The Warfield is a historic theater at 982 Market Street in San Francisco, opened on May 13, 1922, as the Loews Warfield. Built by theater chain owner Marcus Loew and designed by architect G. Albert Lansburgh in a Spanish Baroque style, it began life as a vaudeville and movie palace, hosting stars like Al Jolson and Louis Armstrong during Hollywood’s golden age.
The venue’s identity shifted in 1979 when Bill Graham Presents booked Bob Dylan for a landmark two-week run launching his Gospel Tour, transforming The Warfield into one of San Francisco’s premier concert halls. The Grateful Dead marked their 15th anniversary there in 1980 with 15 sold-out shows, and Jerry Garcia went on to play the stage 88 times across various projects. Today, operated by Goldenvoice, it continues hosting major touring acts beneath its original ornate proscenium arch.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 982 Market Street, San Francisco, California
- Type: Historic theater / concert hall
- Opened: May 13, 1922
- Capacity: 2,454
- Architect: G. Albert Lansburgh
- Famous for: Bob Dylan’s 1979 Gospel Tour launch and 88 Jerry Garcia performances
From Vaudeville Palace to Rock Landmark
Marcus Loew built the Warfield as a movie and vaudeville palace, naming it for silent-era actor and San Francisco native David Warfield. Lansburgh’s design paired Spanish Baroque ornamentation with careful acoustic engineering, including a proscenium arch mural by Albert Herter depicting matadors and señoritas that still frames the stage today.
For decades the Warfield screened films and hosted variety acts before falling into decline along Market Street. Its reinvention as a rock venue began in 1979, when Bill Graham Presents brought Bob Dylan in for a run of shows that reintroduced the building to San Francisco’s live music scene.
A Stage for Music History
Through the 1980s and beyond, The Warfield became a favored stop for major touring artists, cementing its reputation with the Grateful Dead’s 15th-anniversary run in 1980, portions of which were recorded for the band’s live albums. Metal act Slayer filmed their concert release ‘War at the Warfield’ here in 2001, and Dream Theater debuted new drummer Mike Mangini on the same stage in 2011.
A significant renovation in 2008 refreshed the venue under new management, and it reopened under Goldenvoice’s operation, continuing to book a wide mix of touring rock, pop, and hip-hop acts while preserving its early-20th-century architectural details.
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The Warfield FAQs
When did The Warfield open?
The Warfield opened as the Loews Warfield vaudeville and movie palace on May 13, 1922.
What is the capacity of The Warfield?
The Warfield holds 2,454 people at maximum capacity, per the venue’s official rental information and Wikipedia.
Why is The Warfield historically significant for live music?
It became a major concert venue in 1979 when Bill Graham Presents booked Bob Dylan for a two-week run launching his Gospel Tour, and the Grateful Dead later celebrated their 15th anniversary there with 15 sold-out shows in 1980.
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Photo: Photo: Andreas Praefcke / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.