The Fox Theatre pages: history | exterior views | lobby and lounge areas | auditorium | stage | support areas | booth | salvage |
Early photos:
Film star Ruth Roland was up in the balcony helping finish the job. It's a photo that was in the San Francisco Examiner archives. Thanks to Glenn Koch for spotting it on eBay. It was sent out as a press release by the theatre with this copy: "Ruth Roland takes a hand in decorating the magnificent Fox Theatre which will open June 28th while Tip Sinclair, famous gold leaf artist, shows her how to feather a brush and watches to see that she does not ruin the five million dollar job."
Dorothy and Olga are helping finish construction up in the balcony house right. It's a May 29, 1929 News-Call Bulletin photo that's now in the San Francisco Public Library collection. If you'd care to browse, the Library has over a hundred Fox Theatre photos in its collection.
Viola Allen, Mildred Davis and Mary Bowers are working on the mezzanine. It's a May 29, 1929 News-Call Bulletin photo from the San Francisco Public Library collection.
A detail of the face of the mezzanine house left. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on a page about the Fox on the website Historigraphics. In addition to several dozen original black and white photos, the site showcases the hand-tinted versions by William Swain.
A view toward house right. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics.
The house right organ grille. It's a photo by William Horace Smith that appeared in the August 1929 issue of the short-lived magazine San Franciscan with this caption: "Architectural Detail in the Fox Theatre - The movies will have it that they are the keepers and recreators of all the art in the world. Well, the argument may be conceded when one beholds this unit of wall ornamentation in the new Fox Theatre. It equals -- possibly surpasses the best dreams of Louis XV and all his royal architects." Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for finding the photo for a post on the BAHT Facebook page.
A look to the dome. The photo appeared as one of 11 along with a two page article in the December 1929 issue
of Architect and Engineer. It's on Internet Archive.
A ceiling detail appearing in the August 3, 1929 Motion Picture News along with the article "Huge Auditorium for Sound Film and Allied Entertainment..." It's on Internet Archive.
A balcony view with the pit and organ lifts in the overture position. It's a 1929 photo in the collection of the California State Library, one of 9 in their set #01377872. The photo also appeared in the December 1929 issue of Architect and Engineer.
Ready for the overture. It's the Walt Rosener Orchestra. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics.
A March 7, 1930 view of the orchestra by Morton & Co. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sharing this one from his collection. The photo also makes an appearance as a post by Matías Antonio Bombal on FOX - The Last Word, the Facebook page about the documentary he's working on. See his post for a list of the various players in the orchestra.
A house right detail. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics. Note the interesting risers on the pit lift.
A wider view to house right. It's a 1929 photo in the collection of the California State Library, one of 9 in their set #01377872. The photo also appeared in the December 1929 issue of Architect and Engineer.
A peek backstage. The photo appeared in the August 3, 1929 Motion Picture News along with the article "Huge Auditorium for Sound Film and Allied Entertainment..." It's on Internet Archive.
A look down from the top. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics.
The auditorium in the 40s and 50s:
A look to the stage, presumably during a World War II bond rally. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the photo. Gary Parks comments: "I notice the U.S. Marines symbol in front of the curtain behind the band, so I’ll guess it’s a Marine band. Also, you can read 'Semper Fidelis' in a horizontal strip above the symbol."
A packed house in 1942 for the first session of U.N. deliberations. The photo is from the San Francisco Public Library collection. It makes an appearance on a 2010 History Center post "San Francisco on the Big Screen," about movies filmed in San Francisco that's on the blog "What's on the 6th floor?"
A meeting of about 3,000 school teachers in 1944. It's a News-Call Bulletin photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection.
The school teachers in 1947. It's another News-Call Bulletin photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection. It appeared September 2 with this copy: "San Francisco's 3000 public school teachers held their annual institute today preparatory to school opening tomorrow. Photo shows teachers seated in Fox Theater just before being introduced to Herbert C. Clish, new superintendent."
Also in the Library's collection are main floor photos of teachers meeting in September 1949 and September 1950.
