Fox Theatre
1350 Market Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94102
1350 Market Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94102
40 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 178 comments)
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! ====
Pictured in this 1951 trade ad: boxoffice
My greatest posessions are my “Fox, the last word” so well written by the late Preston J. Koffman -what a tallented and careing kid he was. I’ll never tire of reading it… and a Cherub which was positioned over the center front inner lobby doors. Damn those greedy fools for destroying such a magnificent treasure.
I saw 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea at the Fox in October of 1963. Problem. The theater was supposedly torn down in February of that year. Thought I was crazy, went back and looked up the movie listings in the Chronicle on microfilm. It’s there, lots of other movies showing at the Fox all the way through Dead Ringers and Dr. Crippen in February of 1964…
Is the date of demolition 1963 a mistake that has been copied over and over again?
Or, was there another Fox Theater at Ninth and Market??????
Saw the Raven @ the Fox in early 63. And was inside after wrecking ball punched a hole in wall with daylight. And my Parents were divorced in summer of 63. So early Feb 63 sounds right
Missed the newsreels and “Leagues under the Sea” movie… It was great & wanted more, but it all disappeared so fast! I was only ten in 1963. Thanks for bringing a tiny piece of time back.
Need some advise, I worked with Preston Kaughman back in the late 70’s. I was the pressman and owner of the printing company that ran I believe 3 runs of “THE FOX” Book. I do have 2 copies of it along with all the printing plates and negative. After Preston past on he left everything to me. All the pictures and artwork are sitting in boxes. If someone is interested, make me an offer I can send pictures or make arrangements to see everything. (Rob)
Photos of the Fox marquee, advertisement for “Battle of the Century” and bit of write up about Laurel & Hardy’s appearance at the Fox are listed at the blog linked below
http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/2012/12/laurel-and-hardys-battles-of-century.html
Quick link
Thanks Chuck!