I can’t remember if it was the State or Granada, but in the early ‘60’s, my father and I put on a magic show for the migrant workers, we packed the place. Back stage was a dressing room covered with beautifully done colorful posters of past Mexican entertainer’s who performed there. Pop would explain the next trick in English then pause while it was translated to the audience. There would be a big 'collective’ “Si”!..cute! They appreciated a good show!
Just remember it being a nice theatre with ‘UA’ Marquee. Saw ‘The Longest Day’ there, in the early ‘60s. Sad to see/hear so many of these great 'houses’ gone with the wind. lol. ‘Progress’‘n 'Time marches on’, I guess. They jus' don’t make’m like they used to!
Lived in Walnut Creek in early ‘50s, remember, as a kid, going with older Sis 'n Bro to the Park to watch 'Quo Vadis'when it first came out. Thought it nicer than the little W.C. 'house’. Of course the “Orinda” had them both beat on ‘Facades’ & Interiors!
Sad to hear all these commments re:The Roxie, T&D, Lux, Tower falling on ‘rough'times. Oakland was a wonderful town to grow up in, in the 50’s and early 60’s. In '57, I was ten yrs old, and thought nothing of bicyling around Lake Merritt, etc. Taking the 'B'bus (train, earlier)to downtown, or wherever! Capwell’s, Kahn’s, Broadway Bowl, all the great movie houses, Peralta Park, Fairyland, boating on the lake. Lakeshore, Grandlake, Park Blvd. Great neighborhoods, Mom 'n Pop stores for 'penny candy’. Just a great place to be a kid. (I can still hear the ‘ding ding’s, and ladie’s high heels 'click'n’, in Capwells ‘n Kahn’s!;)
Have great mem’s of this fine Theatre, as a kid, growing up in the 50’s, in the Lakeshore area. A ‘Blockbuster’, like “The Ten Commandments” would run for month’s. “The King and I” packed ‘em in, also. My older sister was an Usher in the Grand Lake, during this time, and loved working there. It is an 'asset’ to Oakland, as is the Paramount and Fox Oakland. Happy to see the Parkway still go'n, also. Sorry to read about the Roxie, tho. Saw a lot of Disney ‘n Elvis’ “GI Blues”, there. Saw the ‘Incredible Shrinking Man’, when it first came out, at the T&D. “Beach Party” at the Paramount. The Globe was good for ‘B’ Horror flicks! Is it true..“Kwik Way”, just down from the Grand Lake, finally closed? Been there a long time!
Us kids in the 50’s could see the Saturday Matinee free, with 3 7-UP bottle caps. Only problem was, try'n to find those caps, as it was not quite the “choice of drink”, between us kids. Searched a lot of gutters, etc.!
I can’t remember if it was the State or Granada, but in the early ‘60’s, my father and I put on a magic show for the migrant workers, we packed the place. Back stage was a dressing room covered with beautifully done colorful posters of past Mexican entertainer’s who performed there. Pop would explain the next trick in English then pause while it was translated to the audience. There would be a big 'collective’ “Si”!..cute! They appreciated a good show!
Just remember it being a nice theatre with ‘UA’ Marquee. Saw ‘The Longest Day’ there, in the early ‘60s. Sad to see/hear so many of these great 'houses’ gone with the wind. lol. ‘Progress’‘n 'Time marches on’, I guess. They jus' don’t make’m like they used to!
Lived in Walnut Creek in early ‘50s, remember, as a kid, going with older Sis 'n Bro to the Park to watch 'Quo Vadis'when it first came out. Thought it nicer than the little W.C. 'house’. Of course the “Orinda” had them both beat on ‘Facades’ & Interiors!
Sad to hear all these commments re:The Roxie, T&D, Lux, Tower falling on ‘rough'times. Oakland was a wonderful town to grow up in, in the 50’s and early 60’s. In '57, I was ten yrs old, and thought nothing of bicyling around Lake Merritt, etc. Taking the 'B'bus (train, earlier)to downtown, or wherever! Capwell’s, Kahn’s, Broadway Bowl, all the great movie houses, Peralta Park, Fairyland, boating on the lake. Lakeshore, Grandlake, Park Blvd. Great neighborhoods, Mom 'n Pop stores for 'penny candy’. Just a great place to be a kid. (I can still hear the ‘ding ding’s, and ladie’s high heels 'click'n’, in Capwells ‘n Kahn’s!;)
Have great mem’s of this fine Theatre, as a kid, growing up in the 50’s, in the Lakeshore area. A ‘Blockbuster’, like “The Ten Commandments” would run for month’s. “The King and I” packed ‘em in, also. My older sister was an Usher in the Grand Lake, during this time, and loved working there. It is an 'asset’ to Oakland, as is the Paramount and Fox Oakland. Happy to see the Parkway still go'n, also. Sorry to read about the Roxie, tho. Saw a lot of Disney ‘n Elvis’ “GI Blues”, there. Saw the ‘Incredible Shrinking Man’, when it first came out, at the T&D. “Beach Party” at the Paramount. The Globe was good for ‘B’ Horror flicks! Is it true..“Kwik Way”, just down from the Grand Lake, finally closed? Been there a long time!
Us kids in the 50’s could see the Saturday Matinee free, with 3 7-UP bottle caps. Only problem was, try'n to find those caps, as it was not quite the “choice of drink”, between us kids. Searched a lot of gutters, etc.!
In 1959, The first run of “BEN HUR”, for the Bay Area, was at the GREAT CORONET! Ran there for a long, long time, also! -Ronnie T.