San Francisco '22 - Islam Temple Welcomes You

Harold von Schmidt

This illustration from 1921 by noted American illustrator Harold von Schmidt was probably created as a 1922 poster and other advertising for the Islam Temple in San Francisco, to be designed and printed by San Francisco advertising firm Foster and Kleiser.

Built for the Shriners in 1917, the Islam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, draws inspiration from Persian and Asian architecture. The Temple's particularly lavish and exotic expression of these elements has been dubbed Moorish Byzantine Eclectic.

Rumor has it that denied by the Shriners to sign his name on the cornerstone, Scottish-born architect and Shriner, Thomas Patterson Ross, hid his signature in plain view using Arabic letters directly over the entryway to spell out "Great is Allah and Great is Ross the Architect."

The Shriners, a fraternal social and charitable order of the Freemasons, used the Temple until 1970. Recalling a cherished and historic theater that burned down in 1906, the Temple was renamed The Alcazar Theater and boasted 500 seats. The theater closed in 1984 but was rehabilitated in 1992. Today the Alcazar is a rental theater, irregularly hosting theatrical events such as cabarets, revues, and comedic performers.