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In an age where stand-alone movie theaters resembling works of art, have been steadily disappearing, Redwood City boasts an enduring legacy to a bygone era- the Fox Theater.
Original Name
Built on the site of Central Grammar School, which was torn down in 1928, the doors opened on Jan. 2, 1929. It was called the New Sequoia Theater, which replaced the original Sequoia Theater that was located down the street at Jefferson Ave.
The iconic palace sits across the street from the San Mateo County History Museum (RWC’s fourth courthouse) on Broadway in downtown Redwood City.
The builder was Ellis John Arkursh, a civil engineer who moved to San Francisco from Chicago in 1912 to work on the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco which took place in 1915.
The interior of the theater reflected a Moorish look, patterned after a number of architectural designs Arkursh had seen while traveling in Europe. It also boasted a magnificent pipe organ, as well as a machine that showed moving clouds and twinkling stars on the ceiling. The exterior reflected a Gothic look.
While showing mainly motion pictures, not long after the New Sequoia Theater opened it was purchased by the Fox West Coast chain.
Name Change
Occasionally hosting live performances, the New Sequoia Theater continuously entertained patrons until 1950, when part of the ceiling collapsed, injuring 30 people. After several months of repair work, the theater re-opened under a new name- Fox Theater.
In 1994 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Notables who have appeared over the years include Al Jolson, Bob Hope, Joan Baez and former President Barack Obama.
While the Fox has been through some difficult times, the current owners who acquired it in 2017 have brought this wonderful venue back to the spotlight. It, along with the San Mateo County History Museum, stands as a magnificent anchor of Redwood City’s downtown historic district.
Everything else is just history
Some of the photos used in this blog are courtesy of the Local History Room, Redwood City's best-kept secret. The Local History Collection covers all aspects of Redwood City's development, from the 1850s to the present day, with particular emphases on businesses, public schools, civic organizations, city agencies, and early family histories. The Local History Room is not affiliated with the Redwood City Public Library, but it is inside it.
