Great commentary, Wes…but I remember a little more gloss than the photo of the (Ambien) shows. Location was an important factor in movie theater attendance, I think…at least for me. I was a snob about it and preferred the lush theater approach to the 2nd run approach. We had two movie theaters in Redding, CA…one was the art deco Cascade Theater, a landmark on the main drag through town (now restored and beautiful again); and the 2nd run and B house, the Redding Theater, on a secondary street. The Cascade picture is available to see at cinamatreasures.com
Thanks again, Warren. I remember seeing the Fox from this vantage point in the former San Francisco Merchandise Mart building on the opposite side of Market Street. That building is no longer there, either. This photo must be from the same time as the street shot showing that pie shaped vacant corner lot.
Thanks for the link, Bill. Richard’s access to information and details on this palace are unique, and his contributions are priceless, and very generous. Combined with the photos posted by Ken, there is a complete pictoral history of the building’s interiors as it stood before demolition. Charles Lamb would be very pleased.
This photo really shows the fine detail in the Art Deco decor of the intimate areas of the building. I hadn’t seen this one before – thanks for posting it, Ken. I wonder how many others are in the USC archives.
The marathons sound like a great way to keep the CinemaWorld Theater alive and functioning. I would love to attend, but Southern Oregon is too far away.
Here are some categories that I might suggest. The public still finds great entertainment in the set of B/W Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers films of the thirties. It is a sophisticated, if silly, set of films that feature outstanding dance numbers, all to original scores by the great composers: Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and others.
Astaire’s pairing with Eleanor Powell in MGM’s “Broadway Melody of 1940”, with a score by Cole Porter is probably his best – even THE best example of that genre ever made, especially the “Begin The Beguine” ten minute long dance filmed in long unbroken sequences.
Another category would be “Those Wonderful MGM Musicals”, featuring some of the big technicolor productions that were so lavish and fabulous on the big screen, including Ziegfeld Follies, Brigadoon, The Bandwagon, Yolanda And The Thief, The Pirate, Singin' In The Rain, Kiss Me Kate, Rose Marie, Three Little Words, Pagan Love Song, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, I Love Melvin, Easter Parade, Les Girls, The Barkleys Of Broadway, Til The Clouds Roll By, Hit The Deck, Good News, Two Weeks With Love, The Great Caruso, Show Boat, Silk Stockings, Annie Get Your Gun, In The Good Old Summertime – and there are still more, all from that period of 40s, 50s, 60s, with Jumbo being the last of the biggies.
Thank you, William
This kind of research is fascinating indeed. We are lucky to have access to this website. I found one of my boyhood movie houses in these archives as well. An Art Deco movie house, the Cascade Theater in Redding Ca, which has been faithfully restored and is now a performing arts center operated by Jefferson Public Radio of Ashland, OR. They have a broadcast studio in an area where the adjoining soda fountain had been. I think it was named The Golden Pheasant…not sure.
I will try to get a copy of the book and Annual you mention.
Thanks again, William.
Linden Carlton
Those would be very interesting to see, William. I would also enjoy reading the book. I have two books that acknowledge the Fox but not to great extent. (American Picture Pacaces – Naylor, and Movie Palaces – Pildas)
I know that some of the auditorium seats were acquired by a small S.F, performance theater, but I can’t recall it’s name..One of its triumphs was Alec Teague’s Beach Blanket Babylon.
I knew Alec when he relocated to Ashland Oregon in the early 80s and produced entertainments (Aside by Aside, Alec Teague’s Scrooge) on the stage of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Angus Bowmer Theater.
The three bullet shaped bronze ash urns are well located and admired in an exclusive B&B in historic Jacksonville, Oregon.
Yes William, as documented. (Read my first paragraph again) I think the film must have opened on the following day, June 29th for its regular engagement. I don’t know why I wrote July 1st…sorry.
The theater was closed to the public on that day until the festivities began in the evening, and I don’t remember what time that was. It was a Gala Event, and invitational, I am pretty sure. Perhaps one of the historians might have a record of that event?
That piece describes the 30th anniversary and it’s printed program handout, which quoted the opening day speech given by the then Mayor of San Francisco. I did not buy one of the fancy programs, if there was one, and I didn’t stay to see the film, “Say One For Me”.
