I was born in 1950 and grew-up in Venice. From a child’s eyes, the Fox Venice was magnificent! My Saturdays were often spent at the Fox taking in a double feature – War movies or Westerns, cartoons, shorts and newsreels. Sometimes there were activities for the kids, pie eating contests with prizes; a new Schwinn bike was given away one time, but most often, the prizes were candy or free tickets. I remember standing in line at the concession stand and buying my “Sugar Daddy” or “Charms” sucker with what was left from my fifty cent allowance. Either one was the good deal – long lasting. I’d get popcorn – if I had enough money. The game was, after you’d eaten the popcorn, you could flatten out the box, bend the bottom flaps down and presto! The coolest UFO you ever saw! The air inside the theater during intermission was often saturated with these “UFOs” – until the ushers started singling kids out with their flashlights. We’d immediately stop. (Sooo different from the story of the gang kids flicking cigarettes at the security guards years later). What an innocent time it was back in the late fifties and early sixties. I’ll never forget, so many times, walking into the theater, my snacks in hand, past the “crying room”, and sitting down in one of the red velvet-upholstered seats. I would rest my head back and look straight up at that beautiful domed ceiling. It used to remind me of an upside-down swimming pool. The gold-leafed decorative rim hid the purple neon lights that circled the giant oval and gave off a mystic glow. I used to love just staring at that ceiling. It was a magical time.
After the sixties had passed, and the Vietnam war had wound down, I attended Santa Monica College. My monthly check from the GI Bill was enough to pay tuition, books and help with the rent. I spent time at a fellow art student’s studio named Ken, who did the artwork for the new monthly Fox movie schedule. It was a great connection, because we’d get into the movies for free. I have to say, the folks who had given the Fox it’s second life really did a great job breathing new life into it. Along with everything else by then, the Fox had lost a bit of its luster, but early memories kept a warm spot in my heart for the old girl. After a couple of years, I moved to Long Beach to attend Cal State Long Beach. Since then, I’ve been back to Venice less times than the fingers on one hand. I’m a bit saddened to hear that the Fox now houses an indoor swap meet but on the other hand, the old girl is still there, and has somehow managed to avoid the wrecking ball. And now, after writing this, I suddenly have a real desire to leave my little San Clemente beach house, get in my car and head up to Venice. Who knows? Maybe in the very near future, some vendor at the Fox indoor swap meet might find himself getting smacked upside the head with a flying UFO in the shape of a flattened popcorn box! (Thanks for the site and thank you to the folks who posted links to the old Fox Venice photos – wow!).
I was born in 1950 and grew-up in Venice. From a child’s eyes, the Fox Venice was magnificent! My Saturdays were often spent at the Fox taking in a double feature – War movies or Westerns, cartoons, shorts and newsreels. Sometimes there were activities for the kids, pie eating contests with prizes; a new Schwinn bike was given away one time, but most often, the prizes were candy or free tickets. I remember standing in line at the concession stand and buying my “Sugar Daddy” or “Charms” sucker with what was left from my fifty cent allowance. Either one was the good deal – long lasting. I’d get popcorn – if I had enough money. The game was, after you’d eaten the popcorn, you could flatten out the box, bend the bottom flaps down and presto! The coolest UFO you ever saw! The air inside the theater during intermission was often saturated with these “UFOs” – until the ushers started singling kids out with their flashlights. We’d immediately stop. (Sooo different from the story of the gang kids flicking cigarettes at the security guards years later). What an innocent time it was back in the late fifties and early sixties. I’ll never forget, so many times, walking into the theater, my snacks in hand, past the “crying room”, and sitting down in one of the red velvet-upholstered seats. I would rest my head back and look straight up at that beautiful domed ceiling. It used to remind me of an upside-down swimming pool. The gold-leafed decorative rim hid the purple neon lights that circled the giant oval and gave off a mystic glow. I used to love just staring at that ceiling. It was a magical time.
After the sixties had passed, and the Vietnam war had wound down, I attended Santa Monica College. My monthly check from the GI Bill was enough to pay tuition, books and help with the rent. I spent time at a fellow art student’s studio named Ken, who did the artwork for the new monthly Fox movie schedule. It was a great connection, because we’d get into the movies for free. I have to say, the folks who had given the Fox it’s second life really did a great job breathing new life into it. Along with everything else by then, the Fox had lost a bit of its luster, but early memories kept a warm spot in my heart for the old girl. After a couple of years, I moved to Long Beach to attend Cal State Long Beach. Since then, I’ve been back to Venice less times than the fingers on one hand. I’m a bit saddened to hear that the Fox now houses an indoor swap meet but on the other hand, the old girl is still there, and has somehow managed to avoid the wrecking ball. And now, after writing this, I suddenly have a real desire to leave my little San Clemente beach house, get in my car and head up to Venice. Who knows? Maybe in the very near future, some vendor at the Fox indoor swap meet might find himself getting smacked upside the head with a flying UFO in the shape of a flattened popcorn box! (Thanks for the site and thank you to the folks who posted links to the old Fox Venice photos – wow!).