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70MMThirty visually stunning films that illustrate the grandeur of large-format filmmaking.

MOVIE MOMENTS THAT MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVINGOur collection of ten little moments of breathtaking beauty, expert craftsmanship and happy accidents that rank as our favorites.

25 GREAT SILENT MOVIE POSTERSOur selection of artwork from the early days of motion pictures that expertly illustrate the tone and tale of the films they represent.

GREAT CLOSING LINES
One hundred films whose final words of dialogue make indelible lasting impressions.

CINEMATIC RIDESTen films where carnival attractions add to the plot and give their protagonists a cheap thrill.

12 GREAT MOVIE SONGSElvis, The Beatles and The Supremes join our list of favorite movie themes of the 1960s.

ERROL FLYNN GETS WHACKEDThe actor recalls an unforgettable moment with Bette Davis on the set of The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex.

20 DIRECTORS / 20 FILMSSome of the world’s best moviemakers from Hollywood’s Golden Era provide a behind-the-scenes look at their creations.

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BILLY WILDEROur favorite lines of dialogue from the Oscar-winning writer/director.

WILHELM SCREAMWe trace the history of one of the most famous and beloved sound effects in movies.

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THE LANGUAGE OF NOIRWe celebrate tough talk from the best of Hollywood’s gritty crime dramas.

HELICOPTER OVER HOLLYWOOD

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MAJOR FILMS, MINOR GAFFESTwenty-five mistakes in some of the greatest movies ever made.

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IN THE COOL, COOL, COOL OF THE EVENINGJane Wyman and Bing Crosby charm with the Oscar-winning song from Here Comes the Groom (1951).

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RAVES AND RASPBERRIES We select some choice bits from reviews by the late Roger Ebert.

THE GIRL HUNT BALLETWe revisit the stylish Fred Astaire dream ballet from The Band Wagon (1953).

KUNG FU POSTERS AT AMPASIf you’re in Beverly Hills anytime between April 18 and August 25, check out Kick Ass! Kung Fu Posters from the Stephen Chin Collection exhibited in The Academy Grand Lobby Gallery and featuring more than 800 posters and related materials.

STANLEY KUBRICKLACMA’s exhibition of the legendary director’s work features scripts, set models, costumes and props and is open from November 1 through June 30, 2013.

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We take a good look at the work of MGM’s legendary art director.

10 GREAT POSTERSOur look at striking works of art that just happen to sell movie tickets.

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MUST READMGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot provides a fascinating look at a lost treasure.

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LOST HORIZONA dud receives its due as we explore the elements that made this 1973 musical so preposterously memorable.

GEORGE GERSHWINTen classic songs as seen on the silver screen.

DESERT NOIROur report from this year’s Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Palm Springs.

DIAMOND SETTINGSWe take a look at five of our favorite baseball movies of the ‘40s and ‘50s.

FRED ASTAIREFive lively numbers from the peerless hoofer.

PLUNDER ROADFilm noir at its best—and most economical. No backstory, a lean look and just 72 minutes long.

RED DREAM FACTORYWe profile eight films from a unique Russian-German film studio of the twenties and thirties.

W.C. FIELDSTen of his most memorable character names.


Entries in stanford theater (1)

Saturday
Jul282012

Fox Theater, San Francisco

DateSaturday, July 28, 2012 at 11:00PM | CommentPost a Comment

In the San Francisco Bay Area, three movie palaces have bravely persevered against financial woes and the wrecking ball and remain in business to this day: Palo Alto’s ornate yet intimate Stanford Theater, San Francisco’s grand, cavernous Castro Theater and Oakland’s art deco beauty, the Paramount. A sadder fate befell San Francisco’s Fox Theater, a 4,651-seat structure designed by architect Thomas Lamb that opened in the late 1920s.

Located on Market Street near Civic Center, the Fox was built by movie mogul William Fox of Fox Film Corporation to be the last word in movie palaces, with a proposed 1,000-room luxury hotel attached to the site. The hotel never got off the ground, but the theater opened on June 28, 1929 with the premiere of Behind That Curtain (1929), starring E.L. Park as Charlie Chan. A gilded rococo lobby featuring a grand staircase greeted visitors to the Fox; lavish stage shows, a full orchestra and a 4,000-pipe Wurlitzer organ counted among its amenities.

A steady decline in business in the 1950s led to a few last-ditch efforts—including midnight organ concerts—to keep the venue open. By the early 1960s, business had failed to turn around and, on February 18, 1963. the Fox Theater was shuttered for good and demolished shortly thereafter.

Below is a video of its demolition along with a few photos of the theater in various states of existence. Check out the nifty little website historigraphics.com for more information on San Francisco’s lost gem.

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