Hey, thankgoditsfriday, there might be something useful for you in one of the links in the sidebar. Maybe you could Google it, or find something at ask.com. Or you might contact one of the properties that is listed as being renovated.
It is the same as in the case of the Fabulous Fox Theater in San Francisco, and others of this magnitude in importance to that bygone era that they represent. Once more through the ignore – ance of present day power brokers like Mike Vogel the inheritance of future generations is spent to satisfy the sweet tooth of their brief time in history.
Hopefully the citizens of Anchorage will vote to preserve the admitted “architectural jewel”.
Linden Carlton
I no longer have the photos taken on the grand staircase.
I did find three of the small Art Deco bullet shaped ash urns in vertigre cast tripod stands at a flea market, and sold them to a B&B
Ken, that long line in the photo is probably the crowd attending the 30th anniversary celebration in July of 1959. The formal celebration was on the night of June 28th, as I recall, and the film opened on July 1st. I was a young fashion designer in San Francisco and was commissioned to create dresses for the six hostesses for the occasion. We were photographed seated on the steps of that fabulous grand staircese. It was a night to remember…….
“FOX THEATRE IS PEOUD TO CELEBRATE ITS
30TH ANNIVERSARY BY OFFERING YOU THIS
GAY PROGRAM”
“FOX MOVIETONE NEWSREEL OF 1929 STAR-
STUDDED OPENING OF THE FOX THEATRE.”
“SAY ONE FOR ME” – 20th Century Fox’s Cinema-
Scope DeLuxe Color Musical – starring
Bing Crosby
Debbie Reynolds
Robert Wagner
“HERE COME THE JETS” – 20th Century Fox’s first
story of commercial jets in test – starring Steve Brodie.
AND EXTRA ATTRACTION**** GEORGE WRIGHT at the FABULOUS FOX PIPE ORGAN
George Write, who became inspired at the age of 9
when he witnessesd the opening of the Fox Theatre and
the playing of the organ, determined then to become
a great organist. Today he has his own organ recording
studio in Hollywood and has made the organ popular
again with his two hit albums “George Wright’s
"SHOWTIME” and “THE ROARIN” TWENTIES" both
recorded on the San Francisco Fox’s organ.
(George Wright played at the Fox Theatre, 1940 – 41)
Hostesses -
Nancy Taylor – Coronet Modeling Students, appearing
in Lin Barkhurst Original Creations.
(insert – The name I was using at that time)
TAPED INTERVIEWS OF SPECIAL GUESTS by RADIO
STATION KYA – Listen for them.
KYA repeats history tonight when they again cover
a big event at the Fox Theatre, just as they were on
hand to air the parade of 100 Hollywoodd stars and the
grand opening of the Fox Theatre back in 1929.
Miss Beth Virus – Portrait Artist in Lobby –
The back of the folded page program has this opening speech by
MAYOR JAMES ROLPH JR. AT THE FOX THEATRE OPENING IN 1929…….
MY FELLOW CALIFORNIANS
The modern school house and the modern theatre, both keeping pace with the world"s progress, make for America a better educated people who can never take a backward step nor be dispossessed of their citizenship or liberty.
On the 28th of June an event of historic importance will take place in the City of San Francisco.
This city, over which I have the honor for nearly twenty years to preside as Mayor, is famous for its schools, its playhouses and places of healthful amusement.
But on June 28th something is to occur which will surpass anything of the kind in the world’s history.
On that day William Fox, builder of the world’s finest playhouses, is to throw open the doors of the greatest theatre in the world; in San Francisco. It is to be a red letter day in the istory of San Francisco.
The Fox Theatre, adjoining beautiful Civic Center of San Francisco, is the most remarkable playhouse ever built. Constructed at aa cost of $500,000, it has a seating capacity of 5,000.
The ceremonies to occur within the theatre and at the Civic Center adjoining will be historic. It will be a scene never to be forgotten.
As Mayor of San Francisco I invite you to visit our city June 28 to join with us in the festivities of the day, and be a living part of the historic ceremony.
Come to our city; wander in admiration along the broad avenues of our Civic Center with its flower-beds all aglow with the blooms of spring. I will be at the Fox Theatre personally to welcome you in the name of Mr. Fox and the City of San Francisco.
