. Back when I was in college and living in Oaktown my husband (then boyfriend, so yes, we lived in sin) we used to hit up the Parkway to see films and drink the booze. Who doesn’t love sitting on a comfy well-​worn couch to watch a flick?
The food is not good at all, but hey it’s nice to be able to EAT meals in a theater. Plus the prices are decent on the college-​size wallet.
Of course I haven’t been in a while and now all my hipster friends wanna go. See… everything you like I liked five years ago. ;)

Great idea, great people, and a fun experience.
Pizza, Beer, popcorn, and a movie. Just like at home but on a big screen. Well, almost like at home. And actually we got a couple of dogs and not the pizza, but still …
Comfortable seats (if you can get a couch), but even the standard chairs are pretty decent. The place is not that big so pretty much all the seats have a good view.
No kids on most days. Believe me, I love my kids. But sometimes you want a movie experience with out kids talking, cell phones ringing, kids getting up during the movie.
Only issues:
— service at counter was a little slow and rude (might have been a rough night).
— people sitting next to us in the regular seats behind the couches seemed to think that their need for personal space outweighed our desire to simply maintain ours. Even moved our chairs for us when we went for a refill or to the restroom before the movie.
— parking was a little tough.
I’d definitely go again.

To quote 50: I love you like a fat kid loves cake! This place kicks ass.
Where do I start? How about two for one admission on Wednesdays. The price of admission is something like $ 6.
The best part — they have couches. Be sure to get there early if you want to sit in a couch. Also, don’t bring a blacklight or flashlight to inspect the couch. Just sit down and don’t ask questions.
Unlike AMC or any chain the food is edible and affordable. The pizza is… dare I say… good?
Parking is easy. The crowd is a fun one.
I wish I saw Superbad here, but alas I didn’t.
Did I mention they sell beer?
It’s like I’ve died and gone to heaven.

Yes.