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{{Short description|Concert hall, in Oakland, California}}
{{Other uses|Fox Theatre (disambiguation){{!}}Fox Theatre}}
{{Other uses|Fox Theatre (disambiguation){{!}}Fox Theatre}}
{{Infobox Venue
{{Infobox venue
| name = Fox Oakland Theatre
| name = Fox Oakland Theatre
| image = [[File:Fox Oakland Theatre.jpg|250px]]
| image = [[File:Fox Oakland Theatre.jpg|250px]]
| image_caption = <small>Fox Oakland Theatre 2002</small>
| image_caption = Fox Oakland Theatre 2002
| nickname =
| nickname =
| location = 1807 Telegraph Avenue <br>[[Oakland, California]], [[United States|USA]]
| location = 1807 Telegraph Avenue <br />[[Oakland, California]], US
| coordinates = {{coord|37.8079|-122.27013|format=dms}}
| coordinates = {{coord|37.8079|-122.27013|format=dms}}
| type = Indoor [[theatre]]
| type = Indoor [[theatre]]
| broke_ground =
| broke_ground =
| built =
| built =
| opened = 1928
| opened = 1928
| renovated = February 5, 2009
| renovated = February 5, 2009
| expanded =
| expanded =
| closed = 1973
| closed = 1973
| demolished =
| demolished =
| owner = [[Oakland, California|City of Oakland]]
| owner = [[Oakland, California|City of Oakland]]
| operator = Another Planet Entertainment
| operator = Another Planet Entertainment
| former_names =
| former_names =
| seating_type = Orchestra, Balcony
| seating_type = Orchestra, Balcony
| seating_capacity = 2,800
| seating_capacity = 2,800
| website = {{URL|thefoxoakland.com}}
| website = {{URL|thefoxoakland.com}}
{{Infobox NRHP
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Fox-Oakland Theatre
| name = Fox-Oakland Theatre
| embed = yes
| embed = yes
| nrhp_type =
| nrhp_type =
| image =
| designated_other1 = ODL
| designated_other1_number = 23
| caption =
| designated_other1_date = 1978
| location = 1807–29 Telegraph Ave., [[Oakland, California]]
| location = 1807–29 Telegraph Ave., [[Oakland, California]]
| coordinates = {{coord|37|48|32|N|122|16|9|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|37|48|32|N|122|16|9|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = United States Oakland#California#USA
| built = 1928
| locmapin = United States Oakland#California#USA
| architect = [[Weeks and Day]]
| built = 1928
| builder = Maury L. Diggs
| architect = [[Weeks and Day]]
| builder = Maury L. Diggs
| architecture = [[Art Deco architecture]]
| added = February 2, 1979
| architecture = [[Art Deco architecture]]
| added = February 2, 1979
<!-- | area = {{convert|1.2|acre}} -->
<!-- | area = {{convert|1.2|acre}} -->
⚫
| refnum = 79000468<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| governing_body = Private
}}
⚫
| refnum = 79000468<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| publictransit = {{rint|bart}} [[19th Street Oakland station|19th Street Oakland]]<br />{{rint|bus|1}} [[19th Street Oakland station#Uptown Transit Center|Uptown Transit Center]]
}}
}}
| publictransit = {{rint|bart}} [[19th Street/Oakland|19th Street]]}}
The '''Fox Oakland Theatre''' is a 2,800-seat [[concert hall]], a former [[movie theater]], located at 1807 [[Telegraph Avenue]] in [[Downtown Oakland]]. It originally opened in 1928, running films until 1970. Designed by [[Weeks and Day]], the theatre is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. It was refurbished in the 2000s and reopened as a concert venue on February 5, 2009.
The '''Fox Oakland Theatre''' is a 2,800-seat [[concert hall]], a former [[movie theater]], located at 1807 [[Telegraph Avenue]] in [[Downtown Oakland]]. It originally opened in 1928, running films until 1970. Designed by [[Weeks and Day]], the theatre is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. It was refurbished in the 2000s and reopened as a concert venue on February 5, 2009.


