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Fox Theater (Bakersfield, California) facts for kids

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The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater
The Fox Theater from the corner of 20th St. and H St. Shows main entrance with neon marquee, and Spanish Revival clock tower.
Bakersfield Fox Theater
Address 2001 H Street
Bakersfield, California
Coordinates 35°22′39″N 119°01′17″W / 35.37756°N 119.02152°W / 35.37756; -119.02152
Owner Fox Theater Foundation
Capacity 1500
Construction
Opened December 25, 1930 (1930-12-25)
Reopened July 1, 1994 (1994-07-01)
Rebuilt 1953
Years active 1930–1977, 1983–1984, 1994–Present
Architect S. Charles Lee

The Fox Theater is a famous building in Bakersfield, California. It opened on Christmas Day in 1930. This historic theater is a special place for many events. You can see ballets, movies, and even concerts by pop and rock stars here. It's a big part of downtown Bakersfield's history and fun.

The Fox Theater's Early Days

The Fox Theater first opened its doors on December 25, 1930. The very first movie shown was Just Imagine. This was a science fiction film that imagined what the future might be like. The 1930s were a great time for the Fox Theater. It showed the newest "talkie" movies, which were films with sound.

Many famous performers also appeared on its stage. These included opera singers like Lawrence Tibbett and Kirsten Flagstad. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra also performed there. Even the famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein played at the Fox.

The theater was built very strong with concrete and steel. This helped it survive the big 1952 Kern County earthquake. Many other buildings in Bakersfield were damaged, but the Fox Theater stayed standing.

How the Fox Theater Changed Its Look

The Bakersfield Fox Theater was designed by architect S. Charles Lee. When it was first built, the outside looked like old Spanish buildings. This style is called Spanish Colonial Revival. The inside of the theater also had this Spanish theme.

The main seating area, called the auditorium, could hold 1500 people. It was designed to feel like you were sitting outdoors. The ceiling had small lights that looked like stars in a night sky. The walls had fake decorative walls with paintings behind them. These paintings showed open countryside, making it seem like you were in a Mediterranean garden.

After the 1952 earthquake, the theater got a new look in 1953. The original garden theme was changed to a more modern style called Art Moderne. This was a popular style in the 1950s. During this change, a large snack area was added. The "garden walls" were removed, and the paintings were covered up. But the starry night sky on the ceiling stayed!

The outside of the theater also got some updates. A new sign, ticket booth, and entrance were added. These new parts had bright neon lights and shiny metals, giving the theater a very Hollywood look. The movie screen was also made bigger for new films. It became a super-wide CinemaScope screen. The projectors were also updated to show movies even better.

When the Fox Theater Closed Its Doors

After 47 years of showing movies and hosting events, the Fox Theater closed in 1977. It opened again for a short time in 1983 and 1984. But then it closed again and started to fall apart.

Saving the Fox Theater: A Community Effort

In 1994, the Fox Theater was in danger of being torn down. But a group of people in Bakersfield decided to save it. They formed a group called the Fox Theater Foundation. Their "Save the Fox" campaign raised money from many people. This money helped them buy the building. The work to fix up the theater began on July 1, 1994.

Fox Theater, Bakersfield, California LCCN2017707831
The theater in 2003

Celebrating 85 Years of the Fox Theater

On December 25, 2016, the Fox Theater celebrated its 85th birthday! It was a big milestone for the historic building.

The Walk of Stars Program

In 2005, the Fox Theater Foundation started a special way to raise money called the Walk of Stars. People can buy a star to be placed at the theater. These stars help pay for ongoing repairs and improvements to keep the theater beautiful. The stars come in different sizes and prices. Each star can be customized with a donor's name or company.

A Big 75th Anniversary Party

The Fox Theater also had a big party for its 75th anniversary. It was a fancy event that celebrated the theater's long history. There was live music, old photos, and dinner and dancing. A special raffle was held to win a diamond necklace. All the money from the raffle went to help the Fox Theater Foundation.

Events at the Fox Theater

The Fox Theater has hosted many different kinds of events over the years. It's a place for music, comedy, and special movie showings.

Famous Performers and Shows

Many well-known artists have performed at the Fox Theater. Here are just a few:

Movie Premieres and Special Showings

The Fox Theater has also hosted special movie events, including premieres:

  • Phenomenon (1996)
  • Windtalkers (2002)
  • Holes (2003)
  • Walkout (2006)
  • Bobby (2006)
  • Stamped! (2009)
  • Oildale (2019)

The Fox Theater Today

Today, the Fox Theater is a busy center for arts and fun in downtown Bakersfield. It hosts FLICS, which is Bakersfield's foreign film program. This program shows great movies from other countries every year. In 2006, FLICS celebrated its 25th year at the Fox Theater.

The California rock band Black Veil Brides even filmed part of their music video for "Rebel Love Song" in front of the theater in 2011. The Fox Theater also holds many local dance shows and school graduations. It's a place for business meetings and amazing performing arts events, like Russian ballet.

See also

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