Fox Theatre
1350 Market Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94102
1350 Market Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94102
38 people
favorited this theater
Called "The Last Word", the Fox Theatre in San Francisco opened on June 28, 1929 as one of the grandest theatres ever built for the showing of motion pictures. The opening film was a world premiere presentation of “Behind That Curtain” starring Warner Baxter. The 4 Manual, 36 Rank, ‘Crawford special’ Wurlitzer organ was opened by organist Jamie Erickson, and the 3Manual, 12 Rank Moller organ, located in the Grand Lobby was opened by Erma Falvey.
The Fox Theatre was designed by Thomas W. Lamb for William Fox, who made sure his wife, decorator Eve Leo Fox, was kept at arms length. Fox West Coast Theatres were the operators in association with Loew’s Incorporated.
The Fox Theatre was meant to be a part of a large office complex, which was never finished.
According to "Great American Movie Theaters" by David Naylor, the Fox Theatre was similar, but more grand, in detail to two other Lamb designed theatres, the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City. The Fox Theatre was apparently copied in 1932 by S. Charles Lee for the Los Angeles Theatre. The Los Angeles Theatre looks much like the Fox theatre, just on a smaller scale.
Due to the decline in people going to the movies in the late-1950’s and early-1960’s, the Fox Theatre was closed on February 15, 1963 with Boris Karloff in “The Raven” and Carl Boehem in “Peeping Tom”. A special final show “Farewell to the Fox” was staged on February 16, 1963, attended by many Hollywood film stars and personalities. Before demolition, the interior funishings and decorations were auctioned off on February 28, 1963. As the auction was proceding inside the theatre, the demolition contractors crane was poised on the outside, ready to commence its work on the theatre. Demolition was completed on August 12, 1963, and it was replaced by a modern skyscraper, named Fox Plaza.
Copies of the book written by Preston J. Kaufmann in 1979, about the Fox Theatre and its demolition are now considered rare and are worth several hundred dollars for a single copy.
Contributed by
William French
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Recent comments (view all 170 comments)
Thanks to all of you. I stumbled across this site this morning and have been enlightened, delighted, and even moved to tears by your heartfelt reminiscences. This grand lady was born, lived, and died before I was even a gleam in my daddy’s eye, but I somehow feel connected to this beautiful theatre and those of you who rekindle and celebrate its memory.
“Display CinemaScope 55 Changeover Equipment"
Small photo in Boxoffice magazine, April 7, 1956:
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My husband who is an avid collector and dealer,recently came across 3 sets of seats from The Fabulous Fox Theatre. They were well maintained by a collector who recently passed away. They will be placed in The Antique Society in Sebastopol,Ca. for anyone wanting to take a peek at a piece of history or to perhaps purchase them for their own collection. As someone who grew up in San Francisco it was a tragedy when the Fox was demolished. Still painful after all these years! Thanks for all the great postings and photos on this site!
Lisa
Excellent photo posted by Bill Swain.Very Nice.
I love that incredible CINEMASCOPE sign from 1963. Is there another word in neon on the same sign also that maybe it flashed from one to the other?
I think it was “NOW” or “NOW in” CinemaScope on the sign.
This was my favorite Movie Theater in the whole World!!! It was like a Palace! It was soooo beautiful!!! It had 24K Gold Plated Faucets and Italian Marble floors in the Ladies Room!
I was there the day that the wrecking ball struck. I cried so hard and cried all the way home.My Dad was so cool! He got me some souvenirs and the Book “The Fabulous And Foolish Fox”. That book is worth a fortune now.
HI EVERY ONE I AM JEFF HERSHEL THE GUY THAT TRULY WANTED TO SAVE THE FOX THEATHER I WROTE THE ORIGNAL BOOK ON THE FOX THEATHER. THE FOLLISH AND FABULOUS FOX. I SPEAR HEADED THE ENTIRE FOX CAMPAGAIN. WITH ALL TYPES OF EVENTS. I HAVE A GREAT COLLECTION OF PICTURES POSTERS FROM THE ORIGNAL SAVE THE FOX THEATHER. YOU CAN REACH ME ON
I have seen Bill Swain’s photos online- nice work. They really give you a feel for the grand palace that was, and sadly, was lost. The S.F. Fox is my favorite of all the big movie palaces. It’s loss is on a par with that of the St.Louis Ambassador in the mid 90’s. It’s nice that the Fox’s Wurlitzer is alive and well under the loving care of Disney in southern California. If Donald Trump wanted something to pattern a new casino or hotel lobby from, this theater would be fantastic!
This theater’s Wurlitzer “Crawford” (or Fox) special is based on the one which was installed in the N.Y. Paramount. That instrument proved so popular that Fox ordered one for the S.F., St. Louis, and Detroit theaters. The one from this theater survives intact at Disney’s El Capitan theater, in Hollywood, Ca. It is played frequently, and receives very good care. ==== Remember the S.F Fox! ====