Me too, Ken!… (Linden Carlton)
Great commentary, Wes…but I remember a little more gloss than the photo of the (Ambien) shows. Location was an important factor in movie theater attendance, I think…at least for me. I was a snob about it and preferred the lush theater approach to the 2nd run approach. We had two movie theaters in Redding, CA…one was the art deco Cascade Theater, a landmark on the main drag through town (now restored and beautiful again); and the 2nd run and B house, the Redding Theater, on a secondary street. The Cascade picture is available to see at cinamatreasures.com
Thanks again, Warren. I remember seeing the Fox from this vantage point in the former San Francisco Merchandise Mart building on the opposite side of Market Street. That building is no longer there, either. This photo must be from the same time as the street shot showing that pie shaped vacant corner lot.
I have enjoyed looking at these slides in both formats. The color brings out the richness and suptious plushness of the interiors.
I will wait with baited breath!
I will wait with baited breath!
OMG…thanks. Duh
Thanks for the link, Bill. Richard’s access to information and details on this palace are unique, and his contributions are priceless, and very generous. Combined with the photos posted by Ken, there is a complete pictoral history of the building’s interiors as it stood before demolition. Charles Lamb would be very pleased.
This photo really shows the fine detail in the Art Deco decor of the intimate areas of the building. I hadn’t seen this one before – thanks for posting it, Ken. I wonder how many others are in the USC archives.
The marathons sound like a great way to keep the CinemaWorld Theater alive and functioning. I would love to attend, but Southern Oregon is too far away.
Here are some categories that I might suggest. The public still finds great entertainment in the set of B/W Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers films of the thirties. It is a sophisticated, if silly, set of films that feature outstanding dance numbers, all to original scores by the great composers: Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and others.
Astaire’s pairing with Eleanor Powell in MGM’s “Broadway Melody of 1940”, with a score by Cole Porter is probably his best – even THE best example of that genre ever made, especially the “Begin The Beguine” ten minute long dance filmed in long unbroken sequences.
Another category would be “Those Wonderful MGM Musicals”, featuring some of the big technicolor productions that were so lavish and fabulous on the big screen, including Ziegfeld Follies, Brigadoon, The Bandwagon, Yolanda And The Thief, The Pirate, Singin' In The Rain, Kiss Me Kate, Rose Marie, Three Little Words, Pagan Love Song, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, I Love Melvin, Easter Parade, Les Girls, The Barkleys Of Broadway, Til The Clouds Roll By, Hit The Deck, Good News, Two Weeks With Love, The Great Caruso, Show Boat, Silk Stockings, Annie Get Your Gun, In The Good Old Summertime – and there are still more, all from that period of 40s, 50s, 60s, with Jumbo being the last of the biggies.
Thank you, William
This kind of research is fascinating indeed. We are lucky to have access to this website. I found one of my boyhood movie houses in these archives as well. An Art Deco movie house, the Cascade Theater in Redding Ca, which has been faithfully restored and is now a performing arts center operated by Jefferson Public Radio of Ashland, OR. They have a broadcast studio in an area where the adjoining soda fountain had been. I think it was named The Golden Pheasant…not sure.
I will try to get a copy of the book and Annual you mention.
Thanks again, William.
Linden Carlton
Those would be very interesting to see, William. I would also enjoy reading the book. I have two books that acknowledge the Fox but not to great extent. (American Picture Pacaces – Naylor, and Movie Palaces – Pildas)
I know that some of the auditorium seats were acquired by a small S.F, performance theater, but I can’t recall it’s name..One of its triumphs was Alec Teague’s Beach Blanket Babylon.
I knew Alec when he relocated to Ashland Oregon in the early 80s and produced entertainments (Aside by Aside, Alec Teague’s Scrooge) on the stage of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Angus Bowmer Theater.
The three bullet shaped bronze ash urns are well located and admired in an exclusive B&B in historic Jacksonville, Oregon.
Yes William, as documented. (Read my first paragraph again) I think the film must have opened on the following day, June 29th for its regular engagement. I don’t know why I wrote July 1st…sorry.
The theater was closed to the public on that day until the festivities began in the evening, and I don’t remember what time that was. It was a Gala Event, and invitational, I am pretty sure. Perhaps one of the historians might have a record of that event?
That piece describes the 30th anniversary and it’s printed program handout, which quoted the opening day speech given by the then Mayor of San Francisco. I did not buy one of the fancy programs, if there was one, and I didn’t stay to see the film, “Say One For Me”.