A ceiling detail appearing in the August 3, 1929 Motion Picture News along with the article "Huge Auditorium for Sound Film and Allied Entertainment..." It's on Internet Archive.
A balcony view with the pit and organ lifts in the overture position. It's a 1929 photo in the collection of the California State Library, one of 9 in their set #01377872. The photo also appeared in the December 1929 issue of Architect and Engineer.
A main floor view of the curtain, music stands and organ console. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics. The curtain survives in a cut-down form at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland. See several photos on the salvage page.
Ready for the overture. It's the Walt Rosener Orchestra. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics.
A March 7, 1930 view of the orchestra by Morton & Co. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sharing this one from his collection. The photo also makes an appearance as a post by Matías Antonio Bombal on FOX - The Last Word, the Facebook page about the documentary he's working on. See his post for a list of the various players in the orchestra.
A detail from Jack's 1930 photo.
The ornamental rail along the front of the pit lift. It's a detail from the 1930 photo.
The ornamental rail along the front of the pit lift. It's a detail from the 1930 photo.
A house right detail. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics. Note the interesting risers on the pit lift.
A wider view to house right. It's a 1929 photo in the collection of the California State Library, one of 9 in their set #01377872. The photo also appeared in the December 1929 issue of Architect and Engineer.
A peek backstage. The photo appeared in the August 3, 1929 Motion Picture News along with the article "Huge Auditorium for Sound Film and Allied Entertainment..." It's on Internet Archive.
A house left balcony detail from the August 3, 1929 Motion Picture News.
A look down from the top. The 1929 photo from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics.
The auditorium in the 40s and 50s:
A look to the stage, presumably during a World War II bond rally. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the photo. Gary Parks comments: "I notice the U.S. Marines symbol in front of the curtain behind the band, so I’ll guess it’s a Marine band. Also, you can read 'Semper Fidelis' in a horizontal strip above the symbol."
A packed house in 1942 for the first session of U.N. deliberations. The photo is from the San Francisco Public Library collection. It makes an appearance on a 2010 History Center post "San Francisco on the Big Screen," about movies filmed in San Francisco that's on the blog "What's on the 6th floor?"
A meeting of about 3,000 school teachers in 1944. It's a News-Call Bulletin photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection.
The school teachers in 1947. It's another News-Call Bulletin photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection. It appeared September 2 with this copy: "San Francisco's 3000 public school teachers held their annual institute today preparatory to school opening tomorrow. Photo shows teachers seated in Fox Theater just before being introduced to Herbert C. Clish, new superintendent."
Also in the Library's collection are main floor photos of teachers meeting in September 1949 and September 1950.
A capacity crowd watching the first CinemaScope film, "The Robe," in
September 1953. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for the photo from his
collection. He comments: "That one grossed $75,000 the first week, and
ran 9 weeks."
On the main floor in the 1960s:
On the main floor in the 1960s:
Looking in from the back of the main floor in 1963. It's a photo by Everett Nourse from the Everett Nourse Collection. Thanks to Matías Antonio Bombal for making the photo available. He's digitizing the collection for its preservation. This one was scanned from the original 5"x7" negative. The organist at the console is Tiny James.
The front of the mezzanine house left. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
A closer look at the plasterwork. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
The front exit below the organ grille. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
A closer look at the front exit. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
A proscenium detail taken by Bob Hopkins that's from the Dick Clay collection. Thanks to Matías Antonio Bombal for adding this as a comment to one of his posts on the BAHT Facebook page.
A 1960s look across toward house right from the AMPAS B'hend - Kaufmann Collection.
A closer view of the front of the mezzanine boxes. It's a photo from the AMPAS B'hend - Kaufmann Collection.
A look across from the side of the pit. It's a 1963 photo that was in a set of over 200 slides taken by Bob Hopkins for the late Richard Clay. Thanks to Simon Gledhill for posting many of them on the Facebook page Theatre Architecture. Also thanks to Lew Williams for working on some of the images. Simon did two posts: 28 lobby views | 9 auditorium views |
A nice little organ grille view from the early 60s used on a story (somewhere, some story) on the site Found SF.
