Newsreel Theater

This is an updated post to one I wrote in 2019. Enjoy!

A news cinema or newsreel theatre is a cinema that specializes in continuously showing short films and occasionally features films.

The Newsreel Theater opened in October 1939; before that, it was the Franklin Theater (not to be confused with the other Franklin Theater.)

The Franklin Theater was originally the Bishop Playhouse (later called the Fulton), which opened in 1915.

In 1935, the Fulton Theater (formally Bishop) reopened as the Franklin, a motion-picture house taking its name from the previous Franklin, which had closed down.

The Newsreel Theater closed and transformed into the Telenews Theatre and opened on July 18, 1941

The theatre was the first to include local newsreel stories in the regular week’s program. Each program or show comprised 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,” updated daily. Twelve clocks showed the current time in cities throughout Europe, America, 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.

The theater went dark in 1951 and was demolished to make room for an office building.

Fox News Theater on Broadway

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

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

S. Charles Lee, a theatrical architect, designed the Fox News Theater.

The lounges were designed for convenience and luxury. An “electric eye” operated the magic fountain, eliminating manual operation.

The Fox News Theater had a studio in the downstairs lounge, which broadcast vital news programs and topics of the day on the KQW CBS outlet.

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

Newsreel Theatre on Broadway

In July 1941, the Oakland Tribune announced that Oakland would 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 letters, holding business conferences, reading the latest newspapers and magazines, etc.

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

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

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.

More Info:

• Franklin Theater Closes – Oakland Tribune October 16, 1939
• Franklin 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