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Dave Kirby on March 1, 2010 at 11:50 AM said:

Much empathy from another pasty white kid who spent waaaay too many hours at Saturday matinees at the Fox Fullerton in Manhattan Beach during the '50s (today's it's sadly a Sketchers teen fashion spot). I too was up to my eyeballs in RKO Pictures, Movietone newsreels, color cartoons and those ever-loving cliffhanger serials. It was a great time to be value programming. Spielberg, George Lucas and countless others went through the same experiences and you know what their priceless legacies have been to the film industry. The buildings may be going or gone (like the lives of friends and acquaintances) but that does not prevent us from recreating the experiences with fresh screenings of the Golden Age of Films and television. Thanks to sources like Amazon and Netflix and modern technology resources we can reproduce those thrilling days of yesteryear for our grandkids and others who crave another fix of "Leave It to Beaver", Randolph Scott, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "Road" pictures and Charlie Chan! There is a treasure trove in public domain! I have 70 attending monthly showings for Saddleback Church in Laguna Woods (with a boxed lunch) and stay tuned for a new start-up in San Clemente coming soon! kirbside@dslextreme.com

tikidaddy on January 22, 2010 at 09:44 AM said:

anyone who has lived in san clemente for more than a couple years knows the theatre is a work of art and should be restored and used in a multitude of ways,it is the very last 99 seat theatre left in california!they dont tear down heritage in boston or new york or in europe!it would californicate north beach to let "johnny come lately"erase this awesome architecture!!

tikidaddy

Fred on November 2, 2009 at 03:43 PM said:

Terry has not owned the theatre for a couple of years now. The man to contact would be the owner of Family Toyota in San Juan Capistrano. He is the owner. BTW, there is no lack of good ideas for the use of the building, just a lack of ownership vision. A whole generation has grown up in SC only knowing the theatre as an eyesore because the council and the string of owners are never on the same page. I tried to purchase from Terry H. but another guy made a better offer but still has not made his move. And we wait.

Thanks for your comment on the theatre watchdog page and for having an idea. I've been on the case for 20 years.

James Mulford on September 28, 2009 at 12:25 PM said:

wfnco1@yahoo.com

James Mulford on September 28, 2009 at 12:24 PM said:

I have a concept Ideal for the use of those buildings so if anybody knows how to get in contact with Terry I would appreciate being able to talk to him so that something can be done with that property. wfnco12yahoo.com

Thanks Jim

James Mulford on September 28, 2009 at 12:24 PM said:

Thanks Jim

Robert McDonald on September 14, 2009 at 05:38 PM said:

My first concert ever, I'm proud to say, was seeing THE Chuck Berry at the Miramar Theatre in San Clemente. I was un junior high school, and didn't know who he was, but my music teacher encouraged our class members to go if they could. Thanks to my parents, I did go.

It was amazing to see this legend of Rock and Roll in such an intimate setting. As the years go by, I am amazed that I was fortunate enough to have that experience. It will remain with me forever, thanks to the Miramar.

John & Jeannie McKinley on August 13, 2009 at 11:36 AM said:

If you have not already checked out the Moonlight Ampitheater and Avo Playhouse concept in Vista, you should. They also have an adjacent restaurant, but it is leased out - the City is the landlord in both cases. Also note the Broady and Off Broadway theaters that have opned since the Avo was restored - they stage some of their shows in the Avo. Used by schools etc.

Hope you can get it to work!

Anthony Palazzo on June 23, 2009 at 05:19 PM said:

Mr. Divel: My name is Anthony Palazzo and I am an architect on the Central Coast of California. I am a San Clemente Triton that relocated to the Central Coast after attending architecture school at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I was visiting my folks and my in-laws over the weekend and happened to drive by the Miramar theater. I was saddened by the fact that the theater still looks vacant and has been sitting for so long. Our firm specializes in theater renovations and we have just completed the renovation of the Granada Theater in Santa Barbara. My associate, Monisha Adnani, and I would love to speak with you further about the possibility of becoming involved in the project. If you are able, I would like to speak with you in person. Do you have a phone number where I can reach you, or if you wish you can reach me at the number below. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards,

Fred on June 14, 2009 at 01:46 PM said:

