Monday, March 22, 2010

Fairfax Avenue church

In the 30s and 40s many Oakland neighborhoods had their own small movie theater.  Over time, the movie distribution business changed and big multiplexes became the way to go.  There are only a couple of small movie houses left in Oakland.  So what happens to good, unused buildings?  They turn into grocery stores, other retail shops, and churches.  This one is located in East Oakland on Foothill Blvd. and Fairfax Avenue.  You can see where the light bulbs used to be in this marquee.  East Oakland has many storefront churches.  In fact, this block alone has three.
Posted by Oakland Daily Photo at 1:14 PM
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4 comments:

  1. Louis la VacheMarch 22, 2010 at 6:46 PM

    «Louis« has seen and admired this old theater.

    The Oaks on the Berkeley end of Solano Avenue has closed.

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  2. Bob CroweMarch 22, 2010 at 7:09 PM

    Same here. Suburban sprawl and its multiplexes killed off neighborhood movie theaters in the city. But why not use it as a church? It has an auditorium ready to go.

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  3. TashMarch 22, 2010 at 9:25 PM

    I'm so glad they are being perserved. In Northeast LA, where I lived in Jr & High School years in the early 70's, the old Highland Park theatre is still showing movies. I remember the Saturday morning double features...esp. the vampire movies. The theatre in Westchester by LAX has been converted to a medical building. I'll have to stop by to peak inside one of these days.

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  4. PetrusMarch 23, 2010 at 1:24 AM

    Yes it's amazing what they can turn old cinemas and churches into - the latest craze is turning them into apartment blocks ..

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