A film noir flick starring Humphrey Bogart glows in black and white on a screen in Washington Square. Bottles uncork and picnic baskets pop open. Over a thousand people have turned out for Film Night in the Park – an event organized by the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation, a group dedicated to the preservation of historic movie theaters.

Although popular in cities like San Anselmo and New York for years, outdoor film screenings haven’t had a consistent home in San Francisco. Taking advantage of clear, cool nights and pretty settings like Dolores Park and Washington Square, the theater foundation has created a hip, urban-chic event while simultaneously raising consciousness for their cause.

The cause is simple: to save San Francisco’s cinemas.

Long appreciated for historic architecture, plush red seats, large screens and a cozy feel, neighborhood movie houses offer film buffs a more intimate experience.

“They were designed as the equivalent of opera halls and theaters, so they were magnificent on the inside and outside,” said Steve Kovacs, a cinema professor. “Because they are so grand, they are a wonderful place in which to see films.”

Unfortunately, they’re becoming fewer and farther between, prey to encroaching housing, chain stores and more.

San Francisco native Alfonso Felder helped found the theater foundation in 2002, after he began to notice that neighborhood theaters were being torn down or closed.

“I lamented the closing of so many of these theaters,” said Felder. “And for me, I wasn’t just seeing the end to a great theater, I was seeing damage to the commercial district.”

Felder believes preserving neighborhood theaters is not only important for nostalgic reasons, but also for the contribution cinemas make to the surrounding businesses.

“Local theaters can be extremely important to commercial districts,” said Felder. “The 4 Star Theater and the Alexandria [Theatre] in the Richmond help foot traffic to restaurants and shops. And look at the Castro Theatre – the best-case scenario – it adds so much to the neighborhood.”

The impact of closures is just as powerful – albeit negative. The Presidio Theatre, a single-screen theater in the Marina, closed last year, leaving many businesses parched for customers.

“After it closed, our weekday traffic decreased by 50 percent,” said Lulu Clement, owner of Café Miramba, a Mexican restaurant across the street from the theater.

Other shop owners have shared the same fate, she added.

“We’re all hoping someone reopens the Presidio,” she said.

She may get her wish, thanks to efforts by the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation. The organization helped to defeat an attempt by Gorilla Sports Clubs to take over the space, opening the door for local businessman Frank Lee to acquire the lease instead. Lee is also the owner of the 4 Star Theater and has tentative plans for reopening the Presidio.

When the Presidio opens its doors again, it may find a whole new following – the theater foundation has used its popular film nights in the park to clue the city into its crusade to save cinemas.

“We’ve begun to capture a mainstream audience,” said Felder. “We started last year with only a few hundred people. Our last event had over 1,000. We’re reaching a lot now, which means more and more people are aware of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

With the increased awareness, the foundation hopes that neighborhoods can once again reclaim their theaters and the unique charm they lend to their share of the city.

“Small neighborhood theaters offer better service, better films and nicer people,” said Sam Messe, a cinema junior. “I really do love the independent theaters of San Francisco. They inspire me to make movies to be seen there.”

The San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation will host its final outdoor screening of the year this coming Saturday, Oct. 9, in Dolores Park. The cult classic Harold and Maude will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.