Thank you Max so much for adding to the conversation regarding the theatre. It is a tough job trying to save it but one day we hope it will be reborn. I remember, well, all of the people you have mentioned. If you have anything in the way of interior photos or memorabilia of the theatre we can share with the community I hope you can lend it or copy it for us. I was sorry I didn't get your email address. Please stay in touch. I remember my class at Las Palmas took a field trip to the projection booth and saw those projectors, the cot the projectionist slept on while running the shows, and the big drawing of Bugs Bunny painted on the wall. Was that your work? Take care and thanks. Fred

MAX K. HURLBUT on June 10, 2009 at 02:08 PM said:

Hi, FRED---I live on the Canadian border (Bellingham, WA) but was a resident of San Clemente from 1947 through 1959. FRANK MAXEY, owner of the San Clemente Theatre, also arrived in '47. I worked for him (& ELMER V. "BUDDY" BAIRD) as a projectionist in the late 1940s & early '50s. You'll recall BUDDY had polio and ran his little red scooter through town advertising coming attractions. (He died in May 2002). The projectionist booth housed two Simplex carbon arc projectors. So little remains of the town from these years, hope the old theatre building can be retained....

Cheers,

MAX

Val Shinkle on May 25, 2009 at 11:13 AM said:

"What a great idea! Fly it with the the Combined Chambers of Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano. It was the first and only theater between Santa Ana and Oceanside that I recall. You just might be on your way to starting an enconomic boomlet."

Lee Van Slyke & others on January 30, 2009 at 09:47 AM said:

Subject: FW: Theater restoration Lee and Mike I don’t usually do this, but this is from my daughter in SF and is so good I just wanted to pass it along to someone. From: Chelsea.Holloway@hklaw.com [mailto:Chelsea.Holloway@hklaw.com] Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 1:01 PM To: Holloway, Jim Subject: Theater restoration My friend Christina just toured this restoration project of the Fox theater in Oakland. Sounds like a really extraordinary project. Thought I would send along in case anything is of interest to the theater in San Clemente. http://www.oaklandfox.com/index.html

OPENING FEBRUARY 2009!!

Curtain set to rise on reborn Fox Theater

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.

For more than three decades, the Fox held its own as a first-run movie house in a bustling downtown entertainment and shopping district. But as the advent of television dealt a blow to the movie business and suburban malls and multiplexes began to lure people away from downtowns in cities nationwide, Oakland was no exception.

The Fox closed its doors in 1966. Downtown lost its theaters, its department stores and much of its vitality. The grand Fox, closed longer today than it was ever open, escaped the wrecking ball more than once, but suffered fires, leaky roofs, decay and graffiti. Schemes for its revival, including hollowing out its interior for a shopping mall walkway, came and went.

But now, the staccato bursts of jackhammers and circular saws at Telegraph Avenue and 18th Street are heralding a rebirth that will give new life not only to the Fox but to the surrounding Uptown neighborhood. Eighty years to the day from its Grand Opening, the Fox is scheduled to reopen on October 27, 2008, as a live music venue, arts school and restaurant, its aged and rain-damaged interior restored to its once-breathtaking beauty. The hope is that the theater’s opening finally will anchor the long-awaited renaissance of an Uptown entertainment district of theaters, restaurants and nightspots.

“It will activate a full city block,” said developer Phil Tagami, managing general partner at California Capital Group, who is leading the $58 million restoration effort. “This is kind of a higher calling. How can you not have a sense of pride when you can put it all back together and respect the history and heritage?”

Jim Kirkwood on December 1, 2008 at 09:05 PM said:

Over the past 12 years I have watched, with great sadness, this proud icon of a time forgotten crumble away, piece by painful piece. And through it all it stands, defiant and alone as if to cry out to the deafening sound of indifference. So I say Congratulations to Fred and his thought provoking website which demonstrates in America anything is still possible with a little vision and a whole lot of good ol" entrepreneurial passion.

Way to Go Fred!!!

R. Christine Hershey on July 23, 2008 at 08:51 PM said:

Fred- I am J Wilmer Hershey's granddaughter and I am very interested in these old images of his buildings.

Have you discovered any of his original drawings by any chance?

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

my e mail is: rchershey@hersheycause.com

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