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.)
Oakland Tribune October 1939
The Franklin Theater was originally the Bishop Playhouse (later called the Fulton), which opened in 1915.
Bishop Playhouse on Franklin Street in Oakland, California. DATE:1919 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
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
Oakland Tribune 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.
Oakland Tribune July 18, 1941
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.
Oakland Tribune July 18, 1941
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.
Oakland Tribune April 19, 1953
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.
Oakland Tribune July 1942
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.
Screenshot
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.
Oakland Tribune 1942Screenshot
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.
Broadway at 12th circa 1917 – showing the Regent Theater. Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising
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.
Originally called “The Famous Clothing Company.” Later it was renamed “Smith’s Money-Back Store and Money-Back Smith.” You probably knew it as Smith’s Department Store.
William Smith founded the first store in Oakland in 1885 (according to the Oakland Tribune)
Unique Nickname
“Money Refunded If Goods Are Not Satisfactory.”
Oakland Tribune
Willam “Money-Back” Smith
His friends, relatives, neighbors, and patrons were so used to the policy of ‘money-back” being associated with William Smith that became his nickname.
First Store
The first store was on Broadway, between 7th and 8th Street, later moving one block to 9th Street.
Brilliant Opening
Oakland Tribune
The Famous Clothing Company proprietors held a grand opening reception on March 16, 1892, at 909 and 911 Broadway.
The Berkeley Gazette March 18, 1904
In 1896, Smith chose a new location at 10th and Washington, where the firm remained until 1912.
They then moved to 12th and Washington, which was enlarged and modernized several times.
1935-Blake Estate Co. building (the Blake Block) W. F. Woolworth, Money Back Smith inM.L. Cohen Co., photographers, for Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc. :Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
Another New Location
Circa 1933 – M. K. Blake building (the Blake Block), southwest corner of 12th Street and Washington Money Back Smith in view. M.L. Cohen Co., photographers, for Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc. Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
By 1912 the store was located at 12th and Washington Streets, and it was called “Money-Back Smith.”
Circa 1935 -M. K. Blake building (the Blake Block),.12th and Washington Money Back Smith in view. Downtown Property Owner’s Association. Volume 4. . M.L. Cohen Co., photographers, for Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc.
“Charge It” Plan
Oakland Tribune 1940
Breaking all precedents, Money-Back Smiths had for 54 years had a “cash only” policy offered a liberal 90-day charge plan. The plan had no downpayment, no interest, and no carrying charge.
More than 10,000 Eastbay residents opened accounts in the first six months.
“Charge it!”
They made the term “Charge it” a common word in the vocabulary. Smith declared September 27, 1940
55th Anniversary
“Founded back in 1886 – literally the horse and buggy days of the city, the store has grown with Oakland.”
Oakland Tribune September 27, 1940
“We Couldn’t possibly cut a birthday cake large enough for all the of our customers, and so were cutting prices instead.”
Expansion
Blake Block [ SW corner of 12th and Washington. Creator/Contributor:Cohen, Moses L., 1884-1975. Downtown Property Owners Association (Oakland, Calif.). Date:1944
In 1941 the store embarked on a program of remodeling and expansion that doubled its size. Two additional floors were added, which gave them three floors for selling merchandise.
Oakland Tribune Dec 1951
In 1945, the store acquired 30,000 Sq.Ft. of additional space in the Blake Building on Washington Street.
M. K. Blake Estate Co. building (the Blake Block), southwest corner of 12th and Washington Streets. Smith’s in view. – 1949, Jun. 27 . Camera Corner, photographers, for Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
First Western Bank Building
Oakland Tribune 1955
In 1955 the old Henshaw Building at 14th and Broadway, built-in 1891, was demolished. The Henshaw building housed the MacDonough Theatre, one of Oakland’s first legitimate showhouses.
The First Western Bank Building was completed in 1958.
I thought I would show you a little “Then and Now” images for downtown Oakland.
Enjoy!