==History==
==History==
Originally intended to be named "The Bagdad" because of its [[Middle Eastern]] influenced architecture, the theater instead displayed the name "The Oakland" on the [[Marquee (sign)|marquee]], with the word "Oakland" forming the main portion of the vertical blade sign above the marquee. It was also known as the "West Coast Oakland".<ref name=History/> The Oakland became the 251st theater to open in the West Coast Theater chain.<ref name="FoxOakland_a">Fox Oakland Theatre Restoration Project. 2007. Oct. 2009 <http://www.oaklandfox.com/>.</ref> Opening day was October 27, 1928, after two years of construction.<ref name="Bagwell, Beth 1996">Bagwell, Beth. Oakland: The Story of a City. Oakland Heritage Alliance, 1996.</ref> The opening celebration was highly anticipated by the Bay Area residents, as the theater's 3,200 seats made it the largest in Oakland, more than the nearby [[Orpheum Theatre (San Francisco)|Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco]] which held 2,561, and more than the new 1,075-seat Dufwin which had opened three weeks earlier. The first film shown at the Oakland was [[Fox Film Corporation|Fox's]] ''[[The Air Circus]]'', an early sound film. Live performances took place on stage between films and newsreels, including "King of the Banjo" [[Eddie Peabody]]. House Music was provided by the Hermie King band with 20 members, and by an organist playing the house organ, a [[Wurlitzer#Theatre organs|Wurlitzer Opus 1960]] with 3 manuals and 15 ranks of pipes. A staff of 150 was required to run the theater.<ref name=History>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxoakland.org/index.php?page=history |title=Theater History |date=2012 |publisher=Friends of the Oakland Fox |accessdate=August 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KpD0svOz4MkC&pg=PA53 |page=53 |title=Theatres of Oakland |last=Tillmany |first=Jack |publisher=Arcadia |year=2006 |isbn=9781439634059}}</ref>
Originally intended to be named "The Bagdad" because of its [[Middle Eastern]] influenced architecture, the theater instead displayed the name "The Oakland" on the [[Marquee (sign)|marquee]], with the word "Oakland" forming the main portion of the vertical blade sign above the marquee. It was also known as the "West Coast Oakland".<ref name=History/> The Oakland became the 251st theater to open in the West Coast Theater chain.<ref name="FoxOakland_a">Fox Oakland Theatre Restoration Project. 2007. Oct. 2009 <http://www.oaklandfox.com/>.</ref> Opening day was October 27, 1928, after two years of construction.<ref name="Bagwell, Beth 1996">Bagwell, Beth. Oakland: The Story of a City. Oakland Heritage Alliance, 1996.</ref> The opening celebration was highly anticipated by the Bay Area residents, as the theater's 3,200 seats made it the largest in Oakland, more than the nearby [[Orpheum Theatre (San Francisco)|Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco]] which held 2,561, and more than the new 1,075-seat Dufwin which had opened three weeks earlier. The first film shown at the Oakland was [[Fox Film Corporation|Fox's]] ''[[The Air Circus]]'', an early sound film. Live performances took place on stage between films and newsreels, including "King of the Banjo" [[Eddie Peabody]]. House Music was provided by the Hermie King band with 20 members, and by an organist playing the house organ, a [[Wurlitzer#Theatre organs|Wurlitzer Opus 1960]] with 3 manuals and 15 ranks of pipes. A staff of 150 was required to run the theater.<ref name=History>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxoakland.org/index.php?page=history |title=Theater History |date=2012 |publisher=Friends of the Oakland Fox |access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KpD0svOz4MkC&pg=PA53 |page=53 |title=Theatres of Oakland |last=Tillmany |first=Jack |publisher=Arcadia |year=2006 |isbn=9781439634059}}</ref>


In March 1929, the theater was renamed the "Fox Oakland" when [[William Fox (producer)|William Fox]] bought the West Coast Theatres chain and merged it with his [[Fox Theatres]] chain. The launch of the Fox was expected to earn high earnings in the downtown district. Reestablishing the movie industry, the Fox offered the opportunity to stray from the silent films and helped introduce the “talkies” by having a live stage show.<ref name="TheFox">The Fox Oakland. 2009. Another Planet. Oct. 2009 <{{cite web|url=http://thefoxoakland.com/index.php |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2009-11-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101201351/http://thefoxoakland.com/index.php |archivedate=2010-01-01 }}></ref>
In March 1929, the theater was renamed the "Fox Oakland" when [[William Fox (producer)|William Fox]] bought the West Coast Theatres chain and merged it with his [[Fox Theatres]] chain. The launch of the Fox was expected to earn high earnings in the downtown district. Reestablishing the movie industry, the Fox offered the opportunity to stray from the silent films and helped introduce the "talkies" by having a live stage show.<ref name="TheFox">The Fox Oakland. 2009. Another Planet. Oct. 2009 <{{cite web|url=http://thefoxoakland.com/index.php |title=The Fox Theater, Oakland California &#124; Another Planet Entertainment &#124; APE Concerts |access-date=2009-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101201351/http://thefoxoakland.com/index.php |archive-date=2010-01-01 }}></ref>


