San Francisco Theatres: The Fox Theatre: salvage

The Fox Theatre: salvage

A sign in the Les Thomsen collection. Thanks to Rena Azevedo Kiehn at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum for posting the photo of it on the BAHT Facebook page.

An Ash Caddy:

Thanks to Peter Angeles for researching this item and posting four photos of it on the BAHT Facebook page. It's on the site Worthpoint with this copy that appeared when the item was for sale on eBay:

"I bought this as a souvenir of my many visits to the Fox Theater as a youngster. It was so grand and austere. I was literally overwhelmed by the majesty of the place. People were buying sections of seats (4 seats each) sconces, drapery, section cords with stands, lobby furnishings, Snack Bar glassware and silverware, usher uniforms and accoutrements which brings me to the Caddy. One of my most vivid memories was of the usher and his brass caddy patrolling the smoking section where my mom and dad usually sat. It cost me $2.00. I also bought a gumball dispenser for $10 and a brass and onyx lobby ashtray for $8. A highschoolers $20 allowance was gone.If I remember correctly the auction was held shortly before it was demolished in July of 1963.13" x 6"."

Another ash caddy photo. Thanks, Peter!

The Boxoffice:

The boxoffice was moved to the Little Fox Theatre, 535 Pacific Ave. In this 1964 photo we also see a poster case and a light fixture from the Fox. The theatre also had numerous other items. The Alan J. Canterbury photo taken during the run of "The Fantasticks" is in the San Francisco Public Library collection.

Doors:

The brass doors from the Fox that are seen here were used when the building was the Little Fox Theatre. The facade was rebuilt in 1984 but the doors were again utilized. The image is a detail from a c.2020 photo on the the website of the managers, Clint Reilly Landmark Properties. Thanks to Peter Angeles for posting photos from the Reilly site and discussing the repurposed doors on the BAHT Facebook page.

Draperies:

The Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland is using a cut-down portion of the Fox's traveler as their curtain. Photo: Bill Counter - 2015

Matias Antonio Bombal comments: "Sheared into sections, some on the walls. They could only fit 1/3 of the bottom of it into the Grand Lake proscenium, but it is still there to be seen in part and that is better then totally gone."

Thanks to Matías Antonio Bombal for this Grand Lake view. He comments: "Somewhere...was the question asking if the jeweled drape at the Grand Lake came from the FOX San Francisco. Yes, but it has been severely truncated to fit the much smaller stage opening of the Grand Lake. The cut-off side edges, in four separate pieces, are now on the inside walls on either side of the auditorium. In a way this seems criminal, especially for such a remarkably jeweled and gold fiber drape with such a connection to 'The World's Finest Theatre.' Yet, let's face it, we are lucky to have it at all, so kudos to A.M. [ Allen Michaan ] for keeping it not only in use for its original purpose, but he did not cut it down the center to part it, so it is flown as it used to be flown, up and down, in The City. Here is the drape today."

Matías continues: "A 1929 view of the original size in place at the FOX. I have outlined in the '29 photo the portion that remains at the stage of the Grand Lake. I never saw this drape at the FOX, but I did see most of it in 1987 in a much larger section, uncut as it were, when Peter Botto had it hung for a short period at the Oakland Paramount, about 5 batons back from the Paramount's main. I'll never forget that thrill, when Peter brought it from the fly gallery, seeing it for the first time all lit up with that grand array of lights from the Paramount's balcony rail, the jewels in multiple colors reflecting majestically. Today, even reduced to a mere fabric sample of its past, we can see it any day the Grand Lake is open. To walk up next to it and see it close up, fills you with the thrill of the great showmanship that took place in San Francisco from '29-'63, 'Behind That Curtain.'"

The organ in action at the Grand Lake. It's one of two photos by William L. Coale that he added as a comment on a thread about the Fox on the Facebook page Theatre Architecture.

A closer look at the curtain and the Grand Lake's console. Thanks to William L. Coale for his photo.