Washington St – West Side from 7th and 8th
The 1896 Illustrated Directory of Oakland, California – https://localwiki.org/oakland/The_Illustrated_Directory_of_Oakland%2C_CaliforniaWest side of Washington Street between 7th and 8th Streets. Hersh’s Apparel, Grutman’s Army and Navy Store in view. DATE: 1955 Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Google MapsSouth side of 8th Street between Washington and Clay Streets. Drug store and pharmacy in view. DATE: 1958, Mar. Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room. FILENAME/TITLE:ohrphoto.dpoa1.050Google Maps
Washington Street West Side from 8th to 9th
The 1896 Illustrated Directory of Oakland, California – https://localwiki.org/oakland/The_Illustrated_Directory_of_Oakland%2C_CaliforniaWest side of Washington Street between 8th and 9th Streets. TV Tradin’ Post, Brick’s in view. DATE:1955 Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Google mapsWest side of Washington Street between 8th and 9th Streets. Oakland Household Co. in view. DATE: 1955 Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Google Maps
Ninth Street – North Side from Washington to Broadway
The 1896 Illustrated Directory of Oakland, California – https://localwiki.org/oakland/The_Illustrated_Directory_of_Oakland%2C_CaliforniaNortheast corner of 9th and Washington Streets. Arlington Hotel in view. DATE :circa 1937 SIZE M.L. Cohen Co., photographers, for Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Google maps
Washington St – East Side from Ninth to Tenth
East side of Washington Street between 9th and 10th Streets. Savemore Dry Goods, Kaplan’s Army Surplus, Acme Market in view. DATE 1955. Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.East side of Washington Street between 9th and 10th Streets circa 1913 Cheney Photo AdvertisingEast side of Washington Street between 9th and 10th Streets circa 1937Google Maps
Broadway West Side from Ninth St to Tenth St
The 1896 Illustrated Directory of Oakland, California – https://localwiki.org/oakland/The_Illustrated_Directory_of_Oakland%2C_CaliforniaWest side of Broadway between 9th and 10th Streets. White Onion, Eagle Loan Co., Moler Barber College in view. DATE 1955 Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.West side of Broadway between 9th and 10th Streets. Lucky Club, A. Binneweg, Hill’s Loan Office in view. DATE 1955 Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Broadway West Side from Ninth St to Tenth St – Google maps
Wilcox Block, Front and North side, Oakland (c.1860-70) http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/institutions/Society+of+California+Pioneers
The 1896 Illustrated Directory of Oakland, California – https://localwiki.org/oakland/The_Illustrated_Directory_of_Oakland%2C_CaliforniaWest side of Broadway between 8th and 9th Streets. Stag Clothing Co. in view. DATE: 1955. Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.West side of Broadway between 8th and 9th Streets. Stag Clothing Co. in view. DATE: 1955. Downtown Property Owners Association, Inc., photographers. RIGHTS:Permission to use this image must be obtained from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Google MapsGoogle Maps
This was posted before, but I had to update it because some of the photos were lost when I switched hosting sites.
In the summer of 1931, a group of property owners in the central downtown section formed the Downtown Property Owners Association.
One of their first projects was modernizing some of the “elderly buildings” in the downtown area. They were losing tenants to the new modern buildings being built there.
The association took care of all the details of the program.
“Just try to find a vacancy!”
D. Frost
Oakland Tribune 1933
A committee was formed to study older buildings. Buildings were photographed, and data was gathered, including finances, taxes, leases in effect, rentals, accurate measurements, and complete descriptions of the buildings.
By 1934, there were seven completed projects, with three more started.
The Jonas Building
The Jonas Buildingis located at thecorner of Broadway and 11th Street in downtown Oakland, California.
Abraham Jonas owned the building and ran a clothing store for men.
Jonas building, Oakland, California. 1932 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Jonas building was the first to be remodeled and modernized.
Jonas building, Broadway and 11th Street in downtown Oakland, California 1934 – Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Abrahamson Building
The Abrahamson Building is located on the corner of 13th and Washington Streets.
It was opened in 1893 as Abrahamson’s Dry Goods and is owned by Jules and Hugo Abrahamson.
Abrahamson Building – circa 1931 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The second project in the modernization program was a five-story structure. J.H. King supervised its transformation, and E.T. Foulkes was the architect.
