Fullerton Citizens Await Vote on Fox Fullerton’s Future

posted by Patrick Crowley on November 2, 2004 at 9:10 am

FULLERTON, CA — Jon Olivian, the new publicist at the Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation, sent us this important news about the fate of the Fox Fullerton.

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ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, WHILE THE ENTIRE NATION BREATHLESSLY AWAITS OUTCOME OF THE U.S. PRESIDENCY, THE CITY OF FULLERTON, C.A. AWAITS OWN ’D DAY' ON THE FUTURE OF ITS ENDANGERED FOX THEATRE

FULLERTON, CALIF. (October 31, 2004) — At a recent public march and rally to save the endangered Fox Fullerton Theatre, a television newscaster made the observation about next Tuesday, November 2, 2004 when the entire nation will be awaiting the dramatic outcome of the U.S. presidency, while the City of Fullerton, California wrestles with its own D-Day-like decision of whether or not to save or demolish its cherished 1925 Fox Theatre.

Member’s of the City of Fullerton’s Redevelopment Agency will meet and have a final vote on the long awaited issue next Tuesday, November 2 at approximately 4:30 p.m. at Fullerton City Hall, 303 W. Commonwealth in downtown Fullerton. The agency is expected to review a final negotiated decision of whether or not to provide the non-profit Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation with a loan of approximately $1 million dollars to help acquire the 1925 theatre and adjacent retail property for eventual restoration and reuse as a revitalized entertainment venue for live events and film screenings provided the group can independently raise the additionally needed $1 million dollars to purchase the property. The public is invited to attend this meeting to show support about saving the theatre.

As of Saturday, October 30, the Foundation had received donations or pledges totaling $700,000. toward the theatre property’s $3.65 million purchase price (of which nearly $200,000. was raised in just the past 10 days), but still needed to raise $300,000 prior to the CRA meeting next Tuesday. The City of Fullerton previously awarded $1.65 million dollars in matching grant funds to the Foundation.

Last Thursday night, a public march and rally was held in front of the theatre which attracted over 100 participants and was joined by Fullerton City Council member Shawn Nel and Mayor Mike Clesceri. According to Foundation spokesperson Jon Olivan, to capture the Halloween spirit the rally was emceed by Joan Rivers look-a-like Dee Dee Hanson.

The finale of the rally featured a dramatic countdown where the theatre’s giant rooftop sign was temporarily illuminated by two vintage World War II-era searchlights which also created a cross beam effect in the sky which could be seen for miles around including from the nearby 91 Freeway.

Per Olivan, a special Halloween-themed ghost investigation was also held the afternoon before the rally for news media by members of the International Society of Paranormal Research. Field investigators Daena Smoller and Linda Maxwell discovered some interesting clairvoyant observations about the Fox including the fact that a reputed ‘speakeasy’ was located near the basement of the building during Prohibition years and that the spirit of a former 1940’s era theatre manager'a portly man with the first name of Don—was detected in the auditorium of the closed theatre.

For more information on how to help save the Fox, call (714) 607-0884 or visit www.SaveTheFox.org

Contact:
Jon Olivan

(323) 356-9393

Theaters in this post

• Fox Fullerton Theatre