Episode
This Theater Was a Refuge for Queer Americans. Now It's Been Reborn.
- Podcast
- Unpacked by Afar
- Published
- Mar 17, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1352
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.afar.com/podcasts/unpacked
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Summary
She’s 104 years old, newly renovated, and she’s ready for her close-up. On this episode of Unpacked: America 250, host Aislyn Greene talks about the newly renovated Castro Theatre in San Francisco, a $41 million transformation of one of America’s most beloved LGBTQ+ landmarks. Aislyn sits down with Mary Conde, SVP at Another Planet Entertainment, the independent concert promoter behind the renovation, to explore what it took to bring this icon back to life, and why this was always about more than a building. In this episode, you'll learn The history behind the Castro Theatre, from a Lebanese immigrant’s grocery store to a 1,400-seat icon. How the Castro became the heartbeat of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. What a $41 million renovation actually looks like, from a peach-glazed ceiling to a color-changing chandelier. The story of the organs (yes, plural) that have defined the Castro’s sound for decades. Why Another Planet Entertainment sees this as a gift to San Francisco, not just a business investment. Chapters 00:00:00 The Castro's Comeback 00:02:00 From Grocery Store to Icon 00:05:30 A Safe Harbor for a Community 00:09:00 Inside the Renovation 00:13:00 The Organ's New Life 00:15:30 What's Coming Next Meet this week’s guest Mary Conde, Senior Vice President at Another Planet Entertainment and a lifelong San Franciscan who has shaped the city’s music scene for decades. Another Planet is the independent concert promoter behind Outside Lands and the recent mayoral inauguration party, and the company that took on the Castro’s renovation. Resources Read the transcript of this episode. Explore the history of the Castro Theater. Buy tickets for upcoming Castro events. Read about the Frameline LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up fo…