==Years of Closure==
==Years of Closure==
Attendance significantly dropped in the 1960s<ref name="Bagwell, Beth 1996"/> and on September 14, 1965 the Fox closed, "temporarily," according to the [[San Francisco Chronicle]], "The movie ... which will be shown on the Fox Oakland's last day is the [[Marlon Brando]] spy melodrama, ''[[Morituri (1965 film)|Morituri]]''". During the next seven years the theater opened sporadically for movies and special events, but never found a market that could support the required overhead and maintenance.<ref name="foxoakland.org">http://www.foxoakland.org/index.php?page=history</ref> In 1973 the theater building was twice the victim of arson after the owner refused to hire a quota of [[Black Panthers]] and pay for their "protection".<ref>http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jun/22/opinion/op-coleman22</ref> In 1977 the theater was used during the filming of the horror film ''[[Nightmare in Blood]]'' directed by John Stanley.<ref>http://www.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2012/10/10/homegrown-horror-1978s-nightmare-in-blood-unleashes-a-vampire-on-san-francisco</ref> In 1983 and 1984 the Dickens Fair used the theater for Victorian England reenactments, setting up a mock village.<ref name="foxoakland.org"/>
Attendance significantly dropped in the 1960s<ref name="Bagwell, Beth 1996"/> and on September 14, 1965 the Fox closed, "temporarily," according to the [[San Francisco Chronicle]], "The movie ... which will be shown on the Fox Oakland's last day is the [[Marlon Brando]] spy melodrama, ''[[Morituri (1965 film)|Morituri]]''". During the next seven years the theater opened sporadically for movies and special events, but never found a market that could support the required overhead and maintenance.<ref name="foxoakland.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.foxoakland.org/index.php?page=history |title=Friends of the Oakland Fox |website=www.foxoakland.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524071943/http://www.foxoakland.org/index.php?page=history |archive-date=2011-05-24}}</ref> In 1973 the theater building was twice the victim of arson after the owner refused to hire a quota of [[Black Panthers]] and pay for their "protection".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-22-op-coleman22-story.html|title = Archives|website = [[Los Angeles Times]]| date=22 June 2003 }}</ref> In 1977 the theater was used during the filming of the horror film ''[[Nightmare in Blood]]'' directed by John Stanley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2012/10/10/homegrown-horror-1978s-nightmare-in-blood-unleashes-a-vampire-on-san-francisco|title = Homegrown Horror: 1978's Nightmare in Blood Unleashes a Vampire on San Francisco}}</ref> In 1983 and 1984 the [[Dickens Fair]] used the theater for Victorian England reenactments, setting up a mock village.<ref name="foxoakland.org"/>


By 1975 the building was in such disrepair that the City's Public Works Department presented a plan for the City to purchase the property, demolish the building, and create a parking lot.<ref name="foxoakland.org"/> However, their plans floundered and on Jan. 24 1978 the Mann Theater Group sold the theater at auction to Mario and Erma DeLucchi for $340,000. A few months after the purchase, Mr. DeLucchi died of a heart attack and plans for a restoration of the theater never took off.<ref name="foxoakland.org"/> With the support of then-Oakland Mayor [[Lionel Wilson (politician)|Lionel Wilson]] the building was designated an Oakland City Landmark in 1978 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places the following year.
By 1975 the building was in such disrepair that the City's Public Works Department presented a plan for the City to purchase the property, demolish the building, and create a parking lot.<ref name="foxoakland.org"/> However, their plans floundered and on Jan. 24, 1978 the Mann Theater Group sold the theater at auction to Mario and Erma DeLucchi for $340,000. A few months after the purchase, Mr. DeLucchi died of a heart attack and plans for a restoration of the theater never took off.<ref name="foxoakland.org"/> With the support of then-Oakland Mayor [[Lionel Wilson (politician)|Lionel Wilson]] the building was designated an Oakland City Landmark in 1978 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places the following year.


