How We Created a Peephole Cinema in San Francisco

Part of San Francisco's charm is the exceptional and quirky art you see all over the city. You can see this in the architecture, the public art, and even in the colors people choose to paint their homes. It took me too long to realize that this charm is not something to be taken for granted and passively enjoyed but rather something to contribute to intentionally. That is what I tapped into when I set out on my San Francisco peephole cinema project!

Earlier this year, I discovered that San Francisco's original peephole cinema had shut down during the pandemic. At first, I felt the way anybody would when something they love disappears – I was sad! And then I thought, why don't I do something about it?

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's back up a step before I dive into how this got started.

What the Heck is a Peephole Cinema?

A peephole cinema is like a mini movie theater hidden in plain sight, usually on the street.

Picture a peephole. Yes, the little dime-sized hole you'd look through if you just got a knock on your door.

However, in the case of a peephole cinema, you don't see a person on the other side. You see a screen! And on that screen is whatever video you want.

Why in the World Did I Want to Make a Peephole Cinema?

One day in 2016, we were planning an SF Hunt and looking into unique gems to highlight in SF. I learned about a peephole cinema experience in an alleyway in Bernal Heights. 

The installation reflected what I mentioned earlier. In true SF fashion, the artist Laurie O'Brien created this unique cinema experience for the community. They weren't attempting to earn money; it was something people could discover and enjoy.

Fast forward to 2024. We were building our 10th anniversary SF Hunt 🎂, and I wanted to include the peephole cinema as one of the riddles. Sadly, however, I discovered it had shut down during COVID and hadn't rebooted since then. Check out what it looked like below.

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I was able to contact the artist to see if she was going to reboot it in a different location, but unfortunately, they were out of town for a while. And I needed it by June 1. So, I did whatever any self-respecting entrepreneur would do: I figured out how to make it exist!

All with the help of a master artist and maker, Glenn.

Who is Glenn?

Glenn is the perfect partner in crime. (Note: No crimes were committed in the making of this peephole cinema.) He's the right balance of the exceptional intellect needed to create magnificent things and the countercultural energy needed to manifest things that may be "hard" to do.

Naturally, Glenn was the first person I called once I decided this needed to happen. He helped me brainstorm around my original idea, and, per usual, he told me it was much more involved than I had anticipated and wouldn't work as planned.

But Glenn is a genius (see for yourself), and I was determined to tinker. We took it upon ourselves to bring the peephole cinema to life. Glenn took my "drill a hole through a wall" idea and turned it into a CAD-modeled, optically refined, 3D-printed masterpiece.

I Became One With the Spiders.

Nothing tests how limber you are like slipping between studs in the wall and crouch-crawling in a tiny storage area covered in spiders.

So.

Many.

Spiders.

I promised them I'd play Spiderman at some point if they let me hang out, and they agreed.

We drilled a blind hole to test the screen and peephole placement. Obviously, we nailed it the first time (if you disregard the first 3 'test' holes we drilled that didn't work).

We figured out the mounting, screen encasement, electricity, and WiFi and onboarded the small community of spiders needed to service the machinery periodically.

Figuring Out the "Remote" Control

Using an old computer I had from building the Jazz Heist (a portable escape room), I built out some software to change the video remotely, monitor the computer's status, and gather analytics and stats on the run time for all videos (3,669 hours and counting since May 29, 2024!).

Then, a few days before The SF Hunt, we drilled the holes, finished installing the peephole, and set up the screen (check out the video below). It worked. Relief!

During The SF Hunt, players visited the peephole cinema and watched a video we created about how Handstand started. The peephole has been there ever since, playing my dad's favorite silent films from the '60s (thanks for the recs, Dad).

Where is the Peephole Cinema?

You didn't think it'd be that easy, did you?? To find the secret location, you have to work for it.

Solve the following riddle (by Handstad game designer Gabe Taylor). The answer is the address of the peephole cinema!

We're also open to suggestions on what to showcase, so send yours to us at [email protected].

Other peephole cinema locations

I know this seems odd, but peephole cinemas are kind of rare! While they aren't just a Sam Goldstein or San Francisco thing—they've been done before and installed in other places—there aren't many active peephole cinemas.

Here are a few you can explore:

1) Bushwick, Brooklyn NYC.

2) IFC Center, Greenwich Village, NYC.

More Unique Film and Art Experiences in San Francisco

As I mentioned, San Francisco is a goldmine of remarkable people who make cool things. It's as simple as that. Here are five more art installations and community projects that you should check out:

1. The Lincoln Park Steps

You can find these colorful steps at Lincoln Park, at the end of California Street! They were a seven-year project envisioned by Anna Yatroussis and Meg Autry and created by local tile artist Aileen Barr.

2. The Wave Organ

Tucked away in the Marina District is a unique acoustic sculpture that plays music with the tides - yes, the ocean makes the music! It creates a symphony of sounds that everyone should experience for themselves.

3. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Have a unique movie experience at Alamo Drafthouse, where you can sit back, relax, and watch a film while eating delicious food. Before and during the show, you can write down your order, clip it to your table, and a server will swing by and grab it. How cool!

4. Balmy Alley Murals

Stroll through Balmy Alley in the Mission District, where vibrant murals channel stories of culture, activism, and community spirit. It's fun to wander through during the day with a camera, taking pictures of the colors.

Conclusion

So, that's how we brought the peephole cinema back to life in San Francisco.

It's a reminder that the city's art scene doesn't happen on its own—it's driven by creative people who want to share their magic with others.

If you come across our peephole cinema, we hope it makes you smile and reminds you to appreciate San Francisco's incredible people and hidden gems. Please enjoy, share with others, and add your art to the mix!

And if you had fun answering the peephole cinema riddle, challenge yourself to six more in this free Haunted Scavenger Hunt, or reach out to us to organize a custom team-building scavenger hunt for your company.

More FAQs about the Peephole Cinema