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 Bob Hope Theatre, originally known as the Fox California Theater, is a famous building in Stockton, California. It was built a long time ago in 1930. This special theater was added to a list of important historical places in 1979. In 2004, it was given its new name, the Bob Hope Theatre.
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History of the Bob Hope Theatre
The place where the Bob Hope Theatre stands today has a long history. It was once home to Stockton's very first movie theater. This early theater was called T&D Photoplay.
Building a New Theatre
Later, a company called Fox West Coast Theaters took over T&D Photoplay. They changed its name to The California in 1921. Then, in 1929, the old building was taken down. A brand new, much bigger theater was built in its place.
This new theater was very impressive. It had a grand, round entrance hall called a rotunda. Inside, there was a large theater area with seating for 2,500 people. The stage was huge, about 90 feet wide and 30 feet deep. It was also 70 feet tall! Downstairs, there were rooms for choirs, bands, offices, and dressing rooms for performers.
Grand Opening Day
The new Fox California Theater opened its doors on October 14, 1930. The very first movie shown was Up the River, starring Spencer Tracy. It was a huge event for Stockton. About 20,000 people came to celebrate the opening day!
A New Chapter Begins
The Fox Theater closed in 1973. However, the building was still used for a few special events after that. In 1979, two people named Madeleine Lawton and Edward C. Merlo bought the building. They helped get it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This meant it was recognized as an important historical site. In 2000, the building was given to the city of Stockton.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
The city decided to bring the Fox California Theater back to its former glory. This big project was partly paid for by a generous person named Alex G. Spanos. He asked that the theater be renamed the Bob Hope Theatre. This was to honor his good friend, the famous entertainer Bob Hope. Other money for the renovation came from the United States Congress and a special fund from California.
Amazing Renovations
The renovation work made the theater even better. A new sound system was installed. A beautiful new floor mosaic, made of Italian marble, was added. It covered an area of 1,200 square feet. Luckily, the original fancy chandelier and the tiles in the outside lobby were saved and kept.
The Special Organ
As part of the renovation, a very old and special musical instrument was restored. It was a Robert Morton theater organ from 1928. This type of organ was used to play music during silent movies. This particular organ came from Seattle's Fox Theater. Volunteers from a group called Friends of the Fox and the Sierra Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society worked hard to fix it. The restored organ played its first concert at the Bob Hope Theatre in 2005. Today, it is still played during classic movie showings.
Reopening with a Bang
The newly renovated Bob Hope Theatre reopened in September 2004. The very first performance in the restored theater was by the famous comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
