Pomona Fox Theater

Here is a 1943 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2kowju

Here are several pictures I took of the Fox Pomona in January 2008:
http://www.achangeinscenery.com/foxpomona1.jpg
http://www.achangeinscenery.com/foxpomona2.jpg
http://www.achangeinscenery.com/foxpomona3.jpg
http://www.achangeinscenery.com/foxpomona4.jpg
http://www.achangeinscenery.com/foxpomona5.jpg
http://www.achangeinscenery.com/foxpomona6.jpg
http://www.achangeinscenery.com/foxpomona7.jpg

Is M007 still around? I’ve noticed that construction barriers have gone up on the sidewalks around the theater building. It’s great to finally see something happening! It would be nice if M007 could come back on line every now and then and give us Fox Theater fans an update… How about some construction progress photos…

M007 – This is WONDERFUL news! I have VIVID memories of growing up with the Pomona Fox Theater! Is this venture you speak of strictly a private business venture? Is the City completely out of the picture? You spoke of places in the building that nobody has ever seen…. I worked at the theater when I was a kid (see my submission of Oct. 7,2004…), and don’t think there were many areas of the building that I didn’t explore. Are there any progress tours planned? Any way to get in on the Grand Opening or at least be notified when it’s going to happen? Need someone to do construction progress photos? I’m hopefull that you’ll be communicating with all us Pomona Fox fans on a regular basis through this site…
Randeyeman

Hello Lost Memory I can Supply you with numerous PDF photos. Areas of the fox no body has ever seen or been to since I needed to look at every square inch of the building for construction purposes. It will be quite a task to restore but woth it in the end!
M007

Here is the skinny on the Fox Pomona Theater. I thought you would all be delighted to know that I work with the Compnay who has purchased the Fox from the City of Pomona in Feb, 07. The Fox Renovation work will start in about two weeks. It will be restored to its original grandgier or as close a possible. Obviously we would not have gone this far with out it being financially viable for us. There will be a restraunt where the el merindaro was and a bar where the bakery was it will have VIP roof top lounges and elevators. It will be ADA freindly and I am positive you will all love it when Iam finished with the Construction. It will take about or a little over a year to complete the renovation. It will have concert venues and movies, banquets, wedding receptions, Business meetings, and or social events can be accomodated.I can not go into to much detail or I would reck the grand opening when you all see it. But my role is that I will be personally running all of the construction activity in the feild for the construction company doing the work. So I felt after reading your blogs that I owed it to you, (Because you are all so pationate about its salvation) to let you know it is and will be starting soon. Hopefully you understand why I can not reveil my idenity or what the plan is just yet. I built a third of the California Adventure Land for Walt Disney Imagineering, and a $212,000,000.00 expansion of the Sea Tac International Airport for Clark Construction among just a few of my projects so I am sure you realize your in good hands. When I start come out and see me.

M007

What’s the deal with the POMONA FOX CORPORATION? I’ve tried to join this organization on two occasions, having paid for membership through PayPal. Never received as much as an acknowledgement, let alone any promised newsletters, updates or invitations to functions, etc. As a kid, I spent many an hour enjoying movies in this wonderful theater. During a recent visit to Pomona, I was overjoyed to see a messege on the theater’s marquee announcing, “Preview Tour Today Only, 4:00pm-8:00pm”. I waited around with a number of others wishing to tour the theater for nearly TWO HOURS and no one ever showed up to open the theater…

Very nice rundown on the national register information. However, the theater is now owned by the city of Pomona, although a sale is pending. More information as it develops

Unfortunately I haven’t monitored this forum for a while. I’m gratified to see so many comments.

As a member of the “preservationists” organization that was created by the city to oversee the restoration and operation of the city’s resource it has been a very frustrating situation. However, I still have a lot of hope that we can still save the theater and make it an economically viable asset to our downtown.

While the “preservationists” group asked for the theater, this is NOT at all unusual. The city of Los Angeles GAVE Grauman’s Egyptian to the American Cinematheque to great success. Other theaters, such as the Alex in Glendale, have cities that SUPPORT (through funding) the operation of the theater. In Pomona, we only wanted to gain control of the theater so that we could do the restoration and operate it. We EVEN offered to pay for the theater over a period of time (not “eventually” although not as “soon” as some would have liked—first payment to be deferred for 5 years).

As we move forward on this project, I promise to add information here.

Here’s an article in the May 11 Daily Bulletin about it:
View link
View link

Basically there are two “half baked” proposals: one too have the city essentially give away the thweater and turn it into a House of Blues type venue and the other is to give away the theater to the historical preservationists, who will pay back the city “eventually”. Neither one, unfortunately, is financially viable, so the theater will probably stay fallow for a few more years.

During a brief residence in Pomona in late 62 to June 63,I attended this great palace several times.What a glorious creation!The whole downtown mall was so nice.Dead as a door knob now.I’d visit a girl friend who was working a little at Buffums(top of the mall),I bought my Pomona High letterman’s jacket at a shop on the mall.It could have been Lincoln Road.How fricken'sad.

I am a member of a small independent theatre company looking to purchase an older movie theatre to convert into a live theatre. Is there a possibility of the theatre being sold at a reasonable price, and can it be converted to a live performing art center?