A section of a lobby valance of the type that hung at the entrances to the ladies and men's rooms. It's in the Matías Bombal collection. He's got the whole story about it on a post on the BAHT Facebook page.

A photo one of a pair of lobby valances that was offered on eBay. Thanks to Peter Angeles grabbing the image and posting this shot and the two details below on the BAHT Facebook page.

A detail.

Another detail view of the valance once listed on eBay. Thanks, Peter!

A doorway valance from the Fox on display at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland. Thanks to TJ Fisher for his 2021 photo, one of three of the theatre he included in a post on the BAHT Facebook page.

A doorway valance that's in a private Bay Area collection. It was acquired at an estate sale.

A detail from the valance pictured above. Thanks to Gary Parks for the photos. The collector is a friend of his.

The valance that once hung over the grand stairs. It was included in a 2014 auction at Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland. Thanks to Peter Angeles for locating the listing and posting 12 photos of this item on the BAHT Facebook page. He notes that the valance can be seen in many photos including this 1960s photo from Nick Wright's collection. The catalog copy:

"Embroidered gold silk valance original to the Fox Theatre... accented with embroidered floral sprays on a gilt ground, retains original tassels, Provenance: Purchased from Butterfield and Butterfield, 5' 5" h x 12' 10"."

The rod for the grand stair valance.

A detail of the head at one end of the rod.

A detail of the fabric of the grand stair valance. Thanks, Peter!

Furniture:

The theatre had a sale in 1956. This News-Call Bulletin photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection appeared September 17 with this copy: "ANTIQUES TO GO--Managing director Fay Reeder of Fox Theater stands beside old Italian relic and painting of George Washington, which may be an original, part of the theater's surplus of antiques which may go to the highest bidder..."

"...important art objects and modern reproductions waiting for disposal. It's a 1956 News-Call Buletin photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection.

A 1956 News-Call Bulletin photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection. It had appeared September 17 with this copy: "In another storeroom, Lillian Siegel works on inventory beside Louis XV table with likeness of monarch painted on porcelain center, with 18 porcelain insets of ladies of the court."

"Lawrence Walls prepares to carry chair out of Fox Theater. The photo appeared February 4, 1963 in one of the San Francisco papers. Part of the copy that appeared with it: "....You'll have to go to City prison to ask him. Police took him there Sunday evening when they found him carrying the chair down Hayes St. They inquired where he got it. He had, he said, taken it from the Fox Theater, soon to be torn down...." It's a photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection.

A throne chair in a private Bay Area collection that was acquired at an estate sale in 2021. Thanks to Gary Parks for the photo. The collector is a friend of his. Gary notes that the upholstery isn't original and the chair seems to match the one in the 1963 photo above.

A detail of the top of the chair.

A bench from the Fox. Thanks to Gary Parks for taking the photo at the house of a Bay Area collector. He notes: "This huge bench once sat in the center of the wide promenade at the top of the balcony." See a 1960s photo of the bench at the theatre that Matias Antonio Bombal shared on the BAHT Facebook page.

A chair came up for sale in 2024. Thanks to Adam Klafter for spotting the listing on Facebook and sharing it in a post on the BAHT Facebook page. He noted: "The listing states this came out of one of the boxes, but the chair is part of a suite of furniture which came out of the Moorish Smoking Room, visible in original photographs. Original upholstery."

A look at the smoking room chair's seat. The seller in Antioch was looking for $750 and had noted in his listing: "The furniture was hand made and carved in France in the late 1920’s at great expense, and you can see the craftsmanship in the working. The fabric is in good shape, but does have some fading. You can see the original red color well in the back. I have not cleaned the fabric. It’s possible it could brighten up. I purchased this 4 years ago from the woman who bought it in 1963."

The back of the smoking room chair.

Light fixtures:

The light fixture once hanging in front of the Little Fox on Pacific Ave. was from the entrance vestibule at the Fox. Its current location is unknown. See a 1929 entrance vestibule photo from the Richard Apple collection This photo from the Jack Tillmany collection was taken in May 1967.

