Reestablishing the movie industry, the Fox offered the opportunity to stray from the silent films and helped introduce the "talkies" by having a live stage show.

During the next seven years the theater opened sporadically for movies and special events, but never found a market that could support the required overhead and maintenance.

[7] In 1973 the theater building was twice the victim of arson after the owner refused to hire a quota of Black Panthers and pay for their "protection".

[7] With the support of then-Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson the building was designated an Oakland City Landmark in 1978 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places the following year.

In 1999 a group of concerned citizens formed the Friends of The Oakland Fox and some badly needed restoration work began.

Restoring and reopening the theater in a shared use plan with the school was quickly championed by local developer Phil Tagami.

King, Paul Simon, Korn, Kylie Minogue, the Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Twenty One Pilots, Charli XCX, Marina and the Diamonds, King Crimson, Metallica, Marilyn Manson, Primus, Alice in Chains, Atoms For Peace, Black Star, Lorde, Animal Collective, X Japan, the Decemberists, and Van Morrison since 2009.

[13] In 2011 Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe opened their second location in the building: it is co-owned by Green Day's Mike Dirnt.

[14] With terra cotta, rich colors, intricate gold accents, and distinctive dome, the theater's design redefined architecture in the 1920s.