At the July meeting of the Historic Landmarks Commission, San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and its project partner, The Packard Humanities Institute, presented plans for the rehabilitation, modification and restoration of the Fox California Theatre as a home for Opera San José. The RDA states that adaptive reuse of the theatre for opera, and secondary use as a movie palace, is in keeping with the building’s historical use as a movie theatre and performance venue. The purpose of the presentation was to obtain the Commission’s recommendation for approval of a Conditional Use Permit and Historic Preservation Permit. The Commission recommended approval, and the request will now go to the Planning Commission and then before the City Council for final approval.
Under the plans presented, the First Street historic facade of the building is to be restored to the 1927-35 period of significance, consistent with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards. The original 1927 marquee and the CALIFORNIA vertical blade sign will be replicated. Tile added in later years at the lower side entry pilasters will be replaced with marble similar to the original. Original poster cases and plaster ornamentation will be restored or replicated.
On the empty lot north of the Fox, plans are to construct a new building, courtyard and entry loggia. RDA expects to create this addition with respect, and not to compete with the historic Fox entry facade and the historic Dohrmann building. The entry loggia is designed as a foyer to the courtyard, similar to the foyers leading to the Fox auditorium, with stone and metal grillwork. The courtyard will be paved with stone and a stone north wall will have a water feature. The courtyard will serve as an outdoor room for theatre functions and public use. The new building behind the courtyard will include space for a cafe at ground level and upper level conference rooms.
On the Market Street side of the project, the current St. Claire Hotel garage will be demolished. Plans call for a new building which will complement the historic Hyatt St. Claire Hotel and the First Street facade of the Fox, but will not attempt to copy or mimic their styles. Tall vertical windows in groupings of three and a horizontal canopy will grace the new Market Street lobby entrance which will be set at an angle to the Fox building rather than parallel to Market Street. A contemporary two story colonnade will front this new building, with glass at the lower level for the stage entry and display/poster cases for announcing theatre activities. The upper portion of the colonnade will have grillwork with reference to the St. Claire arches hinted in the metalwork. There will be a separate decorative grill over the truck dock rolldown door. The third level will sport three stone colors, with different finishes and course sizes, similar in concept to the St. Claire. Stone belt courses will align with the terracotta bands on the St. Claire.
A new stage house will be built at the rear of the Fox to replace the existing stage house, which doesn’t meet the requirements of Opera San Jose. The existing stage house is a plain concrete block building. The new stage house will be concrete with a stone band near the top to relate to the stone on the other new buildings.
In the front and interior of the historic Fox, the 1927-35 period of significance will be restored throughout the entry vestibule, foyer, entrance foyer, orchestra foyer and mezzanine foyer. The finishes in this series of historic spaces are in very good condition, requiring only minor modifications and restoration. In the exterior, covered entry vestibule this includes restoring or replicating side walls where alterations have occurred, replicating original 1927 poster cases, repairing and repainting wall plaster and the decorative plaster ceiling and side wall balconies. The double bay wood and glass entry wall will be replicated to its original design, including glazed doors, metalwork and 28’ high fanlight windows. The only obvious modification will be a north wall window into a new ticket booth which will be part of a new addition to the building described later in this article.
The foyer requires removal of existing aluminum and the solid upper wall on the west side as it was originally. A second set of wood and glass doors and fanlight will be replicated and installed. The plaster is to be repaired and the decorative painted ceiling cleaned. A new pair of doors on the north wall will lead to a new gallery in the building addition.
In the entrance foyer, or Grand Lobby, the marble base, stairs, and clay floor tile surrounds are to be repaired and restored. New carpet will be installed, in the historic pattern if possible. The side wall plaster and eight plaster niche surrounds will undergo repair, restoration and painting. The two central north side niches will house pipes for a new lobby organ. The existing decorative stenciled beamed ceiling is to be cleaned and touched up and the historic lighting fixtures restored.
New historic pattern carpet will extend into the orchestra and mezzanine foyers. Plaster walls and ceilings are to be repaired and repainted and historic lighting fixtures restored. There will be a new bar/concession opening into the mezzanine lobby on the north side where the bathrooms currently exist.