Hey, thankgoditsfriday, there might be something useful for you in one of the links in the sidebar. Maybe you could Google it, or find something at ask.com. Or you might contact one of the properties that is listed as being renovated.
Good luck, and keep us informed!
Having just read that it lost by over 10,000 votes, the outcome looks kind of grim.
It is the same as in the case of the Fabulous Fox Theater in San Francisco, and others of this magnitude in importance to that bygone era that they represent. Once more through the ignore – ance of present day power brokers like Mike Vogel the inheritance of future generations is spent to satisfy the sweet tooth of their brief time in history.
Hopefully the citizens of Anchorage will vote to preserve the admitted “architectural jewel”.
Linden Carlton
I no longer have the photos taken on the grand staircase.
I did find three of the small Art Deco bullet shaped ash urns in vertigre cast tripod stands at a flea market, and sold them to a B&B
Ken, that long line in the photo is probably the crowd attending the 30th anniversary celebration in July of 1959. The formal celebration was on the night of June 28th, as I recall, and the film opened on July 1st. I was a young fashion designer in San Francisco and was commissioned to create dresses for the six hostesses for the occasion. We were photographed seated on the steps of that fabulous grand staircese. It was a night to remember…….
“FOX THEATRE IS PEOUD TO CELEBRATE ITS
30TH ANNIVERSARY BY OFFERING YOU THIS
GAY PROGRAM”
“FOX MOVIETONE NEWSREEL OF 1929 STAR-
STUDDED OPENING OF THE FOX THEATRE.”
“SAY ONE FOR ME” – 20th Century Fox’s Cinema-
Scope DeLuxe Color Musical – starring
Bing Crosby
Debbie Reynolds
Robert Wagner
“HERE COME THE JETS” – 20th Century Fox’s first
story of commercial jets in test – starring Steve Brodie.
AND EXTRA ATTRACTION****
GEORGE WRIGHT at the FABULOUS FOX PIPE ORGAN
George Write, who became inspired at the age of 9
when he witnessesd the opening of the Fox Theatre and
the playing of the organ, determined then to become
a great organist. Today he has his own organ recording
studio in Hollywood and has made the organ popular
again with his two hit albums “George Wright’s
"SHOWTIME” and “THE ROARIN” TWENTIES" both
recorded on the San Francisco Fox’s organ.
(George Wright played at the Fox Theatre, 1940 – 41)
Hostesses -
Nancy Taylor – Coronet Modeling Students, appearing
in Lin Barkhurst Original Creations.
(insert – The name I was using at that time)
TAPED INTERVIEWS OF SPECIAL GUESTS by RADIO
STATION KYA – Listen for them.
KYA repeats history tonight when they again cover
a big event at the Fox Theatre, just as they were on
hand to air the parade of 100 Hollywoodd stars and the
grand opening of the Fox Theatre back in 1929.
The back of the folded page program has this opening speech by
MAYOR JAMES ROLPH JR. AT THE FOX THEATRE OPENING IN 1929…….
MY FELLOW CALIFORNIANS
The modern school house and the modern theatre, both keeping pace with the world"s progress, make for America a better educated people who can never take a backward step nor be dispossessed of their citizenship or liberty.
On the 28th of June an event of historic importance will take place in the City of San Francisco.
This city, over which I have the honor for nearly twenty years to preside as Mayor, is famous for its schools, its playhouses and places of healthful amusement.
But on June 28th something is to occur which will surpass anything of the kind in the world’s history.
On that day William Fox, builder of the world’s finest playhouses, is to throw open the doors of the greatest theatre in the world; in San Francisco. It is to be a red letter day in the istory of San Francisco.
The Fox Theatre, adjoining beautiful Civic Center of San Francisco, is the most remarkable playhouse ever built. Constructed at aa cost of $500,000, it has a seating capacity of 5,000.
The ceremonies to occur within the theatre and at the Civic Center adjoining will be historic. It will be a scene never to be forgotten.
As Mayor of San Francisco I invite you to visit our city June 28 to join with us in the festivities of the day, and be a living part of the historic ceremony.
Come to our city; wander in admiration along the broad avenues of our Civic Center with its flower-beds all aglow with the blooms of spring. I will be at the Fox Theatre personally to welcome you in the name of Mr. Fox and the City of San Francisco.