Fox Burlingame Theater

When the Fox Peninsula opened in the early 30's it seated 2000 people. By the mid 50's, the Peninsula had been reseated to 1808 people. It was located at 1415 Burlingame Ave.

The architects were Weeks & Day, who also designed the California (Fox California) currently being restored in San Jose.

The Peninsula was ornately Spanish Baroque in style, featuring staircases in the lobby ascending between pillars inset with mosaic-like panels depicting animals. The auditorium featured a massive plasterwork proscenium, and arched organ chamber fronts.

For many years, the theatre's roof featured a two-sided lightbulb sign, with incandescent fireworks, similar to that which still survives atop Oakland's Grand Lake theatre.

One of my dearest friends, since passed away, started his movie
theater career as an usher at the Fox Burlingame. He told me the
stories of packed auditoriums of up to 2000 seats! Many times
the lobby and upper stairwells would be full of patrons waiting
for the next film to end before they would rush in for their
seats. I asked him, "Did ushers ever pick up trash and papers
between shows?" He said "Impossible, the shows were continuous
pretty much without much of any intermission." His name was
WARD STOOPES who in later years became in independent movie
theater owner and operated several houses in San Francisco
including the YORK and many others during the 60's and 70's.
His last running venue was the old ENCORE THEATER located
around the corner from the Fox Burlingame. It was also run
in its early years as a FOX WEST COAST THEATER - but with
secondary features and under a different name.

The Fox Burlingame Theater (formally Peninsula Theater) was closed in 1974.

The Peninsula Theater opened on 12th October 1926. On screen was Norma Shearer in "Upstage". Charlie Chase appeared 'in person' and the Robert-Morton theatre organ was played by Elbert LaChelle and Elmer Vincent. Milt Franklin and his "Musical Aristocats" were the house band.

Here are several photos from the Los Angeles Public Library, all dated 1945:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics43/00071370.jpg
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics43/00071371.jpg
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics43/00071372.jpg
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics43/00071373.jpg
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics43/00071374.jpg
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics43/00071375.jpg
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics43/00071376.jpg

A Robert-Morton theater organ size 3/12 was installed in the Peninsula Theater in 1926. Note: Listed in the Opus List as a 3/12, it was actually a 3/13.

How well I remember Ward Stoopes, he was a true showman. During the 70's, he was working for National General Theatres in the maintenance dept. He and Marvin Atkinson did all the theatre maint. for the SF/Bay Area NGT. I was managing the Fox Skyline at the time. Ward and I became such good friends. At the time, he was struggling to keep the Encore Theatre in Burlingame going. He eventually had to close it and was he heartbroken. I lost track of Ward after I left the Fox in 75. Was so disturbed to hear he had passed away. He will always remain in my thoughts.

Here is a 1971 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/pxuolc