Today's photos come from reader
Dave Mason and show the demolition of
Anaheim's
Fox Theater "around 1979." It stood on the north side of W. Lincoln Ave., near Lemon Street, in the area that was
Downtown Anaheim before the bulldozers arrived. The theater was opened in 1920 as part of the
West Coast Theatres chain, and included a backstage area and dressing rooms for vaudeville shows. It initially operated as the
California Theatre but soon became the Fox Theater.
A 1978
L.A. Times article about Downtown Anaheim began, "A move to get 24 downtown buildings listed in the
National Register of Historical (sic)
Places is politically motivated and aimed at hobbling downtown renewal, the
Community Redevelopment Commission said... Chairman
James Morris said the move to get the buildings listed for historical recognition is contrived solely to jeopardize or halt redevelopment.
Those 24 sites included
Martinet Hardware, the
SQR Store, the
Rosemarie Apartments, the
California Building, the
Marietta Court Apartments, the
Fox Theater block,
Zion Lutheran Church, the
Kraemer Garage, the
Carnegie Library, the
Pickwick Hotel, the
Masonic Temple, the
Angelina Kraemer Hotel,
City Hall, the
Samuel Kraemer Building, the
German Methodist Church, the
Church of His Holy Presence,
First Presbyterian Church, the
Ferdinand Baxhaus House, the
Richard Melrose House, the
Union Pacific Depot, and
Pearson Park. Essentially, it was the heart of historic Downtown Anaheim.
In the article, I'm particularly amused (in a "black humor" sort of way) by Morris' indignation that anyone would try to stand in the way of ripping out the heart of their town in order to replace it with soon-to-be-vacant office buildings and a Von's shopping center. It's like a tiger complaining that a mother is trying to prevent a child from becoming a snack. The impertinence!
I only wish that
Diann Marsh and her band of preservationists had prevailed. In fact, is there
anyone today who DOESN'T wish that Downtown Anaheim had been saved? Which would you prefer: A historic downtown like
Orange, or the mess that stands on the site of old Downtown Anaheim today?
Luckily, at least a few token bits of Downtown were saved, including the Carnegie Library (now part of the "
Muzeo") and the Kraemer Building. Also, the community's anger over the destruction lead to a movement that lashed out against the bureaucrats with PAC money and lawyers and succeeded in saving some of the city's historic neighborhoods. I know many people who live in those neighborhoods today, and the area is both unique and charming. Unfortunately, so much is already gone forever.
Let Downtown Anaheim's fate be a lesson to other communities that see wholesale destruction of their history as the path to glory. It isn't. You end up trading your soul for a strip mall and your individuality for a Jiffy Lube. And future generations will blame you for ripping their inheritance away from them.
Hopefully, the death of the redevelopment agencies will prevent this
from happening again, but I presume it will only be a matter of time
before the same old scam artists find a new scam.
Read PART II of this article here.
28 comments:
Excellent post and very powerful photos. It saddens me greatly.
I never saw downtown Anaheim before its destruction but studying old photos and aerial shots presents an amazing contrast between what was and what is. Standing in the middle of the Vons parking lot, one would never imagine that they are right in the middle of what once was a very quaint and very cool historic business district. The Kraemer building now stands as a lonely monument to the past in the middle of what is essentially a boring office park.
A powerful presentation!
Those photos hurt. Ouch. The lack of taste in removing those historic buildings is appalling.
My Grandmother worked at SQR, and I first saw Bambe at the Fox. I remember walking from our house to the downtown area with my Mother to do her shopping. Miss it.
I don't plan on being anoymous My name is Diann Marsh and I LIVED THAT time--right in the middle of it! I was not an evil person, but an artist, wife, and mother of seven children. We lived north of redevopment, but I fell in love with the buildings downtown. Andy Deneau and I went to Norman Priest, Redevelopment Director and asked him how the buildings could be saved. He said that "if they were listed on the National Register of Historic Places, we would save them. We looked at each other and thought, We can do that."
And we did. We managed to get it through the State Historic Board, but when it went to Washington, Anaheim officials went to block it.
Bill Thom, Anaheim mayor said in a newspaper that they did not care how they got the area demolished, they wanted it destroyed. He was assisted by Richard O'Neill Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, who went to Jerry Brown.
It was so sad to see the destruction. In the basement of the history room are hundreds of slides showing the destruction.
Thanks so much for this post, Chris. Not a day goes by that we don't lament the destruction of our Downtown. It's the city's greatest tragedy, and certainly one that we have never fully recovered from (in over 30 years!). You just have to shake your head when reading over the list of structures that were to have been destroyed, and thank our lucky stars that the Kraemer Building and Carnegie Library are still here, and treasured.
Diann Marsh, thank you so much for your comment. You and Andy Deneau are legends, and Anaheim would have lost EVERYTHING if it weren't for your efforts. For that we cannot thank you enough.
Chris,
Excellent work on the backstory behind the images. The hometown of our youth is gone forever... but thankfully there are those who value those memories and help to share them with a new generation.
