Hanford Fox Theatre — Attraction in Hanford

A small history of early theatre palaces in the United States which includes the Historic Hanford Fox Theatre, one of the few remaining still in operation and fully restored to its 1929 elegance. No buildings in America have been, collectively, as audaciously romantic, blatantly derivative, and wonderfully original as the movie palaces. The majority of these palaces were built during the years between World War I and the Great Depression. Nationwide, even the smallest towns could boast regally outfitted movie houses. The theaters ranged in style from bewilderingly eclectic to near-perfect replicas of the finest royal palaces of Europe and the Orient. The patrons were not always aware of the decorations' origins, but they flocked to see whatever spectacular arrangements the palaces architects dreamed up. Moviegoers in the 30's and 40's were able to witness happenings from all over the world. Lacking the immediacy of television and radio in it's infancy, the significance of the movie palace is difficult to appreciate. More than just the primary source of entertainment, the theaters were the local gathering spots, the centers of downtown night life. Integrating all classes and levels of society. The movies provided a release for the increasing pressures of a world growing more hectic by the day. A ticket to a show was a passport to lives and cultures otherwise beyond reach. No form of entertainment had ever been as accessible or as popular. The opening of a new movie theatre in town was cause for public celebration, with all the hoopla normally reserved for a major movie premiere. Even in Hanford, front page coverage of the December 1929 Grand Opening of The Fox dominated the Christmas holiday news. Built by William Fox of Fox Theaters in 1929, and one of 900+ across the United States, the Hanford Fox Theatre is designed as an atmospheric theatre. This type of theatre, as opposed to the ornate or art deco style, is designed to create the illusion of being located in a romantic far-off place. The locale is a Spanish courtyard, complete with twinkling stars and crescent moon in a dark night sky. There are tile covered buildings with lighted windows, balconies and turrets, silhouetted and backlighted by the glow of a village beyond. In the shadows rise mountains covered with cypress and palm trees. Greco-Roman columns support the proscenium. Further back are Mediteranian and Spanish renaissance influences, but the over all decor is Mission Revival. Very eclectic, yet appropriate. Each theatre was required to have a fire-proof screen to separate backstage from the audience. The architects designed them to be painted with a large mural incorporating the theme of the auditorium. The Hanford Theatre's screen depicts a Spanish village with church bell tower, cypress trees, and terra cotta roofed buildings. It is a magnificent oil painting filling the entire stage opening. The designers of the early theatres included a full stage, dressing rooms, flyand orchestra pit in their plans, because vaudeville was still very much in vogue and movies had not dominated the entertainment scene. Traveling troupes crises-crossed the United States exhibiting their acts for an entertainment starved nation. Then, the genius of the motion picture pioneers developed a frame-lined celluloid film and put pictures into motion. William Fox himself, viewed the moving picture flicks as a passing fad. But the publics interest was caught and their fascination grew. Vaudeville soon shared the stage with the movie screen. Acts such as Laurel and Hardy bowed to curtain calls as they visited the theatres during a premiere of their latest film. A new industry developed rapidly, as people swarmed into...

I absolutely LOVED this old movie house! And that's what it reminded me of, a movie house, it's way to beautiful to be called just a theater! I do think they are in the process of restoring it because they do add on a couple of dollars to your very inexpensive ticket price, which they do have a sign so you know ahead of time. But completely worth the extra to see what I feel is a beautiful piece of history & art! The seats are not recliners or anything & I do have back problems, but I never even noticed. I was completely comfortable!!! They have pretty decent padding & support for being so old! I took my 5 year old Niece for the Saturday Morning Experience - Superhero Edition cartoons, ones I watched when I was growing up & she loved it! They are also offering some older movies over the next few weeks that I will definitely be coming back for to enjoy remembering the past! Definitely a place to bring the family on a day out or even just go by yourself, they are all...

The fox theatre is Awesome!! Last night I went to see An American Werewolf In London. The admission price was 7 dollars. The movie was great, but more importantly it is just a wonderful atmosphere. Also did you know you can can smoke at the theater. They have a special smoking perch on a balcony right behind the Marquee on the upper level! The movie was playing on flat screens in the lobbies upstairs and down stairs. I got up to smoke and I didn't even have to miss out on what was happening in the movie. In a few weeks they are going to have silent films, with an actual organ, and I imagine and old man in the back turning a handle on an old time projector! The tickets are going to cost 10 dollars...I will be...