Despite being one of Oakland’s most iconic buildings, the history of the Fox Theater is filled with unsolved mysteries. In preparation for his ongoing tours of the nearly century-old structure, architectural historian J.M. Marriner has been digging into the archives and looking for answers. This episode features our conversation on everything from arson and art theft to mushrooms growing in the balcony carpet. 

Listen now via Apple, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news.

If you want to see more photos related to this episode, check out my SF Gate article: “One of Oakland most recognizable landmarks is also its most mysterious.” You can contact J.M. Marriner to get a copy of his booklet about the history of the theater and I also highly recommend checking out one of his tours. Subscribe to the Oakland Heritage Alliance email list to find out about upcoming dates.

Special thanks to the sponsor of this episode: For 112 years, Children’s Hospital in Oakland has been a foundational part of keeping our local communities healthy and happy. UCSF is proud to celebrate its award-winning care at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in Oakland, throughout the East Bay, and around the Bay Area. Thank you to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in Oakland for being a proud sponsor of East Bay Yesterday.

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