A pair of wall sconces once offered on eBay. Thanks to Peter Angeles for spotting the listing and saving the images. He posted this view and the two details below on the BAHT Facebook page. Peter notes that an image of this fixture type by the Sterling Bronze Co. appears on page 207 of Preston Kaufmann's "Fox, the Last Word" with this information:

"The Sterling Bronze Co. of New York City was a premier manufacturer of the finest cast and hand-chased fixtures at the turn of the 20th century. Their contemporaries included Tiffany Studios, Edward Caldwell & Co, and Bigelow, Kennard & Co. They furnished opulent lighting fixtures for the Grand Central Terminal and Plaza Hotel, Fifth Ave., New York City; the Civic Opera House, Chicago; and the Minnesota State Capitol Building."

The top of one of the fixtures.

A detail of the bottom of one of the sconces. Thanks, Peter!

One of the two candelabras once on the newel posts of the grand stairs. Thanks to Peter Angeles for researching them and posting photos on the BAHT Facebook page. He notes that they're by Louis-Aguste-Alfred Beurdeley (1808-1882) and called "War and Peace." They were once auctioned at Sotheby's and are listed on the site Worthpoint. In 2021 they were for sale again at the the Mayfair Gallery in London for an asking price of 350,000 Pounds.

A candelabra detail.

Another candelabra detail.

The pair, seen in a photo from the Mayfair Gallery. Thanks, Peter!

The eagle chandelier that once hung at the top of the grand stairs. It's now hanging from the 15 foot ceiling in the office of a private Bay Area collector.

Another view of the eagle chandelier. Thanks to Gary Parks for passing along the photos taken by the fixture's owner.

The plaster rosette that was originally with the eagle chandelier. The owner is saving it but decided not to use it for his installation as it made the assembly appear too big for the room.

Mirrors:

A mirror, about 10' tall' with a cast plaster header showed up at an estate sale of long time San Francisco antiques dealer Elsie Smith in 2021. It was at the Yes Co., 2285 Palou Ave. Thanks to William David French, Jr. for spotting the post about the item by Tim Graffigna on San Francisco Remembered.

Two mirror panels from the ladies lounge. John G. McGehee posted this view on the BAHT Facebook page in 2021. These were in his his garage and offered for sale. The panels each measure 45" x 92".

Mystery Ladies:

Hollow castings supposedly from the Fox but no location for these has been identified. Thanks to Peter Angeles for the research on these and posting four photos on the BAHT Facebook page. These are listed on the site Worthpoint and appeared with this copy when they were once for sale on eBay:

"These two busts are architectural elements from the renowned Fox Theater of San Francisco, which was demolished in 1963. I acquired these two golden ladies from a friend, now deceased, who purchased them in 1963 at the aforementioned auction. Each lady is 14 inches long and weighs a bit over one pound. They are made of a thin metal, possibly tin, which was gilded. They are largely intact, but as you can see from the photos, there are a number of little cracks, holes, and dents. Also, the side panel from one lady is missing."

A rear view of the castings. Thanks, Peter!

The Organ:

The Fox's Wurlitzer ended up at Disney's El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. This colorful photo of the front of the auditorium once put in an appearance on the El Capitan Facebook page.

A closer look at the console. The theatre doesn't have a full pit for the console to drop into but there is a box at the center they've built out at stage height. Photo: Bill Counter - 2012. See the page on the El Capitan's auditorium for more views.

Part of the decorative rail that once went around the Fox's organ lift. Thanks to Gary Parks for the photo. In a post on the BAHT Facebook page he noted that this is now with a private Bay Area collector -- and not him.

Plaster ornament:

A plaster acanthus and pineapple ornament from one of the organ grilles that's in the private collection of Bill and Lorraine Glick. Thanks to Gary Parks for the photo. He comments:

"It hangs in a corner of their basement home theatre. When the Fox was being demolished, and the process was well underway, Bill Glick was walking by one day, and stopped to observe. A demolition worker saw him, and said 'Want a piece of the Fox?' Bill answered in the affirmative. The worker took some kind of long metal pole, and whacked this ornament down. Years later, when I got to know Bill, he said he wasn’t sure exactly where the piece came from, but he remembered it was up high, and there was an ornate exit passageway below it.

