Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater
2001 H Street,
Bakersfield,
CA
93301
2001 H Street,
Bakersfield,
CA
93301
11 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres
Architects: Simeon Charles Lee
Functions: Concerts, Live Performances, Movies (Classic), Movies (Revival)
Styles: Art Deco, Atmospheric, Mission Revival
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
661.324.1369
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Aug 1, 2008 — Special benefit at Fox
- Jul 8, 2008 — Wild West fundraiser at Fox
Similar in style to the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, this Fox Theater is a beautiful example of the Mission Revival style on the outside. It was originally built in the Atmospheric style tradition on the inside with the illusion of half buildings built into the side-walls for maximum effect and twinkling stars in the blue ceiling.
The theater was opened on December 24, 1930 with El Brendel in “Just Imagine”. It was equipped with a Robert Morton 2 manual 16 ranks organ.
In 1952 an earthquake occurred, but the theater still held up.
In 1953, the Mediterranean Village Atmospheric style interior was replaced with a contemporary Art Deco motif inspired by Fox West Coast Theaters' Charles P. Skouras, and a concession stand was added, along with a remodel of the marquee, box office and main entrance. The Fox Theater was closed as a movie theater in 1977. It briefly reopened in 1983-1984. It remained shuttered until June 28, 1994 when it was taken over by The Fox Theater Foundation, who saved it from demolition. Restoration began on July 1, 1994.
In the 2000’s the Fox Theater was restored and reopened as a live concert venue and showcase for classic film. In January 2022 plans were announced to raise funds to purchase and install a Wurlitzer organ. In November 2023 a Rogers 3 manual electronic organ was donated to theater.
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Recent comments (view all 57 comments)
1974 bookings:
1/09/74: Robin Hood; White Wilderness
1/23/74: Chariots of the Gods
2/08/74: Superdad; Son of Flubber
2/27/74: The Day of the Dolphin; The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean
3/13/74: Jesus Christ Superstar
3/20/74: Jesus Christ Superstar; Pete ‘N Tillie
3/27/74: Cinderella Liberty; Emperor of the North
4/05/74: Alice in Wonderland; Charley and the Angel
4/26/74: The Sting (11 weeks)
7/10/74: Herbie Rides Again (featurette: Legend of Sleepy Hollow)
8/07/72: Herbie Rides Again; The World’s Greatest Athlete
8/14/74: The Castaway Cowboy; The Absent-Minded Professor
8/21/74: The Castaway Cowboy; On Any Sunday
8/28/74: Return of the Dragon; Lightning Sword of Death
9/11/74: The White Dawn; The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
9/18/74: The Internecine Project; Papillon
9/25/74: The Tamarind Seed; Cops and Robbers
10/02/74: Claudine; Electra Glide in Blue
10/09/74: Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein (3-D)
10/23/74: Fantasia (cartoon – Touchdown Mickey)
11/06/74: The Bears and I; The Shaggy Dog
11/20/74: Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (“Surround Sound”); Mad Dogs and Englishmen)
11/27/74: Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.; That Darn Cat
12/04/74: Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.; The Daring Dobermans
12/11/74: Deep Throat Part II; The Mad Mad Movie Makers
12/20/74: Earthquake (Sensurround) (11 weeks)
1975 bookings:
3/12/75: Murder On the Orient Express
3/26/75: Escape To Witch Mountain (cartoon fest)
4/09/74: Escape To Witch Mountain (featurette: Winnie the pooh and tigger Too)
4/16/75: A Woman Under the Influence; Cinderella Liberty
4/23/75: Flesh Gordon; The Groove Tube
5/07/75: Emmanuelle; Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
5/21/75: Shampoo
6/18/75: Shampoo; The Owl and the Pussycat
6/25/75: Bambi (featurette: The Hound That Thought He Was a Raccoon)
7/02/75: Bambi; Superdad
7/16/75: One Of Our Dinosaurs Are Missing; Cinderella
7/30/75: Linda Lovelace For president; Pardon My Blooper
8/06/75: Nashville
8/20/75: Nashville; White Lightning
8/27/75: Beyond the Door (Quadraphonic Possessound)
9/03/75: Beyond the Door; The Devil’s Rain
9/19/75: Flossie; What Do You Say To a Naked Lady?