==Restoration==
==Restoration==


In 1996, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency bought the building for $3 million. In 1999 a group of concerned citizens formed the Friends of The Oakland Fox and some badly needed restoration work began.<ref>http://www.foxoakland.org/</ref> In December 2004, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency received a $2.9 million grant for further restoration of the theater.
In 1996, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency bought the building for $3 million. In 1999 a group of concerned citizens formed the Friends of The Oakland Fox and some badly needed restoration work began.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxoakland.org/ |title=Home |website=foxoakland.org}}</ref> In December 2004, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency received a $2.9 million grant for further restoration of the theater.


When mayor [[Jerry Brown]] needed to find a new home for the [[Oakland School for the Arts]], a charter high school dedicated to the arts, the task fell to the Redevelopment Staff who conceived of the idea of placing the school in the retail and office space that surrounded, and were part of, the Fox Theatre building. Restoring and reopening the theater in a shared use plan with the school was quickly championed by local developer [[Phil Tagami]]. Friends of the Oakland Fox played a role with the Oakland Redevelopment Agency in raising funding for the elaborate $75 million restoration process.
When mayor [[Jerry Brown]] needed to find a new home for the [[Oakland School for the Arts]], a charter high school dedicated to the arts, the task fell to the Redevelopment Staff who conceived of the idea of placing the school in the retail and office space that surrounded, and were part of, the Fox Theatre building. Restoring and reopening the theater in a shared use plan with the school was quickly championed by local developer [[Phil Tagami]]. Friends of the Oakland Fox played a role with the Oakland Redevelopment Agency in raising funding for the elaborate $75 million restoration process.
Line 60: Line 62:
==Reopening==
==Reopening==


February 2009 marked the beginning of a new era for the Fox. After being neglected for forty years, the once glamorous theater made its comeback as a 2,800-seat concert hall.<ref name="FoxOakland_a" /> Accentuating its revival, the theater's grand opening night featured a “roaring twenties” theme celebrating the newly renovated theater MC'ed by Oakland native, comedian Don Reed (East 14th, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Snap Judgment). The first paid performance after reopening was Social Distortion <ref>7</ref> The Oakland Fox Theatre now serves as a school, restaurant, and prominent live concert venue. It has hosted many concerts by artists such as [[B.B. King]], [[Paul Simon]], [[Korn]], [[Kylie Minogue]], [[The Allman Brothers]], [[Widespread Panic]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Green Day]], [[Twenty One Pilots]], [[Marina and the Diamonds]], [[Metallica]], [[Primus (band)|Primus]], [[Alice in Chains]], [[Atoms For Peace]], [[Black Star (group)|Black Star]], [[Lorde]], [[Animal Collective]], [[X Japan]], [[The Decemberists]], and [[Van Morrison]] since 2009. President [[Barack Obama]] spoke at the Fox during his 2012 Reelection Campaign.<ref>http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2012/07/24/president-obama-in-oakland-photos-tweets-and-more</ref>
February 2009 marked the beginning of a new era for the Fox. After being neglected for forty years, the once glamorous theater made its comeback as a 2,800-seat concert hall.<ref name="FoxOakland_a" /> Accentuating its revival, the theater's grand opening night featured a "roaring twenties" theme celebrating the newly renovated theater MC'ed by Oakland native, comedian Don Reed (East 14th, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Snap Judgment). The first paid performance after reopening was Social Distortion. <ref>7</ref> The Oakland Fox Theatre now serves as a school, restaurant, and prominent live concert venue. It has hosted many concerts by artists such as [[B.B. King]], [[Paul Simon]], [[Korn]], [[Kylie Minogue]], [[the Allman Brothers]], [[Widespread Panic]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Green Day]], [[Twenty One Pilots]], [[Charli XCX]], [[Marina and the Diamonds]], [[King Crimson]], [[Metallica]], [[Primus (band)|Primus]], [[Alice in Chains]], [[Atoms For Peace]], [[Black Star (group)|Black Star]], [[Lorde]], [[Animal Collective]], [[X Japan]], [[the Decemberists]], and [[Van Morrison]] since 2009. President [[Barack Obama]] spoke at the Fox during his 2012 Reelection Campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2012/07/24/president-obama-in-oakland-photos-tweets-and-more|title = President Obama at Fox Theater in Oakland: Raw Video, Photos and More}}</ref>