A view to house right from the cover of the album "Memories of the Fabulous Fox - Everett Nourse at the Mighty Wurlitzer." It's a photo taken by Jim Crank. Thanks to Kevin Walsh for sharing it on the BAHT Facebook page.
A May 1962 photo by Jack Tillmany appearing on the Cinema Tour page about the Fox.
Another look back under the balcony. It's a 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins that appeared on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in a post from Simon Gledhill.
The house left organ grille. It's a c.1962 photo by Larry Moon in the San Francisco Public Library collection. The Library has over a hundred Fox Theatre photos if you'd care to go browsing.
A detail of the doorway under the organ grille house left. The photo is in the AMPAS B'hend - Kaufmann Collection. The AMPAS site has 21 Fox Theatre photos online from the collection.
A house left detail from the AMPAS Tom B'hend - Preston Kaufmann Collection.
"The
Mark of Zorro" on the screen and Gaylord Carter at the console for a
midnight show on December 1, 1962. It's a photo by Richard Simonton, one
of six taken that night included in his 2014 Facebook post about the event.
Another December 1, 1962 photo by Richard Simonton. He commented: "View from the stage. Nearly 5,000 seats still warm from the show."
A 1962 view to the rear that was in the San Francisco Examiner archives. Thanks to Glenn Koch for spotting it on eBay. A copy is in the San Francisco Public Library collection, where they note it appeared in the News-Call Bulletin on December 18 with the caption "The 5,000 seat auditorium..to be demolished to make room for highrise luxury office building." The photo makes appearances on the Facebook page Theatre Architecture as a post by Sam Siklas as well as on the website Historigraphics.
The house left side of the balcony as seen from the main floor. It's a photo taken by Jim Crank for the Everett Nourse album "Memories of the Fabulous Fox: Everett Nourse at the Mighty Wurlitzer." Thanks to Mark Jabara for sharing it in a post of 14 Fox views on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page.
A 60s look at the ceiling that appears on Hal Doby's page on the "The Super Foxes and their Brethren."
A ceiling detail appearing on Hal Doby's page "The Super Foxes and their Brethren."
A ceiling detail from the AMPAS Bhend - Kaufmann Collection.
A ceiling detail from the AMPAS Bhend - Kaufmann Collection.
On the mezzanine in the 1960s:
Across the rear of the mezzanine from house left. It's a 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins. It appeared on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in a post from Simon Gledhill.
The front exit house right. It's a 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins. It appeared on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in a post from Simon Gledhill.
Looking back from farther to house left on the mezzanine. It's a 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins. It appeared on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in a post from Simon Gledhill. A version of the photo also appears with Allen White's Found SF article "Fox Theater Historical Essay."
A balcony soffit and side wall view from house right. It's a 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins. It appeared on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in a post from Simon Gledhill.
The main floor seating as seen from house right. It's a 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins. It appeared on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in a post from Simon Gledhill.
A 1963 view across to house left taken by Everett Nourse. The photo appears uncredited on Richard Apple's website Historigraphics.
At the upper left is a view of the promenade at the top of the balcony and the stairs down. It's a 1962 photo by Jack Tillmany that appears on the Cinema Tour page about the Fox.
1960s views up in the balcony:
A 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins. Thanks to Matías Antonio Bombal for posting it on a thread about the Fox on the
Facebook page Theatre Architecture. A copy of the photo also appears in the AMPAS B'hend - Kaufmann Collection.
A house right organ grille detail taken by Everett Nourse and in the Everett Nourse Collection. It's one of four photos included inside the 1963 Fantasy Records album "Farewell to the Fox Volume II - Tiny James and Everett Nourse at the Mighty Wurlitzer." The wires we see were used to support microphones used for the recording. It's in the collection of Matías Antonio Bombal, who shared this lovely scan of the photo on the BAHT Facebook page.
A peek into the front box. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
The exit at the front of the balcony house right. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
A view from the front of the balcony house left. It's a photo by Everett Nourse from the Everett Nourse Collection. Thanks to Matías Antonio Bombal for making it available.
