Fox Theater - Oakland

Built in 1928, the Fox Theater is an architectural masterpiece and former movie house that underwent a $75 million renovation to reopen its doors in February of 2009 under the direction of Another Planet Entertainment. Featuring jaw-dropping original details, state-of-the-art Meyer sound system and a capacity of up to 2,800, the Fox is continuously recognized as a favorite among touring artists and fans alike. The Fox Theater’s leading presence in Oakland has anchored the long-awaited renaissance of an Uptown entertainment district of theaters, restaurants, and nightspots. When the Fox Theater opened its doors in October 1928, 20,000 patrons thronged Oakland’s newest movie palace to experience music on the Mighty Wurlitzer, a live stage show and one of the latest innovations, the “talkies” that were replacing silent films. But one of the biggest draws was the massive domed theater itself, an opulent and exotic mix of terra cotta tiles, dizzyingly detailed paintings and golden deities, reminiscent of a Brahmin Temple. Even in the heyday of elaborate movie palaces, the Fox stood out. The architecture of the buff brick and terra cotta structure has long defied definition, being variously described as Indian, Moorish, Medieval and Baghdadian. At the time, the San Francisco Chronicle called it “different, novel and mystic,” noting “its spaciousness, luxurious appointments and beautiful designs.”