==New Features==
==New Features==


The Oakland Fox Theatre is the home of the [[Oakland School for the Arts]], a charter school founded in 2002 which enrolls students from 6-12th grade specializing in the arts.<ref>5</ref> In 2011 [[Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe]] opened their second location in the building: it is co-owned by [[Green Day]]'s [[Mike Dirnt]]. Rudy's closed on Thursday, July 26, 2018. <ref>{{cite web |title=Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe has somehow failed, will close Oakland branch |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/Rudy-s-Can-t-Fail-Cafe-has-somehow-failed-13101316.php |website=SFChronicle.com |date=24 July 2018}}</ref>
The Oakland Fox Theatre is the home of the [[Oakland School for the Arts]], a charter school founded in 2002 which enrolls students from 6-12th grade specializing in the arts.<ref>5</ref> In 2011 [[Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe]] opened their second location in the building: it is co-owned by [[Green Day]]'s [[Mike Dirnt]]. Rudy's closed on Thursday, July 26, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe has somehow failed, will close Oakland branch |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/Rudy-s-Can-t-Fail-Cafe-has-somehow-failed-13101316.php |website=SFChronicle.com |date=24 July 2018}}</ref>


==Architecture==
==Architecture==


With terra cotta, rich colors, intricate gold accents, and distinctive dome, the theater's design redefined architecture in the 1920s. The interior of the Fox Theatre was delicately crafted and said to be described as “mystical”.<ref name="TheFox" /> With its intriguing resemblance of an Indian temple, the Fox Theatre was a fascinating attribute to downtown Oakland. At this time, theaters across the nation strived to be more than just a typical building. The designs of various theaters were inspired greatly by Middle Eastern and Indian architecture.<ref name="TheFox" />
With terra cotta, rich colors, intricate gold accents, and distinctive dome, the theater's design redefined architecture in the 1920s. The interior of the Fox Theatre was delicately crafted and said to be described as "mystical".<ref name="TheFox" /> With its intriguing resemblance of an Indian temple, the Fox Theatre was a fascinating attribute to downtown Oakland. At this time, theaters across the nation strived to be more than just a typical building. The designs of various theaters were inspired greatly by Middle Eastern and Indian architecture.<ref name="TheFox" />


==See also==
==See also==
Line 76: Line 78:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


===Sources===
===Sources===
Line 85: Line 87:
* Oakland School for the Arts. 2009. Oct. 2009 [http://www.oakarts.org/index.php website].
* Oakland School for the Arts. 2009. Oct. 2009 [http://www.oakarts.org/index.php website].
* The Fox Oakland. 2009. Another Planet. Oct. 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20100101201351/http://thefoxoakland.com/index.php Fox Oakland.com].
* The Fox Oakland. 2009. Another Planet. Oct. 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20100101201351/http://thefoxoakland.com/index.php Fox Oakland.com].
* "Oakland's Historic Fox Theatre Reopens." [http://cbs5.com/local/oakland.fox.theater.2.928413.html CBS Channel 5], 5 Feb. 2009; Oct. 2009.
* "Oakland's Historic Fox Theatre Reopens." [https://web.archive.org/web/20090207045816/http://cbs5.com/local/oakland.fox.theater.2.928413.html CBS Channel 5], 5 Feb. 2009; Oct. 2009.


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Fox Theatre (Oakland, California)}}
{{Commons category|Fox Theatre (Oakland, California)}}
*[http://www.thefoxoakland.com/ The Oakland Fox Theatre website]
*[http://www.thefoxoakland.com/ The Oakland Fox Theatre website]
*[http://www.foxoakland.org Friends of the Oakland Fox website]
*[http://www.foxoakland.org Friends of the Oakland Fox website]
Line 95: Line 97:


{{National Register of Historic Places in California}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in California}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Movie palaces]]
[[Category:Movie palaces]]
Line 105: Line 108:
[[Category:Event venues established in 1928]]
[[Category:Event venues established in 1928]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture in California]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture in California]]
[[Category:Art Deco cinemas and movie theaters]]
[[Category:Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:Weeks and Day buildings]]
[[Category:Weeks and Day buildings]]
[[Category:Oakland Designated Landmarks]]

