Fairfax Theatre

Grand opening ad Fairfax theatre opening Sun, Jun 13, 1926 – Page 60 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

I know I am really late for this conversation, but can anyone tell me more about the casper’s hot dogs shops in the nearby area? I was researched Casper’s at 1240 1st avenue, near the lake, and both 5601, and 5300 block of foothill (Fairfax theater address) I already am well acquainted with the ones commonly known in Oakland. I also know the difference between Kasper’s original’s and Casper’s.

Thanks!

Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cnzt56

The Fairfax for a very short period, showed adult movies (of course I had the cashiering job). It is a beautiful theater. The first thing you smelt was the popcorn, and next to the snack bar, was a vending machine that you could buy popsicles, and fudge bars from. Had a great womens lounge with leather couches. It went from adult movies to showing spanish movies, to compete with the Plaza on East 12th Street. Lousy patronage caused the spanish films to stop and the Fairfax was closed for good. When the adult movies moved to the Cine 7, I travelled along with the job. I passed by it and saw that one of the plywood slabs was missing and walked in. They were just converting it to a church, adding fresh white paint. The stage was in the process of being converted, I noticed that the asbestos fire curtain was halfway down(nice red tapestry looking thing) and the main curtain was gone, the box office was converted into a planter. The neighborhood was rough then, a very nice lady I spoke with said that they asked for extra patrol if they could. Haven’t been by it since, always wondered how it looked inside.

My name is Walter and as a child I lived on Fairfax Ave. back in the early 60’s. I attended the elementary school around the corner from the Fairfax Theater known as Hoarce Mann. Anyway, as a child I remember every Saturday my mother would take my sister and I to the Fairfax for the matinee. I remember the fare was 35 cents for children and a bucket of buttered popcorn was about 20 cents. In those days, we saw two movies and cartoons. I also remember the original and newly released Beatle and 007 movies, and how we children went wild in the audiance as was the common way of reacting to the Beatles and 007 even on the movie screen. They were popular back in the early 60’s and how the Fairfax was a main attraction with many people from the surrounding areas giving it lots of business. The area’s neighborhoods were also very nice middle class environments back in those days. I also remember the aroma of those revolving hot dogs and the classic candies that were sold then. I indeed cherish those days as a kid. I am glad the Fairfax still stands although in a different capacity. Many memorable movie theaters have been torn down such as the Broadway, Lux and Roxie of which I also remember. It is nice to know that part of Oakland’s history and my childhood has been preserved. I am totally impressed with the current images of the Fairfax.

Mr. DeLay I would like to get with you and explore the ways you can help us at Fairfax. I can be reached at I look forward to hearing from you soon.

There’s a 1935 photo of the Fairfax here:

View link

I’m looking for any information that anyone can give about the Fairfax Theater. We are trying to get funding to renovate the building. Please contact me if you have any information. Allen

I remember the Fairfax Theater when I was a kid in the middle 1950s Saw “Night of the Hunter” 21 Cartoon specials in the summer. It was 20 cents for Adults and 9 cents for kids.
They had summer movie passes also.
Remember Sugar Daddy suckers, Flicks and JJ beads
Jeff Horn

I loved the Fairfax. We mostly went to the Fruitvale though. Had a beautiful rooftop sign that when it was lit up, you could see for miles! If you are ever on a BART train and look over, the Fairfax is the biggest building in the area. The rooftop sign blew off one year when we had a really bad windstorm in Oakland. Fremont High School, was just town down and they tried to preserve the bell tower, but that blew down too! The Fairfax showed spanish films for a brief period, and it also showed mild porno as well, but the porno did not live long as St. Bernard’s and St. Lawrence O Tools churches protested loudly. Those churches did the same to the Cine 7. I recently went in for services, and it is preserved and absolutely beautiful. The congregation were absolutely wonderful to us and the services were wonderful! I gladly donated to help them not only with their faith in God, but to preserve their wonderful building.

Fairfax’s status should be “Closed” and its function should be “Church.”

Wow it is so awesome to read all this history about a building that I grew up in!! My grandfather is the pastor over the Fairfax Lighthouse Deliverance Center church that was once the Fairfax Theater. As a child it was my cousins and I huge playhouse. We used to run up and down the lobby and inside the theater and have been in almost every nook and cranny of that building. Behind the stage and the balcony were my favorite places to hide. I have always, always wanted to see any old photos or learn more about that wonderful place. I have been down to the History room at the Oakland Library and did not find a thing -not one photo. I have heard stories from old residents who lived in the apartments above about who used to play the Fairfax and about all the thriving businesses that were once there next to the theater. I once found an old color reel advertising the treats that could be bought at the concession stand, it was so old, dusty and torn but I could tell it was like a an animated commercial. I also heard that the theater was famous in that neighborhood for playing Popeye cartoons and children used to gather there for Popeye events. I’ve always been fascinated by the beautiful murals and the curtain (which I know is torn) inside the theater and I’ve heard that their were murals in the lobby but were covered by paint when my grandparents aquired the property in the late 70’s. If anyone out there can tell me a little or lot about the Fairfax, I would greatly appreciate it. I feel like I’ve already stumbled onto a real prize just by reading all the history.