Fox Anaheim Theatre
229 W. Lincoln Avenue,
Anaheim,
CA
92805
229 W. Lincoln Avenue,
Anaheim,
CA
92805
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Opened with Charles Ray in “A Midnight Bell” along with unknown extras.
The Fox was a first-run movie house throughout most of its life until closing in October 1976. The Fox reopened a short time later screening Spanish features and was closed several years later.
Hey Blaine, I worked for you back in 1975 at the Fox. I loved that place.
I managed this theater in ‘75-'76 when it was run by Mann Theatres and was there during the transition from 49-cent to $1.00 admission.
1925 photo added courtesy of Randy Inghram.
Been to the Fox many times and hated to see it demolished. Saw Wolfman Jack there (I knew him in later years). My last memory of the place was during demolition, the back wall and roof was down, seats were still in place and the stage curtains were gone. I’m producing concerts now and will in 2015 hold a fundraiser concert for the restoration of the Fullerton Fox.
Is that 49 cents for a double feature?Not a bad deal.
Back in the 1960s, Anaheim was BIG on parades.
And, one time, another parade passed the ANAHEIM FOX THEATER.
In 1967, when the Anaheim Convention Center Dome first opened, the
Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey Circus came to town, and had a huge old-fashioned circus parade heading west on Lincoln Avenue, right in front of the THEATER.
Working there that day, I stood in front of that old FOX THEATER as elephants, giraffes, clowns, and circus wagons with lions & tigers all passed in review, (followed by circus staff with shovels and wheelbarrows!)
The Anaheim Holloween Parade mentioned above passed in front of the FOX ANAHEIM THEATER annually. The parade started at La Palma Park, went south on Harbor Blvd., turned left on Lincoln Avenue (formerly Center Street), passed the FOX, then ended behind Lincoln School. Because the streets were closed-off by the A.P.D., it was very difficult to get to the THEATER on parade day.
Here is an undated photo from the LAPL, probably from the 1920s:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014407.jpg
The history of this theatre is well documented in both text and photographs. It was built in 1920 for the Gore Brothers and Sol Lesser, operated by their company, West Coast Theatres, for several years as the California Theatre, and later was renamed the Fox Theatre, operated by the successor circuit Fox-West Coast. Here’s a 1923 photograph of the theatre when it was the site of the premier of the movie Main Street.
It is possible that there was a later theatre in Anaheim also called the California, opened after this theatre was renamed, but this theatre definitely bore the name California Theatre before it became the Fox Theatre.
From the link Lost Memory posted on Oct. 17, 2005 (see above), the California Theater and Fox appear to be the same building, L. R. Shingle. The marquee appears to be the only difference.
The picture is of the old Fox Theater in Anaheim. The parade taking place is the childrens halloween parade. This is not the California Theater. The California Theater was further east on Center St (later renamed Lincoln Ave). The California Theater became a furniture store later. The Fox Theater that was converted to a restaurant was in Fullerton. And the Cinemaland Theater that is mentioned was further south on Harbor Blvd, across from Disneyland.One more note. Across the street from the Anaheim Fox Theater was a restaurant that had glass tiles inlaid in the side walk and at night the sidewalk lit up.
When was the Fox demolished?
As the first two photos provided by ken mc show, a children’s Halloween parade was held on Center Street. This continued at least throughout the 70s. I remember because I was in the 1974 parade. I think I only saw one movie at the Fox, the 1974 dog adventure “Benji.” Oh, boy, did us kids cry like babies over that one. We just LOVED that dog.
One more from the same source. Elvis rules.
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From the UC Davis collection:
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The Fox Cinemaland was demolished in January 1998 after sitting idle for years. It opened shortly after the South Coast Plaza theatre in Costa Mesa, CA by the NGC chain.
Just by way of info, the Fox Anaheim was refurbished in the late-1950s and equipped with stereophonic sound.
ken mc:
There was the Fox Cinemaland on Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim, but the entry here says it was demolished.
There was a discussion of a Fox Theater on Harbor Boulevard in the LA Times today as the theater was later converted to a restaurant called Angelo and DaVinci’s. I am guessing that the above theater may not be what the Times was referring to in the article.
Courtesy of the UCLA Digital Archive:
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The Fox Anaheim was built in 1920, and was originally called the California Theatre. It was designed by Meyer and Holler, and the original owner was Mr. Theodore Roberts, who leased the theatre to Sol Lesser & Gore Brothers of Los Angeles.
The Fox Anaheim was located at 229 W. Center .