Latest revision as of 04:05, 14 August 2024

For other uses, see Fox Theatre.
Fox Oakland Theatre
Fox Oakland Theatre 2002
Map
Location1807 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, California, US
Coordinates37°48′28″N 122°16′12″W / 37.8079°N 122.27013°W / 37.8079; -122.27013
Public transitBay Area Rapid Transit 19th Street Oakland
Bus interchange Uptown Transit Center
OwnerCity of Oakland
OperatorAnother Planet Entertainment
TypeIndoor theatre
Seating typeOrchestra, Balcony
Capacity2,800
Construction
Opened1928
RenovatedFebruary 5, 2009
Closed1973
Website
thefoxoakland.com
Fox-Oakland Theatre
Fox Oakland Theatre is located in Oakland, California
Fox Oakland Theatre
Fox Oakland Theatre is located in California
Fox Oakland Theatre
Fox Oakland Theatre is located in the United States
Fox Oakland Theatre
Location1807–29 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, California
Coordinates37°48′32″N 122°16′9″W / 37.80889°N 122.26917°W / 37.80889; -122.26917
Built1928
Built byMaury L. Diggs
ArchitectWeeks and Day
Architectural styleArt Deco architecture
NRHP reference No.79000468[1]
ODL No.23
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 2, 1979
Designated ODL1978

The Fox Oakland Theatre is a 2,800-seat concert hall, a former movie theater, located at 1807 Telegraph Avenue in Downtown Oakland. It originally opened in 1928, running films until 1970. Designed by Weeks and Day, the theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was refurbished in the 2000s and reopened as a concert venue on February 5, 2009.

History

[edit]

Originally intended to be named "The Bagdad" because of its Middle Eastern influenced architecture, the theater instead displayed the name "The Oakland" on the marquee, with the word "Oakland" forming the main portion of the vertical blade sign above the marquee. It was also known as the "West Coast Oakland".[2] The Oakland became the 251st theater to open in the West Coast Theater chain.[3] Opening day was October 27, 1928, after two years of construction.[4] The opening celebration was highly anticipated by the Bay Area residents, as the theater's 3,200 seats made it the largest in Oakland, more than the nearby Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco which held 2,561, and more than the new 1,075-seat Dufwin which had opened three weeks earlier. The first film shown at the Oakland was Fox's The Air Circus, an early sound film. Live performances took place on stage between films and newsreels, including "King of the Banjo" Eddie Peabody. House Music was provided by the Hermie King band with 20 members, and by an organist playing the house organ, a Wurlitzer Opus 1960 with 3 manuals and 15 ranks of pipes. A staff of 150 was required to run the theater.[2][5]

In March 1929, the theater was renamed the "Fox Oakland" when William Fox bought the West Coast Theatres chain and merged it with his Fox Theatres chain. The launch of the Fox was expected to earn high earnings in the downtown district. Reestablishing the movie industry, the Fox offered the opportunity to stray from the silent films and helped introduce the "talkies" by having a live stage show.[6]

Years of Closure

[edit]

Attendance significantly dropped in the 1960s[4] and on September 14, 1965 the Fox closed, "temporarily," according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "The movie ... which will be shown on the Fox Oakland's last day is the Marlon Brando spy melodrama, Morituri". During the next seven years the theater opened sporadically for movies and special events, but never found a market that could support the required overhead and maintenance.[7] In 1973 the theater building was twice the victim of arson after the owner refused to hire a quota of Black Panthers and pay for their "protection".[8] In 1977 the theater was used during the filming of the horror film Nightmare in Blood directed by John Stanley.[9] In 1983 and 1984 the Dickens Fair used the theater for Victorian England reenactments, setting up a mock village.[7]

By 1975 the building was in such disrepair that the City's Public Works Department presented a plan for the City to purchase the property, demolish the building, and create a parking lot.[7] However, their plans floundered and on Jan. 24, 1978 the Mann Theater Group sold the theater at auction to Mario and Erma DeLucchi for $340,000. A few months after the purchase, Mr. DeLucchi died of a heart attack and plans for a restoration of the theater never took off.[7] With the support of then-Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson the building was designated an Oakland City Landmark in 1978 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places the following year.

