‘Beautiful historical building’: Friends of the Fox celebrates 20 years since reopening

The Bob Hope Theatre is a Stockton gem.

The ornate landmark theater in downtown Stockton has a rich history. Generations of Stocktonians have walked through the doors of the theater for concerts, comedy shows and movie screenings.

On Sept. 22, the nonprofit organization Friends of the Fox will be celebrating 20 years since its reopening after the theater went through a restoration in 2002.

In January 2002, the theater was closed for the major renovation. The 2,000-plus seats needed repair and re-covering at a cost of $250 per seat, according to the book "Stockton's Crown Jewel The Bob Hope/Fox California," written by Friends of the Fox.

Marilyn Togninali, president of Friends of the Fox Theatre, told The Record that the Fox California Theatre reopened in September 2004 under a new name: the Bob Hope Theatre, in honor of Bob Hope, a friend of Alex Spanos.

Spanos was Stockton's self-made richest man , The Record reported in 2002.

The organization is celebrating its anniversary with a classic film screening of "Road to Morocco," on Sunday.

"It's wonderful that we've been able to do this for that long and to bring people to downtown Stockton and enjoy the theater," Togninali said about celebrating 20-year reopening anniversary.

She said the most recent renovations at the theater are the current "repainting the facade and the tower."

Saving a historic landmark from destruction

The Fox California Theatre was saved in large part by the efforts of the Friends of the Fox.

The organization began in December 1995. However, Togninali said that Friends of the Fox was officially filed with the IRS until December 1996.

"It was started all those years ago to save the Fox from being a parking lot. The city had decided that it was old and wasn't needed anymore, and they needed a parking lot," Togninali said. "A group of individuals got together and started raising funds and convinced the city to renovate it instead of destroy it."

Togninali's grandfather immigrated from Italy to Stockton in the early 1900s and her family has been in city ever since.

She started with Friend of the Fox helping with the membership committee, and she later became the membership chair before becoming president.

Togninali said that even though she did not grow up going to the movies or going to the Fox, her first job was at the California building, next to the Fox.

"My family did not do movies or anything like that. We were on the farm and we worked, and that was about it," Togninali said. "I just always loved history and loved the Fox, and having worked next to it for many years, looking down on it from my ninth-floor office. It's always been very special to me."

The theater is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

"It features a marble mosaic floor that encompasses a 1,200 square foot space in the center of the lobby. This marble was imported from Italy and the mosaic was designed by a Canadian artist," the Visit Stockton website states.

The Friends of the Fox book stated under a photo caption that the theater once had a "fountain filled with fish."

"They say it was just gorgeous," Togninali added.

"The Fox was built in 1930, and it was enjoyed for so many years and it just needs to continue," Togninali said. "We need to go back to our history and what made downtown Stockton what it is."

Togninali recommends anyone attending their film screening on Sunday to purchase tickets at the door without fees. They accept cards too.

"If you buy them at the door, there's no fees. It's $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under," she said.

The Friends of the Fox have a classic film screening every month through the rest of the year.

• Sunday, Oct. 13, "Nightmare Before Christmas"
• Sunday, Nov. 10, "PT 109"
• Sunday, Dec. 15, "Home Alone"

Anyone interested in becoming a member of Friends of the Fox can fill out a membership form that can be found on their website. Various membership levels are starting at $40, Togninali said.

"We're always looking for working board members that could help us further our mission," Togninali said. "We're always looking for new members and donations, as every other nonprofit is, but we're just trying to keep the classic movie series, alive."

The Friends of the Fox board meets in person once a month in the meeting room at the port of Stockton, she said.

"We try to bring people to downtown Stockton, to a classic movie monthly to let them have the experience of a theater with a large screen, and see the beauty of the theater," Togninali said. "Most people, they've never been there, and they are just in awe when they walk in the door."

For more information on Friends of the Fox visit foxfriends.org .

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ AngelaydetRocha . To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow .

This article originally appeared on The Record: ‘Beautiful historical building’: Friends of the Fox celebrates 20 years since reopening