Newsreel Theaters

A news cinema or newsreel theatre is a cinema specializing in short films, shown continuously. They also occasionally show feature films.

Newsreel Theatre on Broadway

It was announced in July of 1941 that Oakland was to have a Newsreel Theater, a sister to the one in San Francisco.

The 300 seat theater had spacious lounge rooms which provided accommodations for writing a letter, holding a business conference, reading the latest newspapers, magazines, etc.

Was Regent Theater

The building first housed the Regent Theater later the Regent Photo Theater.

Peerlex Theater 

In the mid-1950s, the Regent was renamed the Peerlex. The Peerlex offered three action hits for 50 cents.  

Pussycat Theater

By 1972 the Regent was rechristened the Pussycat Theater showing XXX adult movies.

The city of Oakland acquired the theater by eminent domain in 1987.

Franklin Theater

The theater located at 1518 Franklin opened as the Bishop Theater in 1916 and then became the Fulton Playhouse in 1918. The building was designed by Edward T. Foulkes

In 1935 the Fulton reopened as the Franklin, taking its name from the previous Franklin Theater which had closed.

Newsreel Theater

The Franklin Theater closed and was reopened as the Newsreel Theater in October of 1939.

Telenews Theater at the Franklin Theater

The Newsreel Theater closed and transformed into the Telenews Theatre at Franklin and 15th opened July 18, 1941

The theatre was the first to include local newsreel stories as part of the regular week’s program. Each program or show comprised some fifty news events, including the “Ringside Seat to World War Two” series with Regan McCrary.

During the opening week, they showed a “Salute to Oakland,” a film on Oakland’s industrial, civic, and community life. The film showed the new Woodminster Amphitheater, Lake Merritt, Mills College, Oakland’s High Schools, and City Hall.

The lobby included a large “Progressive War Map,” which was updated daily. Twelve clocks, showing the current time in cities throughout Europe, American, and Asia, and a teletype machine was also in the lobby.

Franklin Theater Once Again

When Telenews took over the Fox News Theater’s operation on Broadway in 1943, this theater became the Franklin once again and showed first-run movies.

Closed and Demolished 

The theater went dark in 1951.

Fox News Theater on Broadway

Located at 1906 Broadway, the 552-seat Fox News Theatre opened on July 3, 1942.  

Fox Offers Timely Topics in Modern Show House.” – Oakland Tribune July 5, 1942

The Fox News Theater had a broadcasting studio in the downstairs lounge. Vital news programs, topics of the day were broadcasted on the KQW CBS outlet.

Telenews took over the operation on April 30, 1943. The theater was renamed The Broadway Telenews Theater.

Globe Theater

On April 16, 1954, it was renamed Globe Theater and went over to screening feature films, with Dinah Sheridan in “Genevieve.” The latest newsreels were also shown.

More Info:

• Franklin Theater Closes – Oakland Tribune October 16, 1939
• Frankin to Show News – Oakland Tribune October 17, 1939
• Franklin to Become Newsreel Theatre –Oakland Tribune October 18, 1939
• Franklin Opens with Newsreels – Oakland Tribune October 23, 1939

• Notables to See Opening of Theater – Oakland Tribune July 10, 1941
• Telenews Lobby Clearing House – Oakland Tribune July 14, 1941
• Telenews Theater Opening – Oakland Tribune July 16, 1941
• Telenews Theatre – Oakland Tribune July 18, 1941
• Crowds at Opening – Oakland Tribune July 19, 1941 
• New Fox News Theater Opens – Oakland Tribune July 3, 1942
• New Film Spot on Broadway – Oakland Tribune July 5, 1942
• Fox-News to Telenews – Oakland Tribune April 26, 1943
• Curtains! The Old Franklin – Oakland Tribune April 17, 1953
• Telenews To Change Name to Globe –  Oakland Tribune April 13, 1954
• Genevieve Amuses Audiences at Globe – Oakland Tribune April 25, 1954

The End