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.
This is the first in a series of posts on Oakland Schools.
I hope to show Then and Now images of most of the schools and a bit of the history of each school I show. Some photos are in the form of drawings, postcards, or from the pages of history books.
Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.
Updated September 20, 2020
Castlemont High School
In 1863, Frank Silva purchased 73 acres of land for a farm. Castlemont High now stands on his land.
Oakland Tribune Oct 19, 1965
Castlemont High School is in Oakland, California, United States, formerly known as East Oakland High School. The Castlemont name was selected by a vote of the students. Castlemont High School was founded in 1929 in a medieval-style building. The school is located at 8601 MacArthur Boulevard.
On August 12, 1929, East Oakland High School opened at the cost of $670,000. Still, the name was short-lived; by a vote of the students and faculty in 1930, the name Castlemont was officially brought to prominence before being nationally designated the most beautiful school structure in the country.
Oakland Tribune July 7, 1929
The building’s main entrance is accessed from Foothill Blvd down six steps to the reflection pool, then ascends six steps to the extended terrace and the four-entry solid redwood doors. The full length of Castlemont grounds adjacent to Foothill had been magnificently landscaped.
The building was replaced in 1961 as the old one was not earthquake-safe.
Castlemont is demolished
Castlemont is gone.
Castlemont Today
Google Maps
Google Maps
From 2004 to 2012, the large school housed three separate smaller schools called the Castlemont Community of Small Schools for eight years. The smaller schools were known by the names:
Castlemont Leadership Preparatory High (10-12)
Castlemont Business and Information Technology School (10-12) (CBITIS)
Dewey School was established as an elementary school at 38th Avenue and East 12th Street in 1899. It was a part of the Bray School District and the Fruitvale School District.
Oakland Tribune April 28, 1899
It was named after Admiral George Dewey, who was a hero in the Spanish-American War that was being fought at that time.
Dewey School circa 1916 Cheney Photo Advertising
Dewey School circa 1916 Cheney Photo Advertising
In 1964, Dewey became the first continuation high school in Oakland. Below is how Dewey looked in 1964. In 1913, an addition was added to the original school, which was still in use in 1964.
The Brooklyn School was a two-story building built in 1863-64 at the cost of $5,000.
Oakland Tribune Jan 20, 1887
Brooklyn was annexed into Oakland in 1872. After the annexation, the nine-year-old school was renamed Franklin Grammar and Primary School.
Oakland Tribune Dec 30, 1874
An addition to the school was added in 1879 at the cost of $3,217.
Oakland Tribune Dec 30, 1902
On December 02, 1902, the school was destroyed by fire.
Oakland Tribune Nov 30, 1904
Oakland Tribune April 18, 1906
The new school building was almost complete when the SF earthquake of 1906 struck. The brick and steelwork were done, and the building was ready for the roof. When the school was finally done, the total cost was $204,343,45.
Franklin Grammar School – Cheney Photo Advertising circa 1912
In 1923, an oblong-shaped assembly hall was built at the rear of the school on 10th Ave and E16th. The cost is $40,000.
Oakland Tribune Nov 7, 1926
In 1943, the school’s address was 1530 Ninth Avenue.
In 1953, the 1906 brick building was declared unsafe. In 1955, it was demolished to make way for a new building. The new school was a principal part of the Clinton Park Urban Renewal Project. The school opened in Sept 1956 and was dedicated in Jan of 1957. The new school cost $467,000.
In 1956, a man, while remodeling his store, found an old report card from 1875.
Frick was built on the Boulevard between Baker and Bay View (now Foothill and 62nd). The school takes its name from W.P. Frick, who donated the lot the school is to be built on. It was then part of the Lockwood District. The school was dedicated on March 17, 1909.
Oakland Tribune Sept 20, 1908
The first school was kindergarten through the seventh grade. The building had eight rooms. With the rapid growth of the area around Frick School, it was decided to make Frick School a junior high in 1923.
Frick Grammar School circa 1915 – Cheney Photo Advertising
New School
Oakland Tribune May 30, 1926
In 1927 a new school was built on adjoining land and was called Frick Jr. High School. The style of the new building is Spanish and Moorish architecture.
Oakland Tribune June 05, 1927
Another New School
In 1953, it was determined that the 1927 building was an earthquake risk. In 1957, the was broken for a new school fronting Brann Street. The old building was razed during the summer of 1960. The present school has been in use since 1960-61.
Horace Mann was built in about 1910-1912. The school is located at 5222 Ygnacio Avenue. It was known as Melrose Heights School first.
Horace Mann Grammar School
Groundbreaking for the new Horace Mann school after it was determined to be not earthquake-safe was in 1959. The new school was formally dedicated in 1961.
Sequoia Elementary School is located on Lincoln Avenue at Scenic Avenue. It was built in 1910. Ida M. Hammond was the first principal. The building below is facing Scenic Avenue. The address of the school is 3730 Lincoln Avenue.
Original Sequoia School Lincoln Avenue and Scenic Street
Cheney Photo Advertising Company circa 1910
In 1926, a new school building was built adjoining the original. The new building will have 13 to 14 rooms and an auditorium. It will face Lincoln Avenue, as seen below.
The original building is razed to make room for a new $235,880 addition. The addition added seven classrooms and a cafeteria.
