Pomona Fox Theater
114 W. Third Street,
Pomona,
CA
91766
114 W. Third Street,
Pomona,
CA
91766
16 people
favorited this theater
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The Fox Theater opened on the 24th April 1931. It was closed as a full time movie theater by Mann Theaters in 1976. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and was declared a city landmark in 1999.
I hope you can get the word out about the Fox, Though I don’t live in Pomona anymore, I was born there and grew up going to the “Fox”, the “UA” and the “State” Theaters in the 50’s and 60’s. Of course the Fox was the Crowning Jewel both inside and out. Even as a kid I knew it was special. I believe the manager of the Fox in the late 50’s and early 60’s was a Mister Rose. I also believe there were a few sneak previews there namely “Wizard of Oz” among others to get public reaction before they were released to the general public. Pomona has a great history but the simple things about the Pomona were the best like Cruising 2nd street after school, drinking “Green Rivers” at Thrifty’s, going to the Fair and going to shows at the Fox.
My very fist job was working at the Fox Theater in Pomona. I lied about my age in 1968 (I was 15 at the time…) to get the job. I was part of the cleanup crew that cleaned the theater after each showing. We’d do a quick cleanup after the daytime shows and a very thorough cleaning at closing time and on Sunday mornings. Between cleanings, I’d explore the many “secret' passageways throughout the theater, behind the stage and in the tower or hang out in the projection room. If the the manager was short handed, I got to work the snack counter or ticket booth. As a kid, I used to sometimes arrive an hour before showtime just to marvel at the architecture. The bathrooms were spectacular – marble floors, walls and stalls. There was "loby” to the restrooms that was like a huge living room with magnificent couches and chairs, end tables and ashtrays on ornate iron stands. I lived walking distance from the theater and at night we could see the rotating “FOX” sign on the top of the tower alternating between the red and blue sides of the sign. I really miss that theater and I sincerely hope that the City of Pomona will get it’s act together in restoring this gem to it’s original splender….
The Fox Pomona Theater was purchased by the City of Pomona’s redevelopment agency. There was a non-profit organization formed, The Pomona Fox Theater Corporation, which was charged with the rehabilitation/restoration of the theater and determining an appropriate use for the facility and to manage the facility. I am a member of that organization and serve on its City Liaison and Publicity committees. While the theater is under development, we have a temporary office address at 191 West Fourth Street, Pomona, CA 91766.
We are most interested in any historic facts or materials that anyone might have in relation to the theater.
also , if anyone has a direct contact with an owner or leasee of the theater please email me
I agree with Squie on the comment about ravers being provoked. I was in attendance at the event and so were several friends. We never saw what happened but heard about it . It wasn’t your average 18 year old at a rave out to have a good time . The people who acted out violently were not normal-rave attendees. It’s a shame that the theater can’t even be used for business as a venue for parties and concerts anymore. I have many special memories of that place and I know it was dear to the thousands of other people who ventured out there numerous weekends for a good time . I wish there was a way to take safer measures to prevent something like this from happening in the first place . It’s too bad that a few people who made a wrong decision had to ruin it for everybody. If anyone has a comment they would like to share with me email me at ;) thanks – Matt !
I don’t necessarily believe that it is greedy to have venues in theatres, but I would love to see the older theatres renovated and restored to their former glory because back in the early 1900’s, architects went all out on design, and we just don’t have that type of detailed beauty in out buildings. The raves never turned violent either…a few low-lives that dwell in Ghetto Pomona decided to attend the venue at the Fox Theatre to pick on and start trouble with ravers, and that’s how the violence erupted, thus provoking the victims to defend themselves.
I wonder how the theatre is going to turn out now. Everything today is turned into adult movies, parking lots, or raves. Its messed, I mean build your own place to house it in, tear down a McDonald’s but don’t locate into a magnificent theatre and take away from its inner beauty. How greedy, they would rather let it rott….
Fox Pomona, cira 1927, currently owned by the city of Pomona, for restoration. Egyptstain art deco interior by Heinsbergan
The address of this theatre was 114 West 3rd Street.
The architects for the Fox Pomona theatre were firm of Balch & Stanbury. The Fox seated 1751 people.