Fox California Theater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fox California Theater
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Fox California Theater
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 Location in Northern California
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| Location | 242 E. Main St., Stockton, California |
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| Area | 0.7 acres (0.28 ha) |
| Built | 1930 |
| Built by | Beller Construction Co. |
| Architect | Balch & Stanberry |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Website | http://bobhope.theatrestockton.org/ |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000540 |
| Added to NRHP | June 27, 1979 |
The Fox California Theater, now known as the Bob Hope Theatre, is a cool old building in Stockton, California. It was built way back in 1930. This special place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's an important historical site!
Contents
A Look Back: The Theatre's Story
Early Days of Entertainment
Before the Bob Hope Theatre, there was another theater on this spot. It was called T&D Photoplay and was Stockton's very first movie theater. Later, in 1921, a company called Fox West Coast Theaters took over. They changed its name to The California. In 1929, the old building was taken down to make way for a brand new, bigger theater.
Grand Opening and Design
The new theater opened its doors on October 14, 1930. It was a huge event! About 20,000 people came to celebrate the opening. The first movie shown was Up the River, starring Spencer Tracy.
This amazing building has a two-story Rotunda, which is a fancy round room. It also has a circular mezzanine (a balcony level). The main theater can hold 2,500 people! The stage is super big, about 90 feet long and 30 feet deep. It's also 70 feet high. Downstairs, there are rooms for choirs, bands, offices, and dressing rooms for performers.
Changing Times
The Fox Theater closed in 1973. Even though it was closed, the building was still used for a few special events. In 1979, Madeleine Lawton and Edward C. Merlo bought the building. They helped get it added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2000, the building was given to the city of Stockton.
Modern Makeover: The Renovation
Why the Name Change?
The Fox California Theater got a big makeover! Part of the money for this came from Alex G. Spanos. He asked for the theater to be renamed the Bob Hope Theatre. This was to honor his close friend, the famous entertainer Bob Hope. More money for the renovation came from the United States Congress and a state fund called the California Bob Hope Heritage Fund.
What Was Renovated?
During the renovation, many cool things were added or fixed. They put in a brand new sound system. They also installed a huge Italian marble floor mosaic, which is about 1,200 square feet! The original chandelier and the tiles in the outside lobby were carefully kept and restored.
The Amazing Organ
As part of the renovation, a special 1928 Robert Morton theater organ was restored. This organ used to play music for silent movies in Seattle's Fox Theater. A group of volunteers called Friends of the Fox helped fix it up. The Sierra Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society also helped. This amazing organ played its first concert in the Bob Hope Theatre in 2005. It is still played today during classic movie showings!
Reopening Celebration
The newly renovated theater reopened in September 2004. The very first performance in the refurbished theater was by the famous comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