With gratitude,
Dave Mason
I always try to tell my children about downtown Anaheim. My mother bought my girl scout uniform at the SQR store. I watched Dumbo at the Fox theater. It has always saddened me that Anaheim doesn't have their historic downtown and it's hard to explain to my children what it looked like back then. Great article.
I too miss the old downtown Anaheim. It was a great place to grow up and be a part of. Its a shame that people back then really didn't under stand what they were doing to the future. I remember all the stores participating in Halloween and dressing up themselves as well as their stores. It was so much fun!! We should all take a lesson. Just because something is old doesn't necessaily mean it should be destroyed and replaced. I loved those old buildings they had so much character. Thanks for your posts and pictures. Brought back lots of fun memories of my childhool.
Yes, the demise of downtown Anaheim was a travesty. I'm 46 now, and remember roaming downtown like it was yesterday. Good times. My father was especially mad that this had happened. He grew up in downtown and eventually started a family there after returning from the service. After moving away years ago, I lived in a small town called Galion in Ohio where my mother-in-law lives and helped renovate their local theater. It reminded me of yesteryear every time I went downtown. Some things cannot be replaced. The new is not always better.
Every time I drive down Lincoln I get a depressed feeling because downtown Anaheim is gone. If my mother is with us (she is now 90) she always says, "This used to be such a nice place. Now it is all gone." I remember going shopping there as a kid with my mom. We went to the SQR, Penney's and the variety stroe (was it Kresses?). When I got older and could drive my mom ofter sent me on errands to get take-out Chinese food from the Chines restaurant near the east end . What was the name of that place? I did go to the FOX Anaheim and can recall that set of seats toward the rear of the theater. It was a sort of raised area and it may have had those seats called "lodges". Anaheim lost it's character when they destroyed that historic downtown area. A previous posting inferred that Jerry brown may have had a hand in the ultimate destruction of these buildings by helping to block the naming of these buildings as historic monuments/buildings. Now he is trying to destroy the whole state.
So sad to see that the town I grew up in is virtually gone! I remember painting on the store windows for the Halloween contest, selling Girl Scout cookies door to door,( pulling my wagon behind me in East Anaheim)and walking home from Fremont Jr. high. The SQR store was so special! I now live near Bellingham, WA and all the old buildings there remind me of Anaheim as it once was....
A wonderful post. I grew up nearby (on Resh Street...by Anaheim High) and distinctly remember going to the Fox Theater and the old downtown. It was a crime that the politicians were just narrow-minded developers. The area now is a wasteland. Shame on the city leaders that pushed for this. Shame shame shame...
As with many of your other commenters, I so fondly recall Downtown Anaheim circa 1955. Mom bought our new school clothes at SQR, we purchased our baseball gloves at Wissers Sporting Goods, Mom got her dresses at Mode O'Day. Our Folks could drop us off at the Fox Theater for ALL DAY at the Saturday Kid's Matinee and not worry about us. We marched in the Halloween Parade. All gone. Not just downtown, but Grampa's whole street of sweet little 30's bungaloes on Olive Street, and so many others. Shame on those (long gone) city officials.
I find it very sad to see how that area became blighted today. It was not like that back in the 60s and early 70s. Yes it could have been revamped like downtown Orange. But no, they had to destroy it and now it looks like downtown Tijuana, no lie. I would never do any business there. And I am not a racist, I am of latin decent but we sure were never brought up to live the life of anything but American pride. I find downtown Anaheim a disgusting barrio. Had anyone ever come to Anaheim before the early 70s, they would never believe it was the same place. Gone is the beauty that once existed, and yes, once upon a time, it was a safe place to live, walk and shop. What a shame!
I too grew up in Anaheim. I remember the SQR, Fox Theatre, Baton Music, Weisers Sporting Goods, etc. I visit Anaheim once or twice a year to go down the street where I grew up and then take a drive down Lincoln and check out Anaheim High School. It's sad to see the "improvements" made by big government.
I lived on N. Emily Street in the 1970's....much was starting to be torn down then. I miss " Old Down Town Anaheim ". They filmed a movie in that area in the 1980's...cannot remember the name of it though. I haven't been back there in years ...it would just not be the same .
Thank-you for this article. The amazing irony is that part of Disney's success was a depiction of "Mainstreet USA", while the real thing just outside the park wasn't seen as worth anything. If anyone ever took the time to look into who profited the most from the destruction of Downtown Anaheim, they will follow a clear trail to the top local politicians of the time. They cleaned up, and we lost our heritage.