Oakland Tribune April 12, 1932
The facelift was completed in March of 1934 with the opening of the Union Furniture Company. The firm occupied all five floors of the building.
Oakland Tribune 1934
Modern vertical lines predominate in the remodeled building, replacing the bay windows, cornices, and ornamentation from when it was built. Green tiles was used to cover the brick walls.
Abrahamson Building 1932 – Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Over the years, other businesses occupied the building.
Abrahamson building, southeast corner of Washington and 13th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Darling Shop in view. 1942 -Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The M.K. Blake Building
M.K. Blake Building was a four-story store and office structure at the corner of 12th and Washington Streets.
This was the third modernization project.
M. K. Blake building (the Blake Block), southwest corner of Washington and 12th Streets circa 1935 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland Tribune August 1932
The building was stripped of the bay windows, cornices, and other ornamentation removed. A warm ivory shade was used on the exterior walls, with a darker color for the trim.
M. K. Blake Estate Co. building (the Blake Block), southwest corner of 12th and Washington Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Smith’s in view. 1949 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Delger Building
The Delger Building was the ——building to be remodeled under the program.
The project included the removal of the former exterior and the bay windows.
Delger is building at the corner of 13th Street and Broadway Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Delger building, northwest corner of 13th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland, California.
The Park Building
In 1933 the modernization of the Park Building begin. The building was locatied on fourteenth street between Broadway and Washington Street across from City Hall.
Park building:circa 1930 Downtown Property Owner’s Association.Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
Oakland Tribune July 6, 1933
The Park Building marked the eight building in the program.
The Park Building circa 1933
Glenn Building
Work began in 1937 on the Glenn Building at 1308 Broadway as part of the Downtown Property Association’s modernization program.
Glenn building, 1935 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
According to the Oakland Tribune, the Glenn Family had owned the building for 50 years.
The improvements to the two-story cost $5,000 and included all new tiles on the front of the building. Edward T. Foulkes was the architect of the project.
Most people will recognize the building as the home of De Lauer’s Newsstand.
Glenn building, east side of Broadway between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Margaret Burnham’s Cottage Candies, Leighton, Kay Jewelry Company in view. 1935
The Zukor Building
The Zukor building was modernized in 1934. The ancient arches were replaced, and the unsightly exterior features were removed. The wall finish was replaced with a soft shade of green hard glaze.
Zukor’s, Inc. building, Washington Street, between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. 1932 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
ScreenshotScreenshotOakland Tribune
Zukor’s, Inc. building, Washington Street, between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. 1934 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Schutz Building
The Schutz Building, was on Twelfth Street between Broadway and Washington Street, was the twenty-first modernization project.
The three-story building was owned by the F.W. Schutz Estate Company.
Schutz building, north side of 12th Street between Broadway and Washington Streets. Smith’s Shoes for Men, Brunswick Billiards in view. circa 1936 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Oakland Public
The builing was the twenty-first project.
The briock exterior was replaced with a hard tile finish in a light tan with black trim.
Schutz building, north side of 12th Street between Broadway and Washington Streets. Smith’s Shoes for Men, Brunswick Billiards in view. circa 1936 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Oakland Public
More Info:
In total, 31 buildings were rebuilt or given a “facelift.” The program was a success; buildings were filled with stores, and the stores were filled with shopping people.
Plaza Building at 15th and Washington Streets
Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank Building at 13th and Franklin
S.H. Cress Company on 14th and Broadway.
Federal Telegraph Building at 12th and Washington Streets
Fuller-Sparks Building on 14th Street.
Masonic Temple Building on 12th Street for the new Lerner Store
There have been many discussions and articles about the name “Uptown” for an area in downtown Oakland. Most people hate it, except for the new people who just moved here, who call it “hip” or “trendy” (this is my opinion I did not conduct a poll).
Most recently, I was on one of the Facebook groups I belong to. Just about everybody who commented hates the use of the word uptown. Only two people actually read my comment about the history of the name. One still didn’t buy my explanation, and the other thanked me.
“No as a native oaklander we have never used the word uptown it was always downtown”
Facebook Group
“Gentrification definitely gentrification”
Facebook Group
We went Downtown
Growing up in Oakland, we always went downtown and never uptown because we went home.
