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Frequently
Asked Questions about the Fox Fullerton
Opened in May
1925 and built at the then enormous cost of $300,000, Chapman’s
Alician Court Theatre, as it was then called, was one of the finest
movie houses of its day. The theater originally featured theatrical
productions as well as movies. Guests entered through the Alician
Court, which featured flowers, wrought iron work, fountains, terra
cotta urns and vases, and a palm tree. Three murals on each side
of the theater depicted the Spanish discovery and exploration period.
The Italian Renaissance styled structure was designed by notable
theater architects Meyer and Holler, who also designed Grauman’s
Chinese Theater and the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. Besides serving
as the site of many movie premiers, The Fox is also associated with
a number of "firsts", including the introduction of "talkies"
into Orange County and as the meeting place for the first Mickey
Mouse Club in the county. The theater was closed in May 1987.
What’s
so special about The Fox?
Called "the last of a vanishing breed" by Mayor Chris
Norby, The Fox represents the popular cultural heritage of our town.
Built by the son of our City’s first mayor, and named for his
son’s wife Alice, when The Fox opened in 1925, the then "Alician
Court" was a milestone in architectural engineering. Designed
by the same firm that built Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the
Egyptian Theatre, the opening of The Fox was said to have "made
the town complete". Our town has been lacking for over 10 years—it’s
time to make it complete again.
Why
hasn’t anything been done until now?
The property is privately owned. It has been of interest to the
Redevelopment Agency since its initial closing in 1987. Various
projects have been tried through private partnerships—none
have succeeded in saving the building.
How
much will it cost?
There have been estimates as high as 4-6 million dollars. A true
cost will not be known until the cost of acquisition is determined.
We do know that it is a financially viable project, and further
delay will add to the cost of restoration.
Will
there be a live theater use too, as there was originally?
Ideally yes. Fullerton is quite fortunate to have a wealth of live
theater venues within the city limits such as the Plummer, the Muckenthaler,
etc. What makes The Fox unique is its "remembered use"—that
of a motion picture theater. Fullerton Heritage will only support
uses for the property that include a motion picture theater.
What
about concerts?
See above. The staging of live music shows creates many challenges—the
impact on the surrounding residences would have to be studied.
Won’t
it create more parking problems downtown?
There are three existing structures which serve downtown. The Redevelopment
Agency has earmarked and the City Council has approved funding another
parking structure in conjunction with the redevelopment of The Fox.
Will
it raise my taxes?
No.
Where
is the necessary money coming from?
The funds could come from several sources, such as private equity,
bank loans, redevelopment funds, state preservation grants, and
corporate and private contributions.
Will
this create more City Government?
No. This project falls under the jurisdiction of the City’s
existing Redevelopment Agency.
Is
the City going to try to run a movie theater?
No! We have only asked that the City consider taking temporary interim
possession of the property if necessary to prevent further decay.
Who
is the current owner?
Edward G. Lewis, an attorney who lives and works in Los Angeles.
What
is the condition of the interior?
The owner permitted the last access to the property by City personnel
in the Spring of 1997. Reports from that time were that the interior
was "surprisingly intact, though worn and neglected. The murals
have been painted over and are damaged from roof leaks."
Can
it be restored?
The studies done by the owner indicate restoration is feasible.
These were done as early as 1987 and the building’s worst enemy
is time—the longer it takes to begin, the greater the ravages.
Dawn Heinsbergen of A. T. Heinsbergen and Company, who originally
created the murals, has been quoted as saying they "could be
restored quite easily".
Is
the building at risk?
Definitely! Any empty building in a downtown area is a magnet for
vagrants. The most recent known damages to the property were due
to fire reportedly caused by the homeless inside. We know the roof
is damaged and leaks substantially. The longer this goes unresolved
the greater the likelihood of further erosion, or even collapse.
Such a tragedy would have untold ramifications on the property,
safety, and economy of nearby businesses. The Grimshaw house, formerly
on Commonwealt,h is the most recent example of a historic property
lost due to neglect that resulted in fire. The owner currently refuses
to allow City Fire Department access to the property to assess its
safety.
Are
there viable tenants?
Yes. The City retains a list of 15 theater operators who have been
approached regarding their interest in leasing the restored property.
More
How
soon will I be able to see a movie there?
There are substantial seismic upgrades necessary. If the project
were begun today, based on the restoration of like properties, a
minimum of two years would be required to restore it to the point
of reopening.
Do
we need another movie theater in this town?
No we don’t need "just another movie theater" in
our town. We do need to be responsible caretakers for our City’s
past. We need to provide an alternative to "mega-plex"
theaters that do not serve the communities in which they operate.
We do need to provide our downtown with more entertainment options,
especially ones that operate after dark. We do need to recognize
that we have one of the last few remaining "film palaces"
in Orange County, in fact in Southern California. We do need to
appreciate that more and more cities are tearing down their architectural
heritage (e.g., downtown Brea and downtown Anaheim) and Fullerton
is increasingly in a position to offer an alternative to malls and
mega-plexes.
How
can The Fox compete with all of the area’s mega-plexes?
There seems to be a need for a theater that shows alternative films
(i.e., foreign films, art films, classic films, etc.). Currently
residents have to drive as far as the Rialto (Pasadena), the Nuart
(Los Angeles) or the Port (Corona del Mar) to see these types of
movies. The Fox also provides residents with the option of seeing
a film in a stunning and traditionally restored theater from a bygone
era.
What
is the seating capacity of The Fox?
The theater currently contains 908 seats, making it one of the largest
theaters in the area.
What
about the shops on the corner of the property?
The property is divided into two parcels, both owned by Edward G.
Lewis—The Fox and the corner shops. Fullerton Heritage is primarily
concerned with that property which contains the theater. The Fox
reopening is only expected to stimulate additional revenue for the
corner shops, as well as downtown businesses in general.
Who
is Fullerton Heritage representing in all of this?
Fullerton Heritage stands to gain nothing monetarily by spearheading
this effort. We represent no one other than our membership, which
is open to all. What we do hope to gain is an architectural gem
revived, and an elevated quality of life for those of us who invest
our time and business dollars downtown.
Fox
History
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