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| The Rex (later the Bella Union) in 1972 |
The earliest recorded screenings of Filipino films in San Francisco - and in fact the first dedicated regular Tagalog-language screenings anywhere on the continental United States - were, appropriately enough, in a former Chinese theatre at 825 Kearny St, a short walk from SF's Little Manila. The Rex screenings pre-date other regular Filipino shows at the Globe in San Pedro (November 1947) and the Rio in Soledad, CA (January 1948), hinting at the start of a larger and most probably unlisted network of Filipino-friendly venues. A beautifully detailed history of the Rex is on the San Francisco Theatres blog.
Opening as the Shanghai Theatre ("The Only Chinese Theatre In The City") in 1911, it was quickly rebranded the Kearny Theatre, showing non-Chinese entertainment. Burlesque shows and adult roadshow films took over in the early Thirties.
The Kearny Burlesque closed in May 1945, and was reopened as Teatro Rex, playing Spanish language films before adding Filipino films in 1946:
“...the old and fabled Bella Union, later the Kearny Burlesque, is now the Rex, showing Mexican and Filipino films; the new owner is Maury Schwarz.” [San Francisco Chronicle, 26th June 1946, p.13]
The first listings for Filipino film screenings start in 1947. The venue is then renamed the Bella Union in 1948 and screened silent films, before switching back to the Rex in February and reverting to its foreign language programming ("Chinese Pictures except Wednesdays").
REX SCREENINGS 1947
August 7 – “Philippine Memories (Before War)” + “Road To Tokyo (Filipino Guerrillas)”
August 10 to 11 – Garrison 13
August 18 to 19 – Punit Na Bandilla
August 24 – Sa Paanan Ng Krus
August 27 to 28 – Malakas Maganda
August 30 to 31 – Dating Sumpaan
September 5 – Dating Sumpaan
September 12 to 14 – Maria Alimango
September 19 to 25 – Kundiman
September 26 to 28 – Azucena
October 3 to 5 – Ikaw Rin
October 10 to 12 – Magpakailan Man
October 17 to 19 – Ibong Sawi
October 24 to 26 – Bayan At Pagibig
October 31 to November 2 – Tatlong Pagkabirhen
November 2 to 3 – Punit Na Bandila
November 7 to 8 – Hatol Ng Mataas Na Langit
November 14 to 15 - Paruparong Bukid
November 15 - Garrison 13
November 16 to 17 – Binatang Parang
November 21 to 22 – Angel Na Tukbo
November 23 to 24 - Binibini Pangarap
November 28 to 29 – Akoy Maghihintay
November 30 to December 1 – Garrison 13
December 4 to 6 - Florante At Laura
December 7 to 8 – Punit Na Bandila
December 11 to 13 - Kamoning
December 14 to 15 – Dating Sumpaan
December 18 to 20 - Martir Ng Bagumbayan
December 21 to 22 – Sa Paanan Ng Krus
December 25 to 27 - Death March
December 28 to 31 – Kundiman
REX SCREENINGS 1948
January 1 [to 3?] - Mga Anak Na Lansangan
January 4 to 5 – Leron Leron Sita
January 8 to 10 - Muya Ng Silangan
January 11 to 12 – Ikaw Rin
January 15 to 17 - Giliw Ko
January 18 to 19 – Azucena
January 22 to 24 - Ibong Sawi
January 25 to 26 – Hatol Ng Mataas Na Langit
January 29 to 31 - Binibini Pangarap
February 1 to 2 - Magpakailan Man
February 5 to 7 – Ibong Sawi
February 8 to 9 - Paruparong Bukid
February 12 to 14 – Arimunding Munding
February 15 to 16 - Giliw Ko
February 19 to 21 – Mga Anak Ng Lansangan
February 22 to 23 - Kamoning
February 26 to 28 – Mutya Ng Silangan
February 29 to March 1 - “First Run Shows – Pictures Direct From The PI”
March 5 to 7 – Bago Lumabog Ang Araw
March 12 to 14 - Dasalang Perlas
March 19 to 21 – Dasalang Perlas
March 26 to 28 – Isang Halik Lamang
Listings end at this point, presumably for its closure and reopening as the Bella Union silent movie theatre. The "Rex" returns after January 1949.
REX SCREENINGS 1949
March 23 - REX THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO: Principe Na Hindi Tumatawa [newspaper article mentions Filipino films are screened near Little Manila, but the theatre is closed much of the time due to a scarcity of prints. listings for the Rex claim “Chinese pictures except Wednesdays”]
March 30 - Ikaw Ay Akin
April 6 - Hinagpis
April 13 - Angelus
April 20 - Ala Alakita
April 27 - Victory Joe
May 4 - [Chinese film]
May 11 - Romansa
May 18 - “sequel to Victory Joe with Rogelio de la Rosa” [name unreadable]
May 25 - Dalawang Daigdig
June 1 - Aladin
June 8 - The Voice Of Freedom
June 15 - [Chinese film]
June 22 - Binatang Taring
June 29 - “New Filipino Picture”
July 6 - “Filipino Pictures Every Wednesday”
July 13 - [Chinese film]
July 20 - “Filipino Pictures Every Wednesday”
July 27 - REX THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO: Magong Nanunubus [last listing until 1951]
REX SCREENINGS 1951
By now a recognizable path can be detected for Tagalog prints around California from March 1951 - Wednesdays at the Rex, Saturdays at the Rio Theatre in Vallejo, Tuesdays at the Plaza Theatre in Salinas.
February 21 to 27 [“New Show Every Wednesday”]: Guinang Takai Chi
February 28 to March 6 - Labis Na Pagmamahal
March 7 to 13 - Ang Lumang Simbahan
March 14 to 20 - Sa Kabilang Buhay
March 21 to 27 - “Always A Great Filipino Picture Program – Phone...”
March 28 to April 3 - Padre Burgos
April 4 to 10 - Damit Pangkasal
April 11 to 17 - Dalamhati
April 18 to 24 - Magandang Umaga Maestro
April 25 to May 1 - Kumander Sundang
May 2 to 8 - Kay Ganda Ng Umaga
May 9 to 15 - Dugo Ng Bayan
May 16 to 22 - Apoy Sa Langit
May 23 to 29 - Pinaghating Sandaaning Piso
May 30 to June 5 - Kidlat Sa SIlangan
June 6 to 12 - Dugo Ng Katipunan
June 13 to 19 - Sa Piling Mo
June 20 to 26 - Biro Ng Tadhana
June 27 to July 3 - Suwail
July 4 to 10 - Milagro Ng Birhen
July 11 to 17 - Nakaripang Kamay
July 18 to 24 - Abogada
July 25 - “Phone For Next Attraction” [listings stop until 1953]
REX SCREENINGS 1953
November 4 – Og
November 11 – Santa Christina
November 18 – Punglo At Pagibig
November 25 – Lagrimas
December 2 – Aghel Ng Pagibig
December 9 – Kadakilaan
The Rex ceases all advertising after this date. The building once again became the Bella Union and was used for live performances from May 1954 interspersed with silent film screenings. Frank Lee took over the lease in 1964 and was the first cinema in San Francisco to show first-release Shaw Brothers films in Mandarin. The cinema finally closed in 1985.
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