Nov 29, 2008 5:59 pm US/Pacific
Oakland's Fox Theater Restoration Almost Complete
OAKLAND (CBS 5) ―
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Workers renovating the main stage of Oakland's historic Fox Theater.
CBS
This Thanksgiving weekend, Oakland's School for the Performing Arts is moving into its new digs: the old Fox Theater.
Over the last few years, the old, dilapidated Fox has undergone an $83 million dollar makeover. While maintaining its 1935 marquee, the newly renovated version is a state-of-the-art modern facility, complete with new steel and concrete structures that can withstand a massive earthquake.
The 3,800-seat theater first opened in 1928. The interior was a blend of exotic architectural styles – Egyptian, Indian, and Grecian. The movie house shut down in 1965, and after several failed attempts to revive it, the Fox closed for good in 1972.
Since then, passersby could witness firsthand the building's deterioration. Finally in 1996, the City of Oakland purchased the Fox for $3 million with the intention of giving it a minimal restoration. But there were others who were far more ambitious. They wanted the restoration to be anything but minimal. Thanks to their perseverance, along with tens of millions of dollars of public and private funds, the crumbling old Fox is once again a first-class venue.
The first three floors will house the city's School for the Arts: classrooms, labs, music rooms, a black box theater space and café. The main theater has been transformed into a live concert hall similar to San Francisco's Warfield. Performances began early next year, and a grand-opening celebration is slated for February 5, 2009.
For more information on the restoration of the Fox, and next year's grand-opening celebration, contact the Friends of the Oakland Fox, care of Patricial Dedekian, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 210, or log onto their website at
http://www.foxoakland.org.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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