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Good news and bad news the 'Fox Paramount Theatre' a former Fox West Coast Theatre in downtown Oakland is again showing 35mm films on select Friday nights this July 2026. The show starts at 6:30 PM with 'Kevin King' on the newly refurbished Wurlitzer pipe organ along with pre movie entertainment a 35mm cartoon plus trailers shown on a 1.33 screen. They advertised a 35mm newsreel but last Friday July 3 2026 none were shown. Doors open at 6PM.
A added attraction is the game show on the lift stage 'Deco O Win' along with the pipe organ. The Paramount is still in great condition except the new way to bright LED lights that are now under the balcony deco light fixtures and up in the upper ceiling grill. When you come into the auditorium before the stage or movie event It was like going into a store not a classic deco movie theatre. Not too long ago before someone decided to up grade (I call It a downgrade) the ceiling lights to new bright white LED's they took out all the nice effect blue and multi color lights that stayed on very dim during stage events. To make matters worse when they showed the pre show shorts on the screen they must have dimmed the house lights 10%. I understand there are security and safety issues these days but please they need to dim them more. The cartoon and trailers are part of the screen show and don't need white light leaking onto the screen. The Paramount is not a junky multiplex.
When the 35mm 'Purple Rain' Prince film was shown on the 1.85 screen they finally turned off all the bright white LED lights but kept some white flood lights on dim above the screen stage on the curtain valance just above the screen. While the top curtain looks nice we don't need to see It all during the film. Some of the white light leaked onto the screen in some parts of the movie. Many of my movie friends say It distracted their eye site with the image on the screen. Also a blue light from left side of the backstage leaked onto the Paramount stage floor under the giant screen. The projected image surrounding the screen needs to be total dark black.
The 35mm 'Purple Rain' print was in great shape but the 'Paramount' does not have any Dolby Stereo Sound speakers for films . Many years ago they took down the old 4 ch mag stereo surround box RCA speakers and wires from all the side walls. I was told they hook up two big speakers behind the screen for movie sound now. While many old movies they do show are 1.33 mono sound they do get some scope/flat 35mm prints in 'Dolby Digital 'stereo sound on movie nights. With 'Dolby Labs' being located in the SF Bay Area I'd like to see the 'Paramount Theatre' get some sort of a stereo system put in by the Dolby gang in San Francisco as a donation or sponsorship as the Paramount is owned by the City Of Oakland not for profit. Maybe they have some old working amps ,speakers or surround equipment. The surround sound can be placed hidden up in the back top ceiling coves and not wreck the nice deco walls. Stereo split surround in the huge Paramount would sound great.
The projectionist on duty last Friday did all the curtain cues perfect on the giant wide red lit curtains. He projected the 35mm pre show shorts film image on the curtains first then opened them. Same with the feature film and credit timing, curtain close was on target Thanks !
I don't know if he pressed a button from the booth or was It done by a union stage hand backstage. So many young projection types If they have curtains to play with just open them on a blank white screen then start the movie either DCP or 35mm film.
I worked at both the downtown Paramount and Fox Oakland Theatres in the mid 1960's while in high school under Mr Robert Apple, he taught me showmanship , color lights ,curtains and presentation I saw my first CinemaScope movie at the Paramount in 1953 with the wonder of 4ch mag stereo surround sound. Now It seems many years later the movie sound at the classic Paramount has gone back words with no stereo at all these days. The Paramount has not shown these new movie nights in many years but last Friday they had over 1,000 $$$ moviegoers in the audience. They sell booze in the lobby bars.
I talked on the phone to the semi new general manager 'Jason' of the Paramount about the lighting issues. He was kind and listened to my suggestions. Jason told me security and safety are his number one priority concerns for the Paramount audience these days not color light bulbs. At least he can dim the white bulbs when people come in. All the deco lights go out during the movie or stage show so the whole place in dark except for the valance distracting above screen lights. I don't see why they can't keep the color bulbs lit on low during a performance this would give a little extra safety glow in the aisles. Bring your sunglasses If you go downstairs on the steps to the restroom lobby with the over bright white LED bulbs put in on the deco lamps. The up stair lobby halls all seem to have this Yellow filter on all the deco lights.