Although today I preserve and restore buildings (mostly theatres), at the time, Anaheim had pictures of an elaborate Disney themed "mall" that was to be built. It had double the number of shops; as well as (I believe) a couple of amusement rides. It was to be really fancy. As the buildings came down, I grabbed a couple of souvenirs and dropped them off at the museum (SQR trim and a chandelier from the former movie theatre that the jewelry store used the lobby as their store. Once the buildings were down, suddenly the city came up with plans for the "dull" looking strip shopping center they built As a child I rode my donkey "Jack" in the Halloween parade. I went to the Fox. My mother worked at SQR, Kress, Owl Rexall Drug and another dime store; as well as the grill next to the Fox. At the Fox, Wolfman Jack MC's a show there one time and I saw him (didn't meet him). In 1969 I worked opposite his XERB radio show at KTBT. I was LA area's worst announcer but was beating him in ratings (Acid Rock music). He'd call me and ask me to leave the phone off the hook (he actually lived on the East Coast and couldn't otherwise hear me). We talked for hours, but again, we never met. I ate at the restaurant's last day and still have one of their menu's. A meal was $1.75 average. Mom always bought my shoes at the SQR. She worked in the basement's yardage dept. I miss downtown; but as much, I miss Harmony Park Ballroom, where in 1957, Cliffie Stone had a weekly TV show; and for 8 weeks I got to sing for Cliffie and get to know Molly Bee, Speedy West and be on stage with then teen idol Tommy Sands. Tennessee Earnie Ford was there once. I use the dressing room that it's said the the song Louie Louie was written in. I wish I could have saved Harmony Park; as it was my first work with the big name stars.
Its a damn shame i spent meany summer days going there and the the garden. Was stand out side the garden 1959 when girl,s came up and had there radio on about Buddy, big bopper and richie.I loved downtown i do miss it . i have long since moved (idaho) went to Ben franklin, freemont and anaheim high.good times. gota go surfs up.Bill
Bless you, Diann! I grew up in Anaheim and was there to celebrate the centennial. Historical plaques were placed on the wonderful old buildings. I admired the SQR and the Fox theatre. As a kid I knew the value of these buildings. I thought they would be there forever, like in Orange and Fullerton. They were lauded at all the centennial events. Alas, I was a kid, and I did not know how little our "leaders" valued our way of life, the wishes of the citizens of Anaheim, or common decency. There is no way we could afford to build the SQR or Fox theatre today! Imagine the cost. Yet someone thought it was a good idea to destroy our community. It was more than the buildings. The kids painted the winodes of the downtown business, There were parades and pancake breakfasts in the park. We came together as a community to share and celebrate life. Greed ripped that away. I applaud you,Diann, for what you tried to do and for what you did accomplish. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And yes, I am still furious that the mayor and Jerry Brown destroyed my hometown. There were plenty of strip malls even then. Thank you for Saving the Carnegie Library. That building, too, is a part of my life. I live the building. You saved it. Thank you.
I grew up in Anaheim walked from my home at Brookhurst and LaPalma to the downtown in the summers in the 50's. Sporting goods store music lessons and the Fox theater. It was Americana at it's best. When I came back from the service in the 60's it was still home town USA. And then the politicians thinking that progress trumped an American way of life. Destroyed what was a wonderful memory for so many of us. Orange kept their downtown and they thrived. Fullerton kept their downtown and it grew the economy by leaps and bounds. Both remain cultural centers you want to go to. DOWNTOWN ANAHEIM doesn't exist what is left is an eye sore and full of blight. They destroyed what could have been. Brea seems to be the only old town that has turn a new leaf and that is still to be seen if it is for the betterment.
Redevelopment is not always the best for a city when it steps on the legacy and destroys history.
Hi Chris.
I don't want to be nameless, as well. My name is Edward Petritz.
Thanks to you and all the commentators for bringing this all roaring back in my memories. Esp. this close to Halloween. As a Boy Scout, I marched in the Halloween Parades, sometimes with Cal Worthington and his dog, Spot, as the MC's. Spending the summers walking down Lincoln to get to the Plunge at Pearson Park. Orange fights in the small groves. Getting oranges off the trucks at the Atchison St. Orange Juice cannery. Going to the Fox. Buying cool stuff and uniform items at the Army-Navy store. Eating Pup-N-Taco, not to mention, trying to get into the Pussycat Theater. LOL
SCREW the new Center St. Long Live old Lincoln Ave. The "Real" Downtown Anaheim.
Hi. Yep, not a safe place at all. My Marine Corps neighbor and I grabbed our weapons and defended Bush Street from the BST gang, there at the end.
I too saw Bambi at the fox theater! It was a beautiful place that I got to go to every time our folks thought the Sat matinee was ok! I walked from South Citron street. I was so sad at how much is gone from that "Leave it to Beaver" era!!
Thanks for trying. It's sad to see any bldg go, especially when those had so much character! The Fox was very ornate, the library was so"open"and inviting with all it's windows. A place we lived to go as kids! I grew up there from 1950 to 1964, going first to Benjamin Franklin the Fremont Jr high. My brother graduated from Anaheim High's last (over 1,000 students) large class in 1962 I believe at the la Palma stadium. Does any one remember a little granny lady that worked as a seamstress just west of the SQR store! Her name was Mrs Athie sp. All my brownie uniforms and school clothes were bought at the SQR store. My dad started his lock shop first on Lincoln Street, then moved to harbor street. He personally know Walt Disney and Walter Knott. We were some of the kids that got to be the first to cross the bridge into Fantasyland when Disneyland opened! What wonderful memories!
Robin Loftus comments:
I was 9 years-old the first time I walked by myself from our house on Orange Avenue to the Fox downtown Anaheim to see my favorite sciofi movie THE TIME MACHINE (1960). Being on my own was a first-time adventure that I will never forget
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