It appears the Gem Theatre was part of a small chain of 14 theatres scattered thru out Utah. They were all under the name of GEM. I wonder if a Gem Theatre still operates today??
Joe, Your above story is very interesting. I worked for that chain for so many years, but had never known Fox was into that type of exhibtion. Just of course his beautiful palaces he either had built or bought from other exhibitors. I do remember being in SF one time with my uncle and we were on Market St., we were in the area of the old Telenews Theatre and I insisted on going in there. So he bought the tickets and went inside. After about 5 minutes I was bored and wanted to leave. I remember it being a small theatre and sort of dumpy. Needless to say I never asked to go there again. ( I was probably abour 10 years old then!).
20th Century Fox and the Fox chain of theatres are seperate companies. 20th Century Fox is a film production company, they may have some interest in the theatre you are speaking of, but they have nothing to do with the Fox chain that operated here in the US. In fact, the original Fox chain sold to National General Theatres in the very early 60’s, later to sold to Mann Theatres in the mid 70’s. There has not been a Fox operated theatre since the early 60’s, yet 20th Century Fox Film Corp still is alive and well to this date.
Dear Mr. Frandsen, As A former MGR for Fox West Coast/ National General and Mann Theatres,in the San Francisco Bay Area from the early 60’s to mid 70’s I can truly greive with you as to what Ted Mann did to the nations largest theatre chain. I truly believe he only bought it for real estate purposes only. He closed every theatre from San Francisco to San Jose (sold, I mean) so fast it would make your head spin! So many of the theatres he closed were making money head over heels, but he closed them anyway. It did not matter whether they were new or old, he closed them.If it had not been for him I would still be with that company and it is now 2008!!
JUST TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT THE NATIONAL THEATRE WAS BUILT,OPENED, AND OPERATED BY NATIONAL GENERAL THEATRES BOB BOTHWELL WAS TRANSFERRED TO NY FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO OVERSEE THE OPENING. TED MANN SOON BOUGHT OUT NATIONAL GENERAL CORP AND AS HE DID WITH EVERY OTHER NATIONAL GENERAL/FOX THEATRE HE EITHER CLOSED THEM, SOLD THEM, OR TORE THEM DOWN . HE ONLY BOUGHT THE HUGE CHAIN FOR THE REAL ESTATE. HE WAS NOT A TRUE SHOWMAN. THE ORIGINAL CHAIN WAS THE LARGEST CHAIN IN AMERICA, THANKS TO TED MANN, IT IS DOWN TO ABOUT 20 THEATRES, MOSTLY IN LA. Larry Goldsmith
I noticed with all the remodeling done, the powers to be removed all the sweeping, beautiful and colorful drapery around the stage area. What a shame. It appears the once beautiful auditorium at the Fox Redwood now looks like a plain plaster/cement shell. Looks very cold. Also noticed that beautiful teal colored drapery was removed from archway at mezzanine entrance. This was all part of the history and beauty of the Fox. WHERE’S THE BOXOFFICE????? L. Goldsmith
Ken McIntyre, Are you any relation to William (Bill) McIntyre who managed the Crest Reno in the 60’s. In 1964 he was transferred to the Fox Theatre in Redwood City Ca.I worked for him there from 64 to 66 when he later opened the Fox Skyline in San Bruno Ca. I later managed that theatre in the 70’s Could you be his son??? Larry Goldsmith
I co managed this theatre along with resident mgr. JoAnn Brown during the early 70’s. We opened The Towering Inferno there. Opening nite brought out Natalie Wood Robert Wagner and the Aliotos. this theatre had a very friendly staff. They always made me feel welcomed when I worked there. This theatre was not very attractive. The outer lobby and marquee had all been “modernised”. The original marquee and Box Office were much more attractive. Had a real Cheap Plastic look in the 70’s. Larry Goldsmith
Hey Mitch, yeah,its Mr. Fox Redwood& Fox Skyline!!! It’s been over 30 years since I left the Skyline. And I still miss that company.Mann ruined everything. How is your mom,I tried to call her before we moved to Reno, but never could find her. What are you doing now? Let me know what Ferol is doing. Do you know what ever happened to Beverly or Jo Ann Brown??? Fill me in on all the old scoop. Do you remember Ward Stoopes?? talk to you later Larry Goldsmith.
the laurel theatre in san carlos ca. was originally owned and operated by westside valley theatres. it was never owned or operated by fox west coast theatres or national general theatres.
the baywood theatre was not on el camino real, it was located on baywood ave between 3rd & 4th san mateo last manager there, before it closed was scrappy and beverly. theatre then became a thrifty drug bev and scrappy then moved to the fox san mateo until it closed then to the fox burlingame, until it closed , then to the fox town&country in san jose. scrappy fell off a ladder in the candy room and died poor beverly found him late that night. that had a horrible effect on her for many years ( those 2 worked together for at least 30 years) what ever happened to beverly brehmer??? larry goldsmith
this theatre was owned and operated by national general corp.lateron by mann theatres corp. unfortunatly he was only interested in real estate, he eventually sold off ,one by one the nations largest movie theatre chain. at the time fox theatres was the largest chain. now, mann theatre operates only 50 theatres out of over the original 600 nationwide. how sad.i know i was employed with that chain for many years. i still miss it! what ever happenedl to ferol tarentino, beverly brehmer, jo ann brown???? cclarry goldsmith at lgchaseinternational.com
It appears the Gem Theatre was part of a small chain of 14 theatres scattered thru out Utah. They were all under the name of GEM. I wonder if a Gem Theatre still operates today??