A mrezzanine detail from the Everett Nourse photo above.
Another 1963 look across the balcony rail taken by Everett Nourse. The wires are microphone rigging. Thanks to Matías Antonio Bombal for scanning the photo from the Everett Nourse Collection.
A balcony loge seating detail from the AMPAS B'hend - Kaufman Collection.
A 60s view included with the album "Farewell to the Fox
Volume II - Tiny James and Everett Nourse at the Mighty Wurlitzer." Thanks to Kevin Walsh for sharing the photo on the BAHT Facebook page.
A look across to house left. It's a 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins that appeared on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in a post from Simon Gledhill.
An organ grille view taken by Jim Crank for the Everett Nourse album "Memories
of the Fabulous Fox: Everett Nourse at the Mighty Wurlitzer." Thanks to
Mark Jabara for sharing it in a post of 14 Fox views on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page.
A January 1963 look to house left. Note what's in the pit. It's another one of the photos included with the album "Farewell to the Fox Volume II - Tiny James and Everett Nourse at the Mighty Wurlitzer."
Thanks to Kevin Walsh for sharing the photo on the BAHT Facebook page.
The caption: "The immense mural dome surrounded by four smaller domes representing the seasons of the year was over 220 feet above the floor and was illuminated by 200,000 indirect light bulbs. The remainder of the ceiling was hand painted by imported, skilled Italian artisans, to match the imported brocade used on the seats and wall panels."
Another view down in 1963. It's a photo by Everett Nourse from the Everett Nourse Collection. Thanks to Matías Antonio Bombal for sharing it on the BAHT Facebook page. He comments: "Tiny James plays the Fox Theatre, San Francisco Wurlitzer in January of 1963; here the console elevator is at stage level (TOP on the Peter Clark lift control). A clever car dealer thought two new models on the orchestra elevator would help push sales. Can you imagine two complete automobiles coming up silently on the separate hydraulic lift orchestra pit during musical selections? Boggles the mind."
A detail of the top of the proscenium from the Everett Nourse photo.
A closer look at the auto action in the pit. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
The middle of the house left wall. It's a 1963 photo by Bob Hopkins that appeared on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in a post from Simon Gledhill.
On the left that's the upper of the two crossaisles. At the top of the balcony there was a promenade in the area under the booth behind the last row of seats. It's a 1962 view by Jack Tillmany that appears on the Cinema Tour page about the Fox.
A lovely view across the immense balcony in 1963. It's a photo by Everett Nourse from the Everett Nourse Collection. Thanks to Matías Antonio Bombal for scanning it from the 5"x7" negative and making it available. A version of this photo appeared with the album "Farewell to the Fox Volume II - Tiny James and Everett Nourse at the Mighty Wurlitzer."
A closer look low on the house left wall. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
A closer look at the area near the lower crossaisle. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
The house left organ grille area. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
The ornament above the organ grille. It's a detail from the Everett Nourse photo.
A few months later:
A look down at the main floor as the demolition begins. It's a photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection which they date as March 30, 1963.
Console views:
The WurliTzer in action. The photo of unknown vintage from the Richard Apple collection appears on the website Historigraphics.
A 60s console view from the AMPAS B'hend - Kaufmann Collection.
A 1963 console view by Jack Fuller. The photo is in the Jack Tillmany collection.
The console up on the lift during a 1963 concert. It's a Jack Fuller photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
Another 1963 concert view. It's a Jack Fuller photo from the Jack Tillmany collection.
Everett Nourse at the console. It's a photo from the Everett Nourse Collection, one of 14 views shared in a post by Matías Antonio Bombal on the BAHT Facebook page. Included are additional shots of the console and views inside the organ chambers.
The San Francisco Public Library has several photos of organists at the console including: unidentified man - c.1963 | Everett Nourse | Gaylord Carter - 1962 | The organ is currently installed at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
The Fox Theatre pages: history | exterior views | lobby and lounge areas | back to top - auditorium | stage | support areas | booth | salvage |
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