9/30/75: Live Closed Circuit: Frazier fight)
10/01/75: Flossie; What Do You Say To a Naked Lady?
10/03/75: Farewell My Lovely; Slither
10/15/75: The Great Gatsby; Once Is Not Enough
10/22/75: The Way We Were; Lords of Flatbush
11/07/75: The Best of Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures; The Strongest Man in the World
11/19/75: Mahogany; Once Is Not Enough
12/16/75: Walls of Fire (1 day only)
12/17/75: Mahogany; once Is Not Enough
12/20/75: Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs; featurette)
11/
1976 Bookings: 1/07/76: Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs; Island at the top of the World 1/21/76: Killer orce; Gone in 60 Seconds 1/28/76: King of Hearts (shorts: Bambi Meets Godzillal Thank You, Mask Man) 2/04/76: 3 Days of the Condor; Chinatown 2/11/76: No Deposit, No Return (cartoons: Three Little Pigs; Ugly Duckling; Tortoise and the Hare) 3/12/76: Fantasia 3/24/76: From Beyond the Grave; Tales From the Crypt 3/31/76: The Sunshine Boys; Smile 4/09/76: Lipstick 4/14/76: Lipstick; Death Wish 4/28/76: Lucky Lady; Breakout 5/05/76: Lucky Lady; W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings 5/12/76: Grizzly; Grizzly Adams 5/19/76: Gone With the Wind 5/28/76: Follow Me, Boys (featurette: Ben and Me) 6/04/76: Follow Me, Boys!; Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. 6/16/76: Embryo; Goodbye, Bruce Lee 6/23/76: Peter Pan (featurette: The Horse With the Flying Tail) 7/07/76: Gus (cartoons: Ferdinand the Bull; The Country Cousin; Lend a Paw) 7/14/76: Peter Pan; Bambi 7/28/76: Jack and the Beanstalk; The Golden Voyage of Sinbad 8/04/76: The Treasure of Matecumbe; The Apple Dumpling Gang 8/25/76: The Littlest Horse Thieves 9/01/76: The Man Who Fell To Earth; Barbarella 9/08/76: Ode To Billy Joe; Return To Macon County 9/15/76: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Where’s Poppa? 9/22/76: Guitar Clips and Roach Clips (Quad sound) 9/29/76: Lifeguard; The Bad News Bears 10/06/76: Obsession; Taxi Driver (10/08/76: Preview: Car Wash) 10/27/76: Midway; The Hindenburg (10/30/76: Kids mat: Snoopy Go Home; cartoons) 11/03/76: Shoot; The Killer Elite 11/10/76: Marathon Man 11/24/76: Marathon Man; Hard Times 12/18/76: The Shaggy D.A.; Stormy 12/29/76: The Shaggy D.A.; Ride a Wild Pony
Grand opening ad has been posted here.
Some killer double features back in the day. 12/14/73, “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Man of LaMancha” That’s over 5 ½ hours of viewing. I also love how “MAS*H” came back 3 times in 6 month period between 9/70 and 4/71. The good old days…..
Visited for the May 5, 2018 concert by Neil Young and Crazy Horse: beautiful theater, great acoustics, perfect ambiance for the concert. Added a couple pictures to the Photo section.
Fox Theater Foundation seeking funding to restore their signage.
Go Fund Me link in news story below.
https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/-ox-to-fox-fox-theater-foundation-is-looking-to-restore-historic-tower-signage/1724663910?fbclid=IwAR2reD7IkvJYZHUwaGwQTtnRZhZm2xO75EzIVQSYnjZ2PrMHLxmx-wKMIig
Bakersfield newspaper article that supplements DavidZornig’s comment above:
https://www.bakersfield.com/news/fox-theater-asks-for-community-s-help-in-fixing-clock/article_1ee8ee4e-24e3-11e9-874f-b7d6b718f208.html
This theatre is a perfect example of the Souras-ized era. Absolutely beautiful.
Fox Theater looking for photos and memories for it’s 90th anniversary book.
https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/fox-theater-asking-community-to-share-photos-memories-for-book/?fbclid=IwAR3qkWOMG3N9qJ-rgXp-2MYd5wcOqRpHZUPXS-W5sxQo6bhL3kM1HuPm2_M