Whining in San Francisco, it seems, is a long-standing tradition.
There once was a theatre, The Fox Theatre on Market Street. It was the largest theatre on the west coast, able to seat nearly 5,000 movie-goers.
In the early 1960's, it closed down when attendance dropped and Market Street ceased as a destination for movie goers. There was a bit of a movement to save the grand movie palace from the wrecking ball. The city also had the chance to purchase the building for a very reasonable price of $1.1 Million dollars, with the hope that it be used as a concert hall. A ballot measure appeared and the chance to save this over-the-top architectural morsel was voted down by residents. It was quickly torn down and the minute it was gone, people began crying and whining about this "beloved" structure not being saved.
It was replaced with the bland, stale, AND perennially vacant Fox Plaza.
Wow! I don't remember ever seeing pix of the inside of the old Fox. I'd mention to my mother that I'd go see a movie at the Castro theater, with its organ and "isn't it terrific to have such a theater in SF." And she'd reply, "Oh, that was just another neighborhood theater. The FOX, now THAT was a grand place!" Now I understand.
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take a look at the link, there are way more impressive photos.
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