The auditorium would contain the most modifications. The RDA and the architect state that there will be “Restoration to 1927-35 period of significance where possible while incorporating technical and audience requirements of Opera San Jose and other performing art groups. Generally consistent with Secretary of Interior’s Standards, except some new additions and modifications will not be reversible and will be designed to blend with the existing historic interior rather than be designed to be distinguished from the original.” They further state that the existing decorative plaster ornamentation will be retained at the proscenium area, side walls and ceiling. New theatrical lighting positions would be integrated into the historic fabric at the false proscenium and Juilliette balconies. Some plaster work is to be removed and reshaped to accommodate fixtures and new catwalks above the ceiling, and two ceiling decorative plaster beams would be dropped approximately 30” to accommodate lighting catwalks. Lighting fixtures are to be restored, and a larger orchestra pit built. The organ chambers will be restored and a new Wurlitzer theatre organ installed. The last six rows at orchestra level will be replaced with a new technical control suite.
Although the restoration, modifications and additions outlined above are generally acceptable, and PACSJ is supportive of this magnificent theatre finally in the process of being restored and reused, PACSJ is compelled to add the following caveat...of the approximately $65 million dollar price tag for the “restoration” of the theatre, only about $15 million dollars will actually be spent for restoration, including seismic upgrade and ADA access, according to knowledgeable sources. In addition, seating will be reduced to 1,150 from its original 1,825 capacity. Most of the RDA cost will be in building NEW adjacent space to accommodate live performance requirements.
In the Fall of 2000, the long-awaited project to restore, renovate and expand San Jose’s finest movie palace began, thus briefly revealing the painted sign. The accompanying photo shows the sign after the garage demolition exposed it and immediately before demolition of the theatre’s western balcony vomitory to prepare for the new expansion of the Fox Theatre. Once this occurred, the sign was gone — this time for good.
The sign dated from 1957, when the Fox Theatre underwent a modernization, hence its heralding of the “New Fox Theatre.” The “California” was dropped from the theatre’s title and signage at this time. The present-day marquee fascia was applied over a trapezoidal structure dating to a 1937 redecorating.
The lofty entrance foyer was hidden above a dropped ceiling and the Grand Lobby was given new tropical-patterned carpeting along with a red and beige color scheme. Plastic plants and green cove lighting completed the classic late 1950s look. This caused the lobby to have some close stylistic parallels with the interior decor of Original Joe’s a few doors down. OJ’s opened shortly thereafter.
In the Fall of 2000, the long awaited project to restore, renovate and expand San Jose’s finest movie palace began, thus briefly revealing the painted sign.
Groundbreaking ceremonies on October 15, 2001 signified both a beginning and an end. They were an emotional and rewarding beginning to the rehabilitation of the glorious Fox California Theatre for adaptive reuse by Opera San Jose. They also marked the end of years of struggle by preservationists to save this symbol of cinema' s golden age.
The program featured Opera San Jose' s resident company performing sparkling renditions from Leoncavallo's Pagliacci and Verdi's Falstaff. Dignitaries speaking from the dais included San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, City Councilmember Cindy Chavez, Opera San Jose 's Irene Dallis and PAC*SJ past president Andre Luthard. "It was just too cool to see Andre onstage with the dignitaries and politicians, graciously accepting congratulations on behalf of PAC*SJ for our role in saving the Fox, ” said PAC*SJ board member April Halberstadt.
Councilmember Chavez called PAC*SJ “the conscience” of the city council for its efforts to preserve the Fox and other San Jose historic structures. Luthard gave a warm, low-key but inspiring talk on the history of the theater. He called the Fox “one of the most magnificent movie palaces” of Hollywood's golden age and said that its “ rehabilitation and reuse is testimony that the dream of all historic preservationists is alive and thriving.” PAC*SJ displayed a photo series at the event showing interior and exterior scenes of the theater throughout its nearly 75 years of existence. Visitors enjoyed the opportunity to look back and were enthralled by PAC*SJ member
Gary Parks' interpretation of the photos as well as his talks on the existing architectural elements which grace the interior of the theater. Parks' knowledge of the building is boundless and we were fortunate to have his expertise for the event.
(Excerpted from article by Ellen Garboske: Contiuity Vol 12 Number 4, Fall 2001, pgs 8 & 9)
PAC*SJ past president Andre Luthard addresses the crowd at the groundbreaking for the restored Fox California Theatre. Redevelopment Agency director Susan Shick is seated to Luthard’s right.