The Fox San Bernardino Theatre was one of the most beautiful of all the Fox Theatres, and truly the most spectacular theatre ever built in the city of San Bernardino. Opened in September of 1929, the Fox contained two entrances, a beautiful courtyard entrance off of “D” Street and its main entrance at 374 Court Street. The Fox was the San Bernardino home of MGM, 20th Century-Fox and Paramount and RKO films . A favorite preview house, the Fox was visited by Hollywood stars, such as Dorothy Lamour who often performed on the Fox stage. In 1949, Bob Hope and Doris Day peroformed on the Fox Stage in a performance broadcast live by the then local radio station, KFXM.
Sadly, the Fox was converted into a newsprint warehouse by the Sun Telegram newspaper in July, of 1955. The entire stage, orchestra pit and orchestra floor were covered over. The once lavish lobby, with fountain and fish pond was converted to less than spectacular office space. The outside marquee with its beatiful neon, was removed as were all other vistiges of the building ever being a theatre.
Oddly enough, one can still walk through the warehouse portion of the building, which stores huge, ceiling high rolls of newsprint and capture a feeling of the auditorium’s beauty. The proscenium is still intact, with the huge gold suburst at its apex and the medallions of the Spanish Dons which decorate the entire prosecenium which is flanked by Spanish style Opera boxes. The loss of the Fox was truly a sad loss for the city of San Bernarddino.
Fortunately, for the arts and for San Bernardino, the beautiful California Theatre was saved, preserved, renovated and is alive and well as a performing arts center.
The Fox San Bernardino Theatre was one of the most beautiful of all the Fox Theatres, and truly the most spectacular theatre ever built in the city of San Bernardino. Opened in September of 1929, the Fox contained two entrances, a beautiful courtyard entrance off of “D” Street and its main entrance at 374 Court Street. The Fox was the San Bernardino home of MGM, 20th Century-Fox and Paramount and RKO films . A favorite preview house, the Fox was visited by Hollywood stars, such as Dorothy Lamour who often performed on the Fox stage. In 1949, Bob Hope and Doris Day peroformed on the Fox Stage in a performance broadcast live by the then local radio station, KFXM.
Sadly, the Fox was converted into a newsprint warehouse by the Sun Telegram newspaper in July, of 1955. The entire stage, orchestra pit and orchestra floor were covered over. The once lavish lobby, with fountain and fish pond was converted to less than spectacular office space. The outside marquee with its beatiful neon, was removed as were all other vistiges of the building ever being a theatre.
Oddly enough, one can still walk through the warehouse portion of the building, which stores huge, ceiling high rolls of newsprint and capture a feeling of the auditorium’s beauty. The proscenium is still intact, with the huge gold suburst at its apex and the medallions of the Spanish Dons which decorate the entire prosecenium which is flanked by Spanish style Opera boxes. The loss of the Fox was truly a sad loss for the city of San Bernarddino.
Fortunately, for the arts and for San Bernardino, the beautiful California Theatre was saved, preserved, renovated and is alive and well as a performing arts center.