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.
Even in the heyday of elaborate movie palaces, the Fox stood out. The architecture of the buff brick and terra cotta structure has long defied definition, being variously described as Indian, Moorish, Medieval and Baghdadian. At the time, the San Francisco Chronicle called it “different, novel and mystic,” noting “its spaciousness, luxurious appointments and beautiful designs.” Rich colors and gold leaf were abundant, including two bejeweled golden figures flanking the stage who were quickly dubbed Buddhas, though historians now believe they were designed as warriors.
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