It still is downtown to us and will always be! I will not argue that!
People assume the name “Uptown” comes from newcomers or “gentrifiers” who are taking over the area.
I know I questioned it, thinking they (the developers) were trying to make it sound like New York.
“The use of “Uptown” to refer to what is really part of downtown Oakland is relatively new and followed the city’s massive gentrification project to renovate the Fox Theater and build 10,000 new units of housing around Grand Avenue and Telegraph in the early 2000s.”
It’s too bad the article’s author didn’t spend time researching the name.
Statements like this would further their belief that the term is new and made up.
“Square (the tech company) has launched its East Bay operations by moving a few hundred employees into new digs in downtown Oakland’s hip and trendy Uptown neighborhood.”
A couple of years ago, I decided to research the name a little more. I was reading an old report from the redevelopment agency from the 1980s and saw a reference to the “Uptown District.” That got me thinking, and the rest is history.
A bit of history follows.
The Uptown Historic District runs from 18th Street to 21st Street along Broadway at the north end of Oakland’s central business district. It includes three blocks of the triangular gore between Broadway and Telegraph Avenue, plus the Fox Theater on the west side of Telegraph and portions on the eastern side of Broadway at the 19th Street intersection.
The district represents a phase of the expansion of the central business district in the 1920s and 30s. The new shopping and entertainment center was at the north end of the turn of the century downtown, anchored by the new Capwell department store and developed by Capwell’s 20th and Broadway Realty Company.
The district is an essential collection of small to medium-scale commercial buildings of the 1920s and 30s, historic brownstone and terra cotta buildings from the 1920s, and colorful Art Deco Terra Cotta from the 1930s.
Oakland Floral Depot, northeast corner of 19th Street and Telegraph Avenue Date: circa 1980 – Oakland Stores Collection Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division Permalink: https://calisphere.org/item/45a075ddbec11673a0d40a3fc87d3b17/
Capwell’s and I. Magnin’s buildings, the Fox and Paramount Theaters, and the Flora Depot building are excellent examples of each style.
I. Magnin & Co., northwest corner of Broadway and 20th Street 1951-04-24 Downtown Stores Collection Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division Permalink: https://calisphere.org/item/d57eab31fed90ff765d7834b39af46b6/
Uptown the Beginning
In 1895, the Tribune’s new was located “Uptown.”
Oakland Tribune 1895
In the early 1900s, as Oakland grew from the waterfront, people started calling the area past 14th Street “Uptown.” By 1903, the area just below 14th Street was getting crowded, and the large mercantile businesses were reaching out for more space. They could only go uptown.
The real expansion of uptown began in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Capwell’s was built in 1928.
Pioneers in “Uptown Oakland”
Oakland Tribune Mar 20, 1927
Smith Brothers’ new “Beautiful Uptown Store”
Oakland Tribune Oct 25, 1931
Oakland Tribune Oct 25, 1931
It was reported in the Oakland Tribune on March 24, 1936, that 19 new leases were signed in Oakland’s uptown business district.
Oakland Tribune Mar 24, 1936
In 1944, the new Hibernia Bank was built in “Uptown.”
Oakland Tribune Dec 18, 1944
After 17 years on 14th Street, Walson’s moved “Uptown” to 2000 Franklin in 1968.
Oakland Tribune April 17, 1968
I could go on and on, but I won’t.
Tours
There have been walking tours of the “Uptown District” since the early 1980s.
Map of Uptown Walking Tour circa 1982
Walking Tour 1982
I like that the “old” name was used and not changed to something awful like the following:
“NOBE” is possibly the baldest and most obnoxious attempt to rename part of Oakland. Devised by realtors, the name is an acronym referring to North Oakland-Berkeley-Emeryville.”
East Bay Express
“Baja Dimond” This is a ridiculous name that some realtors have tried foisting on the part of the Fruitvale just below the Interstate 580 freeway across from the actual Dimond neighborhood. It’s the Fruitvale, not the Dimond.
East Bay Express
Just remember that Uptown is a part of Oakland’s History.
