I worked the Fox Theater on second shift at 6508 Hollywood Blvd. from the summer of 1986, at the opening of ‘The Golden Child’ through Spring of 1987. The first half of my employ, it was known as the “Mann’s Fox Theater” and was later bought out by United Artist. At the end of my time, there were two rumors concerning this building:
That there were plans of another buy out by Goldwyn-Meyer (that turn over had not occurred by the time I left.)
The building repairs were too expense and it would probably be torn down.
DESCRIPTION
Pine’s November 1, 2006 at 2:46 am post;
I can describe the inside of this theater having worked there. The girl’s dressing room was a large walk in closet – no windows. It was at the top of the stairs on the west side.Our uniforms were kept there. The men’s and women’s bathrooms were upstairs on the north side. The projection room and manager’s office were on the south side. They also had no windows. The theater was small and cozy. Downsairs behind the cashier was the storage room filed with candy, popcorn etc. The doorman’s dresing room I never saw, but I think it was behind the stage? The theater was very comfortable, not too small, not too big and very clean. From the candy counter we had a good view of the street and I enjoyed people watching.
posted by Pine </users/16188> on Nov 1, 2006 at 2:46am
is an accurate description of what I recall. The only things I can add are:
The steel door on the inside of the ticket booth showed a deep indention from a bullet, put there during a robbery. I hard the booth attendant was hurt pretty badly, then tried to return to work and fear of a reoccurrence eventually cause her to quit. The combination locked safe was in the floor of the ticket booth.
Upstairs at first glance appeared to be a semi-circled hallway that stretched across the entire upper level with stairs at both ends. The bathroom and manager’s doors that Pine mentioned were on the outside wall and the projection booth on the inside wall. And “when it rained, it poured!” during the rainy season it leaked throughout the building.
Scanning the pictures on this site, the front of the building has had many face-lifts. When I was there the rear of it, in the little alley, did not look like the same building. It looked as if it was supposed to be white when it was constructed. Although it did not have graffiti, it had varying layers of rust and discolorations. I, like many of you, loved the marquee.
THE CREW
The manager was James Foreman, who I heard was transferred to a theater in Beverly Hills.
The assistant manager was Duane, (no after theater information on him.)
Our doorman was the faithful, Slim. When I got there it was jokingly said ‘Slim has been with the theater since it opened. Pine’s September 11, 2006 4:50 – 4:56 am posts,
I worked at this theater during the summer of 1969 and a few other times after that. I was 18 and 19 years old and made $1.65 an hour. Mr. Duff was the manager. He was an alcoholic and sometimes on the make with the girls. I worked as a loan out at other theaters and other managers were like that too. It was a bad scene, overall. My best friend from high school helped me get the job. She and another friend bought drugs from a red haired guy who would come by everyday carrying a paper sack. I ended my friednship with her and went to beauty school down the street. Sometimes I’d worked nights at Fox and go to school during the day. I took the city bus home at midnight. I lived on Van Ness below Franklin Avenue. It was scary.
Continued from my previous post. Cher and a friend came in one day for a matinee and ordered cokes and popcorn with extra butter. They were very nice. An older man named Slim worked as one of the doormen. Everyday he would order a Dr. Pepper with a candy bar. I felt sorry for him. I remember when when the film Easy Rider premiered there and the lines were around the block.
posted by Pine </users/16188> on Sep 11, 2006 at 4:57am
confirmed his long time dedication. A couple of months before I left, Slim fell ill and did not return to work.
(no after theater information on him.)
One of our ushers; Larry, doubled as doorman.
(no after theater information on him.)
Our other usher, Honor, doubled as ticket taker when Larry was not in.
(no after theater information on her.)
The two cousins (Maria and Elizabeth) I heard took more hours in the retail jobs.
I have no information on who ran the projection booth during my stay.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
The famous people that graced our audience was:
THE LA RAIDERS
RAE DAWN CHONG – came in with one of her friend’s toddler daughter.
ART EVANS – came in a few times.
PATRONAGE
The was not a steady flow of patriots, at times the show began as scheduled with one to a few viewers present.