See my enclosed photos from Friday night movie night at the Paramount with the bright lights and stage game show & organ. If you live in the SF Bay Area check out this special July Summer 2026 movie night at Oakland's classic Paramount Theatre . If all goes well in July hope they will do this event some at other times of the year. Just take BART to the front door get off at the 19th/Broadway exit. Enjoy the show and hope they bring back some color effect lights soon. COMPLAIN AND MAYBE THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
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Good news and bad news the 'Fox Paramount Theatre' a former Fox West Coast Theatre in downtown Oakland is again showing 35mm films on select Friday nights this July 2026. The show starts at 6:30 PM with 'Kevin King' on the newly refurbished Wurlitzer pipe organ along with pre movie entertainment a 35mm cartoon plus trailers shown on a 1.33 screen. They advertised a 35mm newsreel but last Friday July 3 2026 none were shown. Doors open at 6PM.
A added attraction is the game show on the lift stage 'Deco O Win' along with the pipe organ. The Paramount is still in great condition except the new way to bright LED lights that are now under the balcony deco light fixtures and up in the upper ceiling grill. When you come into the auditorium before the stage or movie event It was like going into a store not a classic deco movie theatre. Not too long ago before someone decided to up grade (I call It a downgrade) the ceiling lights to new bright white LED's they took out all the nice effect blue and multi color lights that stayed on very dim during stage events. To make matters worse when they showed the pre show shorts on the screen they must have dimmed the house lights 10%. I understand there are security and safety issues these days but please they need to dim them more. The cartoon and trailers are part of the screen show and don't need white light leaking onto the screen. The Paramount is not a junky multiplex.
When the 35mm 'Purple Rain' Prince film was shown on the 1.85 screen they finally turned off all the bright white LED lights but kept some white flood lights on dim above the screen stage on the curtain valance just above the screen. While the top curtain looks nice we don't need to see It all during the film. Some of the white light leaked onto the screen in some parts of the movie. Many of my movie friends say It distracted their eye site with the image on the screen. Also a blue light from left side of the backstage leaked onto the Paramount stage floor under the giant screen. The projected image surrounding the screen needs to be total dark black.
The 35mm 'Purple Rain' print was in great shape but the 'Paramount' does not have any Dolby Stereo Sound speakers for films . Many years ago they took down the old 4 ch mag stereo surround box RCA speakers and wires from all the side walls. I was told they hook up two big speakers behind the screen for movie sound now. While many old movies they do show are 1.33 mono sound they do get some scope/flat 35mm prints in 'Dolby Digital 'stereo sound on movie nights. With 'Dolby Labs' being located in the SF Bay Area I'd like to see the 'Paramount Theatre' get some sort of a stereo system put in by the Dolby gang in San Francisco as a donation or sponsorship as the Paramount is owned by the City Of Oakland not for profit. Maybe they have some old working amps ,speakers or surround equipment. The surround sound can be placed hidden up in the back top ceiling coves and not wreck the nice deco walls. Stereo split surround in the huge Paramount would sound great.
The projectionist on duty last Friday did all the curtain cues perfect on the giant wide red lit curtains. He projected the 35mm pre show shorts film image on the curtains first then opened them. Same with the feature film and credit timing, curtain close was on target Thanks !
I don't know if he pressed a button from the booth or was It done by a union stage hand backstage. So many young projection types If they have curtains to play with just open them on a blank white screen then start the movie either DCP or 35mm film.
I worked at both the downtown Paramount and Fox Oakland Theatres in the mid 1960's while in high school under Mr Robert Apple, he taught me showmanship , color lights ,curtains and presentation I saw my first CinemaScope movie at the Paramount in 1953 with the wonder of 4ch mag stereo surround sound. Now It seems many years later the movie sound at the classic Paramount has gone back words with no stereo at all these days. The Paramount has not shown these new movie nights in many years but last Friday they had over 1,000 $$$ moviegoers in the audience. They sell booze in the lobby bars.
I talked on the phone to the semi new general manager 'Jason' of the Paramount about the lighting issues. He was kind and listened to my suggestions. Jason told me security and safety are his number one priority concerns for the Paramount audience these days not color light bulbs. At least he can dim the white bulbs when people come in. All the deco lights go out during the movie or stage show so the whole place in dark except for the valance distracting above screen lights. I don't see why they can't keep the color bulbs lit on low during a performance this would give a little extra safety glow in the aisles. Bring your sunglasses If you go downstairs on the steps to the restroom lobby with the over bright white LED bulbs put in on the deco lamps. The up stair lobby halls all seem to have this Yellow filter on all the deco lights.
See my enclosed photos from Friday night movie night at the Paramount with the bright lights and stage game show & organ. If you live in the SF Bay Area check out this special July Summer 2026 movie night at Oakland's classic Paramount Theatre . If all goes well in July hope they will do this event some at other times of the year. Just take BART to the front door get off at the 19th/Broadway exit. Enjoy the show and hope they bring back some color effect lights soon. COMPLAIN AND MAYBE THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
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