Joe, Your above story is very interesting. I worked for that chain for so many years, but had never known Fox was into that type of exhibtion. Just of course his beautiful palaces he either had built or bought from other exhibitors. I do remember being in SF one time with my uncle and we were on Market St., we were in the area of the old Telenews Theatre and I insisted on going in there. So he bought the tickets and went inside. After about 5 minutes I was bored and wanted to leave. I remember it being a small theatre and sort of dumpy. Needless to say I never asked to go there again. ( I was probably abour 10 years old then!).
I doubt this theatre was ever operated by the Fox West Coast chain of theatres.This type of operation was not their style.
20th Century Fox and the Fox chain of theatres are seperate companies. 20th Century Fox is a film production company, they may have some interest in the theatre you are speaking of, but they have nothing to do with the Fox chain that operated here in the US. In fact, the original Fox chain sold to National General Theatres in the very early 60’s, later to sold to Mann Theatres in the mid 70’s. There has not been a Fox operated theatre since the early 60’s, yet 20th Century Fox Film Corp still is alive and well to this date.
Dear Mr. Frandsen, As A former MGR for Fox West Coast/ National General and Mann Theatres,in the San Francisco Bay Area from the early 60’s to mid 70’s I can truly greive with you as to what Ted Mann did to the nations largest theatre chain. I truly believe he only bought it for real estate purposes only. He closed every theatre from San Francisco to San Jose (sold, I mean) so fast it would make your head spin! So many of the theatres he closed were making money head over heels, but he closed them anyway. It did not matter whether they were new or old, he closed them.If it had not been for him I would still be with that company and it is now 2008!!
THIS THEATRE WAS NEVER OPERATED BY THE FOX THEATRE CHAIN.
JUST TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT THE NATIONAL THEATRE WAS BUILT,OPENED, AND OPERATED BY NATIONAL GENERAL THEATRES BOB BOTHWELL WAS TRANSFERRED TO NY FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO OVERSEE THE OPENING. TED MANN SOON BOUGHT OUT NATIONAL GENERAL CORP AND AS HE DID WITH EVERY OTHER NATIONAL GENERAL/FOX THEATRE HE EITHER CLOSED THEM, SOLD THEM, OR TORE THEM DOWN . HE ONLY BOUGHT THE HUGE CHAIN FOR THE REAL ESTATE. HE WAS NOT A TRUE SHOWMAN. THE ORIGINAL CHAIN WAS THE LARGEST CHAIN IN AMERICA, THANKS TO TED MANN, IT IS DOWN TO ABOUT 20 THEATRES, MOSTLY IN LA. Larry Goldsmith
I noticed with all the remodeling done, the powers to be removed all the sweeping, beautiful and colorful drapery around the stage area. What a shame. It appears the once beautiful auditorium at the Fox Redwood now looks like a plain plaster/cement shell. Looks very cold. Also noticed that beautiful teal colored drapery was removed from archway at mezzanine entrance. This was all part of the history and beauty of the Fox. WHERE’S THE BOXOFFICE????? L. Goldsmith
Ken McIntyre, Are you any relation to William (Bill) McIntyre who managed the Crest Reno in the 60’s. In 1964 he was transferred to the Fox Theatre in Redwood City Ca.I worked for him there from 64 to 66 when he later opened the Fox Skyline in San Bruno Ca. I later managed that theatre in the 70’s Could you be his son??? Larry Goldsmith
I co managed this theatre along with resident mgr. JoAnn Brown during the early 70’s. We opened The Towering Inferno there. Opening nite brought out Natalie Wood Robert Wagner and the Aliotos. this theatre had a very friendly staff. They always made me feel welcomed when I worked there. This theatre was not very attractive. The outer lobby and marquee had all been “modernised”. The original marquee and Box Office were much more attractive. Had a real Cheap Plastic look in the 70’s. Larry Goldsmith
This theatre was never owned or operated by Fox Theatres or National General Theatres Larry Goldsmith.
Hey Mitch, yeah,its Mr. Fox Redwood& Fox Skyline!!! It’s been over 30 years since I left the Skyline. And I still miss that company.Mann ruined everything. How is your mom,I tried to call her before we moved to Reno, but never could find her. What are you doing now? Let me know what Ferol is doing. Do you know what ever happened to Beverly or Jo Ann Brown??? Fill me in on all the old scoop. Do you remember Ward Stoopes?? talk to you later Larry Goldsmith.
the laurel theatre in san carlos ca. was originally owned and operated by westside valley theatres. it was never owned or operated by fox west coast theatres or national general theatres.
the baywood theatre was not on el camino real, it was located on baywood ave between 3rd & 4th san mateo last manager there, before it closed was scrappy and beverly. theatre then became a thrifty drug bev and scrappy then moved to the fox san mateo until it closed then to the fox burlingame, until it closed , then to the fox town&country in san jose. scrappy fell off a ladder in the candy room and died poor beverly found him late that night. that had a horrible effect on her for many years ( those 2 worked together for at least 30 years) what ever happened to beverly brehmer??? larry goldsmith
this theatre was owned and operated by national general corp.lateron by mann theatres corp. unfortunatly he was only interested in real estate, he eventually sold off ,one by one the nations largest movie theatre chain. at the time fox theatres was the largest chain. now, mann theatre operates only 50 theatres out of over the original 600 nationwide. how sad.i know i was employed with that chain for many years. i still miss it! what ever happenedl to ferol tarentino, beverly brehmer, jo ann brown???? cclarry goldsmith at lgchaseinternational.com