Pomona Fox Theater

The Fox Theater Pomona is a fully restored Art Deco movie palace from Hollywood's golden age in Pomona, Los Angeles County, California. Today the Fox Theater Pomona is a state-of-the-art venue for concerts, cinema, performances, and parties. It is the flagship attraction of the Pomona Arts Colony, a vibrant neighborhood of galleries, nightclubs, lofts, and restaurants.[1]

Pomona Fox Theater
Pomona Fox Theater
Location102--144 3rd St
Pomona, California
AreaLos Angeles
ArchitectC.A. Balch
NRHP reference No.82002201
Added to NRHPFebruary 19, 1982

History

Operated as a first-run theater for many years, it went into decline along with other large, single screen theaters in the early 1970s as a result of the increasing popularity of multiplex theaters. It survived for a few years showing Spanish language movies, then closed in 1977. It was reopened in 1998 and used as a venue for live music events and raves, but the city withdrew the operation's permit after several violent incidents took place. The theater's interior was damaged during this period.

Also at that time in 1999 The Rocky Horror Picture Show was shown at the theater for a brief period of time.

Partly as a result of citizen activism, the city bought the building. In 2002 the non-profit Pomona Fox Corporation was founded to explore means of preserving and reusing the theater, but they were not able to secure enough funding for their restoration efforts. The building was then sold to its current owners, the Tessier family (who are also responsible for the creation of the Pomona Arts Colony concept and re-developers of many local buildings of historical importance) and their family-owned Gerald Investments, on February 7, 2007, who spent millions restoring the building to make it a beautifully revamped venue for the arts, music and film. After two years of restoration, it reopened on May 21, 2009 with a capacity for roughly 2,000 attendees, featuring Gogol Bordello performing and has since hosted many nationally touring music acts, several opera and dance productions, and other cultural events. It was ranked #23 in LA Weekly's top 50 Venues in LA.[2]

Location

301 S. Garey Ave.
Pomona, California

References

  1. Barragan, James (November 9, 2014)The Pomona Fox Theater opened its doors on April 24, 1931 at a cost of $300,000. The Pomona Fox was designed by Balch and Standberry of Los Angeles "Nightlife is reenergizing Pomona -- and creating some new problems" Los Angeles Times
  2. Rodriguez, Monica (February 7, 2007). "New owners take the Fox stage". Daily Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-02-08.

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