I remember watching this back in the 90s as an elementary school kid. The demolition scene always stayed with me, and I'm shocked I've been able to find this video again.
America is unlike Europe that saves buildings. In America the chant is out with the old and on with the new. The new theaters cannot hold a candle to the Picture Palaces in class. They are nothing more than soda boxes sterile in every way.
The Fox Theater (1921) in Salinas CA, is being threatened. The building is a solid concrete building and the city is claiming the neighboring building (brick URM building) is supporting The Fox building. The owner is fighting tooth and nail to save this BEAUTIFUL building, with NO help from the city. They closed his doors April 12th, and WILL NOT let him re-open unless he fixes a wall by June 12th, or they will abate and demolish. These city officials only think of development, new buildings and new money. The Fox has 1,000 seats of water credits and 1,000 parking credits...that's what they want. Very sad, these gorgeous iconic landmarks need to be cherished and preserved.
And I hope the city gets a new mayor, that appreciates and wants to preserve history for all of time until this world ends and I'm hoping the old mayor gives up his City
terribly sad; such a loss to our city! what a treasure it would be to us today. and seating for five thousand! the grandest of it's kind in the whole wide world, the greatest of the Movie Palaces.
+Stev Täal It would never have worked for the opera as the stage was far too small. As for the symphony, they might have squeezed onto stage with the pit at stage level but the theatre organ is NOT a concert organ and that would not have worked.
Well that did not happen because the Irvine company decided that they did not want the theater in the city anymore I wish there was a time machine so I can buy the Fox theater before it gets demolished just for some stupid average apartment building
Nothing will ever come close to the San Francisco Fox. It's WurliTzer is alive and well at the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood. It was my privilege to work on the instrument at the El Cap.
I went on an ATOS-sponsored trip to one of the "Farewell to the Fox" events in 1962. The movie was "The Mark of Zorro" starring Douglas Fairbanks. When a title card referred to the Governor of California, the audience booed and hissed (Pat Brown was governor in '62.)The organist played Twelfth Street Rag using the organ's piano voice. We sat in the uppermost balcony. Those stairs were steep!
Ironically, the fact that Atlanta, Detroit, and St. Louis didn’t have the ability to tear their Fox Theatres down was a major first step in their preservation. As someone who has been to the Detroit Fox a few times, I feel sad about the loss of the San Francisco Fox, the New York Fox, the New York Paramount, the Roxy, and so many others.
I hope that the people that tore this building down and helped with the demolition watch this video and see how good this theater was until it got tore down just so an average studio apartment building can go in its place
Oh my God, I don't think who tore this place down even cared that this was a good theater, I hope someone that works at the Irvine company sees how good this theater is and sees this video
Make sure you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour everyone! He is coming soon! Please don't be left behind! Accept and believe in Jesus Christ! John 3:16, Revelation 20:15
![Rare unseen downtown San Francisco 1940s in color [60fps, Remastered] w/sound design added](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bZub2tAk69s/mqdefault.jpg)
It is so sad to see such wonderful buildings destroyed. Nothing can replace them in class or beauty.
I remember watching this back in the 90s as an elementary school kid. The demolition scene always stayed with me, and I'm shocked I've been able to find this video again.
I helped George Wright try to save this theater in the early 1960s. I knew Everett Norris and Tiny James
I worked on the organ for 2 1/2 years at it's present home at the El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood.
America is unlike Europe that saves buildings. In America the chant is out with the old and on with the new. The new theaters cannot hold a candle to the Picture Palaces in class. They are nothing more than soda boxes sterile in every way.
The Fox Theater (1921) in Salinas CA, is being threatened. The building is a solid concrete building and the city is claiming the neighboring building (brick URM building) is supporting The Fox building. The owner is fighting tooth and nail to save this BEAUTIFUL building, with NO help from the city. They closed his doors April 12th, and WILL NOT let him re-open unless he fixes a wall by June 12th, or they will abate and demolish. These city officials only think of development, new buildings and new money. The Fox has 1,000 seats of water credits and 1,000 parking credits...that's what they want. Very sad, these gorgeous iconic landmarks need to be cherished and preserved.
Oh no 😭😭😭 I hope the city realizes what they are doing is bad
And I hope the city gets a new mayor, that appreciates and wants to preserve history for all of time until this world ends and I'm hoping the old mayor gives up his City
terribly sad; such a loss to our city! what a treasure it would be to us today. and seating for five thousand! the grandest of it's kind in the whole wide world, the greatest of the Movie Palaces.
+Marky Lynn Quayle Imagine if the Symphony had taken it on as its home... or the opera went there instead...
+Stev Täal It would never have worked for the opera as the stage was far too small. As for the symphony, they might have squeezed onto stage with the pit at stage level but the theatre organ is NOT a concert organ and that would not have worked.
Stev Täal non
Well that did not happen because the Irvine company decided that they did not want the theater in the city anymore I wish there was a time machine so I can buy the Fox theater before it gets demolished just for some stupid average apartment building
Nothing will ever come close to the San Francisco Fox. It's WurliTzer is alive and well at the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood. It was my privilege to work on the instrument at the El Cap.
I went on an ATOS-sponsored trip to one of the "Farewell to the Fox" events in 1962. The movie was "The Mark of Zorro" starring Douglas Fairbanks. When a title card referred to the Governor of California, the audience booed and hissed (Pat Brown was governor in '62.)The organist played Twelfth Street Rag using the organ's piano voice. We sat in the uppermost balcony. Those stairs were steep!
Sad - all the Movie Palaces that have been lost for what - parking lots and"multi plex" -
God, I wish this was still open - how cool!
Ironically, the fact that Atlanta, Detroit, and St. Louis didn’t have the ability to tear their Fox Theatres down was a major first step in their preservation. As someone who has been to the Detroit Fox a few times, I feel sad about the loss of the San Francisco Fox, the New York Fox, the New York Paramount, the Roxy, and so many others.
They call tearing down palaces like that "progress "....smh.......
Shame on who ever gave the order to pull it down
I hope that the people that tore this building down and helped with the demolition watch this video and see how good this theater was until it got tore down just so an average studio apartment building can go in its place
What a silly animal humankind is. First we build beautiful places like the Fox, then we tear them down. The almighty $$$ rules the world.
Mr. Lumberjack got the funk.
Oh my God, I don't think who tore this place down even cared that this was a good theater, I hope someone that works at the Irvine company sees how good this theater is and sees this video
very sad to hear this
This comes from a PBS documentary
sad the people who did not preserve this place should be ashamed
makes me wanna get blotto.
Make sure you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour everyone! He is coming soon! Please don't be left behind! Accept and believe in Jesus Christ! John 3:16, Revelation 20:15