Great Star Theater

The Great Star Theater at 636 Jackson Street is a performance venue with 500 seats that has preserved its original architectural details and interior structure. The space features a traditional seating area facing a stage used regularly for live entertainment and community events.

This venue opened in 1925 as a competing entertainment destination to the Mandarin Theater, created to serve the Chinese-American population. It quickly became a gathering place for community entertainment and cultural presentations in the neighborhood.

This venue remains the only Chinese performance space still operating in any Chinatown across the United States, serving the community's cultural needs. Visitors witness ongoing traditions of live performances that reflect the artistic heritage of Chinese-American residents.

You can reach the venue by contacting management through email at management@GreatStarTheater.org or by phone at (415) 735-4159 to ask about upcoming events and rental options. Reaching out in advance helps ensure you get accurate information about current performances and availability.

Bruce Lee launched his film career here in 1941 with the Cantonese-language film 'Golden Gate Girl' while his father performed on stage. This was one of the earliest documented appearances of the performer who later became a global cinema icon.