AgdaPkt 2015-07-27 Joint SA and PFA

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o 8.A. - Page 204 ?nt, Redwood City 21 1 SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ANALYSIS The attached National Register Nomination and 1994 DPR523 series recording forms prepared by Kent Seavey and Charles Jany, respectively, present technical descriptions of the Fox Theater. These evaluations focus almost entirely on the 1928 -built front facades of the historic resources, along with some basic information about the front -lobby renovations in 1950. In late 2009 and early 2010, new DPR523 forms were prepared by Richard Brandi specifically evaluating the significance of the 1950 remodeling project at the Fox Theater and evaluating the significance of the associated corner buildings. None of these documentation forms directly address the status of the one -story rear dressing -room wing of the Fox Theater, although it is mentioned in an informal part of the description. Although not previously evaluated as a feature, the rear wing does provide some historical insight into the past of the theater; therefore, it is critical to the analysis of this project to determine how the dressing -room wing fits into the overall theater significance; specifically, whether the wing is, as a whole, a character - defining feature of the designated historic resource. Physical and historic evidence supports the understanding that the dressing -room wing was built in 1928 as a part of the original theater. The National Register Nomination reports that: "The design program called for a combination house with facilities for both live performance and moving pictures. This required a large stage and loft area as well as dressing rooms at the end of the 1,500 seat main auditorium..." The rough board - form - concrete texture matches the exterior of the theater wing. Also reported in the NR nomination "[In the front lobby], the original 1928 hanging -bowl light fixture is still in place "; the fixtures inside the green -room lounge area are a simplified, matching version of these identified lobby light fixtures. The interior door trim is a traditional painted -wood form indicative of the earlier parts of the twentieth century, rather than a streamlined design (e.g., commensurate with the "Skouras- style" remodeling). The interior doors are heavy one -panel doors, also hinting of original, 1920s -era construction. Although original to the historic theater, and a supporting accompaniment to the original use, the dressing -room wing is not automatically considered a character - defining element of the listed resource. Both the National Register nomination and the subsequent DPR523 forms focus on the Gothic Revival and Skouras -style designs of the public spaces of the Fox Theater, including the front fagade, the entrance and lobby areas, as well as the main theater seating area. This rear element receives little attention in these publicly adopted documents because it does not embody the artistic merit found in the remainder of the building. The Fox Theater was listed on the National Register explicitly for its significant design. According to the nomination, "The New Sequoia (Fox) Theater Building in Redwood City derives its significance under criterion C as an example of Late Gothic Revival design in a commercial building in Redwood City during the late 1920s..." Although the National Register Nomination, and the more recent DPR form, do not specifically highlight the associations with historical use or personages associated with the building (i.e., Criteria A or B), the history of the use of the building adds some background for evaluating the character - defining portions of the architectural design. As reported by the current owners: ARCHIVES & ARCHITECTURE