"Some years later, he and I got out his copy of Kaufmann’s 'FOX: The Last Word,' and scrutinized photos of the auditorium. Finally, we found where this little ornament, and many others like it, had been located: in between the pairs of huge columns fronting the organ chambers. The ornaments were in pairs, one atop the other—one right side up and one upside down, attached to another decorative device that bridged the gap between the columns. When I first saw this piece, it had a few chips on it, and the gold was dark and nicotine stained. Bill—an experienced antique restorer— repaired the chips, and restored the finish, when he built their basement home theatre, where the fragment has a place of honor, pointing downward, as it once did."

An organ grille photo from "Fox: The Last Word."

A detail from the photo showing where the pairs of acanthus/pineapple ornaments were. Thanks, Gary!

Seats:

Two photos by Gary Parks of a seat in his collection. He comments:

"The previous owner of this seat from the Fox Balcony had it reupholstered, and had the arm rests and seat back painted to the sheen of a new car. The aisle standards were left alone, and have their original color on them: Gold, with burgundy, pale yellow, and green accents, now very worn.

"How do I ascertain that this one was in the Balcony? The legs are level, so that narrows things down. When cleaning out the aisle light housings, so I could light them up again, I found the plastic wrapper of a cigarette carton stuffed into the housing. This I believe to be another clue as to at least the aisle standards’ location—Smoking in the Balcony was allowed. Also, these were never repainted—much more likely in the Balcony, where there were fewer eyes to notice—at least in the theatre’s later history."

Curtis Wilkinson had a couple of end standards and reached out to Gary when he was trying to donate them to the Theatre Historical Society. Gary comments:

"This pair of orphaned aisle standards from the Fox has the best preserved original paint on them I have yet seen. I tried to accept the standards on behalf of the Archive as they were not responding to him. Perhaps shipping was the issue but I never heard back from him."

A photo from Curtis of one of the standards. He noted: "…my late father acquired [these] from the Fox Theater in San Francisco as it was being tragically demolished in 1963. My father saw 2 seat row ends in a heap of rubble and asked if [he] could have them. They have been with him ever since."

Another photo from Curtis Wilkinson. Thanks, Gary!

Signage:

A directional sign from the Gary Parks collection. He comments:

"This style of bronze illuminated directional sign appeared all over the theatre. The lettering, done in 1/8" thick sheets of flashed glass—white milk glass with a thin layer of cranberry fused to the front—varied depending on their function. 'TELEPHONE,' 'LOGGIA,' 'BALCONY,' even one on the box office in the early days, with prices etched in the glass. This example, which has been in at least two collections since being removed at the Fox Salvage Sale, had no glass when I acquired it. Not thrilled with the prospect of having created perfect replica glass, and then having it crack sometime in the future when I might not have access to sandblasting equipment OR such flashed glass, which is pricey, if you can find it at all, I decided on a different solution.

"The 'LOGGIA BALCONY' letters, with curved arrow, are copied from one of the signs in a photo in the Kaufmann Fox book, but I did the work on a sheet of 1/8” clear acrylic. Both sides are sandblasted, but the backside had the letters masked off, blasted, and then sprayed with a thin coating of red paint. The masking was removed from the letter shapes, and the result was a very credible replica of the glass. The Fox theatres in Detroit and St. Louis have these same fixtures throughout, except the little cast detail inside the central shell shape at the bottom center of the bronze is a little more Islamic in character, and the etched glass letters are in a more exotic font. Jade contributed her modeling talents in order to provide scale. No, I didn’t put her there."

Of possible interest: See Peter Hartlaub's November 2021 Chronicle article "'The Worlds Finest Theatre' was demolished in 1963. Collectors are piecing it together again."

San Francisco Theatres

The Fox Theatre: salvage

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