Roloff, you do have great photos. Thank you very much. I hate to see the old “Fox” structure go down.
My Little History at the Fox Theater
EMPLOYED
I worked the Fox Theater on second shift at 6508 Hollywood Blvd. from the summer of 1986, at the opening of ‘The Golden Child’ through Spring of 1987. The first half of my employ, it was known as the “Mann’s Fox Theater” and was later bought out by United Artist. At the end of my time, there were two rumors concerning this building:
DESCRIPTION
Pine’s November 1, 2006 at 2:46 am post;
I can describe the inside of this theater having worked there. The girl’s dressing room was a large walk in closet – no windows. It was at the top of the stairs on the west side.Our uniforms were kept there. The men’s and women’s bathrooms were upstairs on the north side. The projection room and manager’s office were on the south side. They also had no windows. The theater was small and cozy. Downsairs behind the cashier was the storage room filed with candy, popcorn etc. The doorman’s dresing room I never saw, but I think it was behind the stage? The theater was very comfortable, not too small, not too big and very clean. From the candy counter we had a good view of the street and I enjoyed people watching.
posted by Pine </users/16188> on Nov 1, 2006 at 2:46am
is an accurate description of what I recall. The only things I can add are:
The steel door on the inside of the ticket booth showed a deep indention from a bullet, put there during a robbery. I hard the booth attendant was hurt pretty badly, then tried to return to work and fear of a reoccurrence eventually cause her to quit. The combination locked safe was in the floor of the ticket booth.
Upstairs at first glance appeared to be a semi-circled hallway that stretched across the entire upper level with stairs at both ends. The bathroom and manager’s doors that Pine mentioned were on the outside wall and the projection booth on the inside wall. And “when it rained, it poured!” during the rainy season it leaked throughout the building.
Scanning the pictures on this site, the front of the building has had many face-lifts. When I was there the rear of it, in the little alley, did not look like the same building. It looked as if it was supposed to be white when it was constructed. Although it did not have graffiti, it had varying layers of rust and discolorations. I, like many of you, loved the marquee.
THE CREW
The manager was James Foreman, who I heard was transferred to a theater in Beverly Hills.
The assistant manager was Duane, (no after theater information on him.)
Our doorman was the faithful, Slim. When I got there it was jokingly said ‘Slim has been with the theater since it opened. Pine’s September 11, 2006 4:50 – 4:56 am posts,
I worked at this theater during the summer of 1969 and a few other times after that. I was 18 and 19 years old and made $1.65 an hour. Mr. Duff was the manager. He was an alcoholic and sometimes on the make with the girls. I worked as a loan out at other theaters and other managers were like that too. It was a bad scene, overall. My best friend from high school helped me get the job. She and another friend bought drugs from a red haired guy who would come by everyday carrying a paper sack. I ended my friednship with her and went to beauty school down the street. Sometimes I’d worked nights at Fox and go to school during the day. I took the city bus home at midnight. I lived on Van Ness below Franklin Avenue. It was scary.
Continued from my previous post. Cher and a friend came in one day for a matinee and ordered cokes and popcorn with extra butter. They were very nice. An older man named Slim worked as one of the doormen. Everyday he would order a Dr. Pepper with a candy bar. I felt sorry for him. I remember when when the film Easy Rider premiered there and the lines were around the block.
posted by Pine </users/16188> on Sep 11, 2006 at 4:57am
confirmed his long time dedication. A couple of months before I left, Slim fell ill and did not return to work.
(no after theater information on him.)
One of our ushers; Larry, doubled as doorman.
(no after theater information on him.)
Our other usher, Honor, doubled as ticket taker when Larry was not in.
(no after theater information on her.)
The two cousins (Maria and Elizabeth) I heard took more hours in the retail jobs.
I have no information on who ran the projection booth during my stay.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
The famous people that graced our audience was:
THE LA RAIDERS
RAE DAWN CHONG – came in with one of her friend’s toddler daughter.
ART EVANS – came in a few times.
PATRONAGE
The was not a steady flow of patriots, at times the show began as scheduled with one to a few viewers present.