Daniel replies:

In part, in part. I also had in mind the Clark Theater in Chicago, a real place very like the Snark, and now gone. I did _not_ know that Jack London's brother had an early biograph or cinema theater in San Francisco known as The Snark. ""Snarky,"" is also used as an adjective connoting sharp or aggressive, or having a pointy nose like a pencil. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some old Norse foundation. I think there are some snark links around here somewhere.