Fox Theatre (Fullerton, California) facts for kids
Street view of Fullerton Fox Theatre
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| Address | 510 N. Harbor Boulevard Fullerton, California United States |
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| Public transit | Orange County Line |
| Type | Movie palace |
| Capacity | 900 |
| Opened | 1925 |
| Closed | 1987 |
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Fox Fullerton Theatre Complex
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fullerton |
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Raymond M. Kennedy |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000948 |
| Added to NRHP | October 25, 2006 |
The Fox Theatre is an old movie theater in Fullerton, California. It was built in 1925 and was once part of the famous Fox Theatres chain. The theater closed in 1987 and was left empty for many years. Now, a group called the Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation is working hard to raise money and bring it back to life.
This building was designed to host both vaudeville shows and silent movies. It also had shops and a café next to it. The theater's style is based on Italian Renaissance architecture. Over the years, the building has been changed and added to many times.
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The Fox Theatre's Story
The Fox Theatre was built between 1924 and 1925. A local businessman named C. Stanley Chapman built it. He was the son of Fullerton's first mayor. The building was made for different uses, like live shows and movies. It also had a retail area and a café.
It was first named Chapman's Alician Court Theatre. This name honored Chapman's wife, Alice Ellen. But the theater's name changed several times over the years. It was known as Mission Court Theatre, Universal Mission Court Theatre, and Fox Mission Theatre. Finally, it became the Fox Theatre.
The theater's architect was Raymond M. Kennedy. His firm, Meyer & Holler, finished the theater in 1925. This firm was famous for building many Hollywood landmarks. These include Grauman's Egyptian Theatre and the TCL Chinese Theatre. The Fox Fullerton is their main work in Orange County.
A Grand Movie Palace
When it first opened, the Fox Theatre was the most impressive place in Orange County. It was designed in the Italian Renaissance style. It showed off the glamour and style of Hollywood. It was the biggest building of its kind in northern Orange County. People went there for news, entertainment, and to socialize.
The theater had a special open courtyard that acted as a lobby. This was a new idea for theaters. It let people see the crowds gathering, which created excitement. The original theater complex also had a tea room. This tea room will be part of the theater again when it reopens.
Amazing Art and Murals
The Fox Theatre has six large murals. These were created by Anthony Heinsbergen and Company. This company was well-known for decorating buildings. They also did work at Los Angeles City Hall and the Biltmore Hotel.
The decorative painter for the theater was John Gabriel Beckman. He created the detailed artwork in the lobbies. He also designed the original curtains. Later, he became a set designer for Paramount Pictures. The original murals were painted over in the 1950s. But the proscenium, which frames the stage, is still in its original state.
Saving the Fox Theatre
The theater closed in 1987 after showing the movie Angel Heart. In 2004, there were plans to tear it down. But the Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation (FHTF) saved it. This group was formed in 2001 to buy and restore the theater.
Since then, the Fox Theatre has become an official landmark in Fullerton. In 2005, the city started showing movies in the parking lot. They projected films onto the theater's outer wall to raise money. In 2006, Los Angeles magazine called it one of LA's most unusual places to see movies. The Fox Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 2006.
Bringing the Fox Theatre Back to Life
The Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation is still working to restore the building. In 2007, the theater received almost $2 million from the state of California. The goal is to bring this historic place back to its former glory.
During the restoration, two restaurants have opened in the courtyard area. One is a coffeehouse and the other serves German food.
Images for kids
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The stage in 2007, during reconstruction
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Detail of the proscenium capitals