Restoration

[edit]

In 1996, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency bought the building for $3 million. In 1999 a group of concerned citizens formed the Friends of The Oakland Fox and some badly needed restoration work began.[10] In December 2004, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency received a $2.9 million grant for further restoration of the theater.

When mayor Jerry Brown needed to find a new home for the Oakland School for the Arts, a charter high school dedicated to the arts, the task fell to the Redevelopment Staff who conceived of the idea of placing the school in the retail and office space that surrounded, and were part of, the Fox Theatre building. Restoring and reopening the theater in a shared use plan with the school was quickly championed by local developer Phil Tagami. Friends of the Oakland Fox played a role with the Oakland Redevelopment Agency in raising funding for the elaborate $75 million restoration process.

Reopening

[edit]

February 2009 marked the beginning of a new era for the Fox. After being neglected for forty years, the once glamorous theater made its comeback as a 2,800-seat concert hall.[3] Accentuating its revival, the theater's grand opening night featured a "roaring twenties" theme celebrating the newly renovated theater MC'ed by Oakland native, comedian Don Reed (East 14th, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Snap Judgment). The first paid performance after reopening was Social Distortion. [11] The Oakland Fox Theatre now serves as a school, restaurant, and prominent live concert venue. It has hosted many concerts by artists such as B.B. King, Paul Simon, Korn, Kylie Minogue, the Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Twenty One Pilots, Charli XCX, Marina and the Diamonds, King Crimson, Metallica, Primus, Alice in Chains, Atoms For Peace, Black Star, Lorde, Animal Collective, X Japan, the Decemberists, and Van Morrison since 2009. President Barack Obama spoke at the Fox during his 2012 Reelection Campaign.[12]

New Features

[edit]

The Oakland Fox Theatre is the home of the Oakland School for the Arts, a charter school founded in 2002 which enrolls students from 6-12th grade specializing in the arts.[13] In 2011 Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe opened their second location in the building: it is co-owned by Green Day's Mike Dirnt. Rudy's closed on Thursday, July 26, 2018.[14]

Architecture

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With terra cotta, rich colors, intricate gold accents, and distinctive dome, the theater's design redefined architecture in the 1920s. The interior of the Fox Theatre was delicately crafted and said to be described as "mystical".[6] With its intriguing resemblance of an Indian temple, the Fox Theatre was a fascinating attribute to downtown Oakland. At this time, theaters across the nation strived to be more than just a typical building. The designs of various theaters were inspired greatly by Middle Eastern and Indian architecture.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Theater History". Friends of the Oakland Fox. 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Fox Oakland Theatre Restoration Project. 2007. Oct. 2009 <http://www.oaklandfox.com/>.
  4. ^ a b Bagwell, Beth. Oakland: The Story of a City. Oakland Heritage Alliance, 1996.
  5. ^ Tillmany, Jack (2006). Theatres of Oakland. Arcadia. p. 53. ISBN 9781439634059.
  6. ^ a b c The Fox Oakland. 2009. Another Planet. Oct. 2009 <"The Fox Theater, Oakland California | Another Planet Entertainment | APE Concerts". Archived from the original on 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2009-11-20.>
  7. ^ a b c d "Friends of the Oakland Fox". www.foxoakland.org. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24.
  8. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 22 June 2003.
  9. ^ "Homegrown Horror: 1978's Nightmare in Blood Unleashes a Vampire on San Francisco".
  10. ^ "Home". foxoakland.org.
  11. ^ 7
  12. ^ "President Obama at Fox Theater in Oakland: Raw Video, Photos and More".
  13. ^ 5
  14. ^ "Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe has somehow failed, will close Oakland branch". SFChronicle.com. 24 July 2018.

Sources

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  • Bagwell, Beth. Oakland: The Story of a City. Oakland Heritage Alliance, 1996.
  • Fox Oakland Theatre Restoration Project. 2007. Oct. 2009 http://www.oaklandfox.com.
  • Friends of the Oakland Fox. 2004-2009. Oct. 2009 http://www.foxoakland.org.
  • "Kylie Minogue preps for first ever North American tour." Live Daily. 6 May 2009. Oct. 2009
  • Oakland School for the Arts. 2009. Oct. 2009 website.
  • The Fox Oakland. 2009. Another Planet. Oct. 2009 Fox Oakland.com.
  • "Oakland's Historic Fox Theatre Reopens." CBS Channel 5, 5 Feb. 2009; Oct. 2009.
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