San Marco Theatre Closed Today

Talking about some history!  On the inside lobby of the San Marco Theatre stands a gazillion-ton masterpiece. (It’s huge!) (It’s heavy!). (It’s solid!)  That is to say also, there is what some call one of the best film projectors ever made.  It has been called a “cinographic treasure” and was used to project the movie to the screen. One can be purchased on eBay for upwards $3995. But the shipping fee? Hummmmmm.

Here is a quote from an almost 4 decade experienced projectionist about the Brenkert Light Projector:

“I am a retired projectionist (39 years experience) and prior to that, in the late 1940’s I was briefly employed at the Brenkert Light Projection Company (Or “Brenkert Light” or “BLPC” as we called it) in my hometown of Detroit (275 miles southeast of Petoskey!).

Yes (in my prejudiced opinion) the Brenkerts were possibly the BEST 35mm projector heads ever made in the U.S.A.”

The San Marco Theatre was built in 1938 about the time this piece of equipment was becoming well-known, loved and used in the movie industry.  Today, the one in the lobby stands as a testament to progress as the Brenkert was once the famed projector where now, a small computer along with a small boxed-size projector is used.

Over the years, the theatre has served Jacksonville well.  The Brenkert projector was the equipment that the famed Civil War movie, Gone With The Wind was shown using at its premier in Atlanta. I wonder how many times it was shown at the San Marco Theatre in Jacksonville?

The last movies shown at the San Marco was Love Actually and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  While I was there yesterday, people were just walking in, looking around and talking about the loss of this iconic movie theatre.  One man said that he found it interesting that he moved back home to care for his ailing and ageing father who was the “ultimate Grinch” so he was a believer in the character of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

TSG bought the San Marco property in 2022 for $3.35 million from businessmen, Ryan and Jonathan Davis, Frank Sanchez and Andrew Oetjen.  The new owners indicated that they would leave the outside facade as is-Iconic.  I just wonder if the deal came with the Brenkert projector?

See you tomorrow,

Sources: film-tech. Com , Jaxdailyrecord, Robert Sprague- 1-1-23