Fox Pomona: history + exterior views

114 W. 3rd St. Pomona, CA 91766 | map |

Also see: Fox Pomona - interior views

News: The building is for sale. The photo below is from the property's September 2025 Loopnet listing. Thanks to Escott O. Norton for spotting it. There's also a PDF from the brokers, Yamzon/Remax, with more data about the building. 

Opened: April 24, 1931 with the world premiere of Spencer Tracy in "Six Cylinder Love" as the initial film. The Fox was operated by Fox West Coast and its successor companies National General and, finally, Mann Theatres until 1976. After closing as a mainstream film house, the Fox had a career for several years as a Spanish language film venue, a church, and home for raves and wrestling.

Phone: 909-784-3677  Website: www.foxpomona.com

The theatre is at the corner of 3rd St. and Garey Ave. Until recently, the Fox used an address on W. 3rd St. It's listed as the the Fox Theatre, 110 W. 3rd, in the 1934 through 1940 city directories and as the Fox Pomona in 1945. The use of a 114 W. 3rd address starts with the 1948 directory. In the 1951 directory it's again just listed as the Fox Theatre. They're currently using 301 S. Garey as an address, which is around on the side of the building.

Architects: Clifford A. Balch, Floyd E. Stanbery of Balch & Stanbery. The firm did many projects for Fox West Coast. See the listings for Balch and Stanbery in the Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Robert E. Power Studios of Los Angeles was the decorator.  

 

This drawing of the Pomona Fox project appeared in "What Fashions Decree For '30," a story in the Better Theatres section of the Motion Picture News issue of August 2, 1930. Thanks to theatre historian Kurt Wahlner for finding the article.

 

Page one of the special section devoted to the Fox that appeared in the April 23, 1931 issue of the Pomona Progress-Bulletin. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it. Visit his site: Movie-Theatre.org 

Seating: Originally 1,751. Motion Picture Herald gave the capacity in 1931 as 1,738. The main floor was terraced during the 2008-09 renovations and no longer has fixed seating. Theatre seating remains in the balcony, with a capacity of about 500. 

Pipe Organ: It was a transplanted style 215 Wurlitzer. It went to a church decades ago.

Stage Specifications: Proscenium width: 45'  Stage depth: 20'. Original curtains and rigging were by Armstrong Studio of Los Angeles. The original screen ("large enough for magnascopic images") was 28' x 50'. There's no longer any fly space. The upper half of the stagehouse was converted into a separate venue during the renovation.

Projection: The 1931 equipment included two Super Simplex projectors. Sound was by Western Electric.

The building was placed on the National register in 1981 or 82 and was designated a City of Pomona landmark in 1999.  

Closing as a film house: The end came in the late 1980s. Mann Theatres had exited in 1976. After running as a Spanish-language house it also had periods of use as a church and, in the 1990s, as venue for concerts and raves. The City of Pomona's redevelopment agency acquired the building in 2001. In 2007 it was sold to Gerald Investments (Jerry and Ed Tessier) for $1.6 million.

Status: The 39,000 s.f. building was restored in 2008-2009 at a cost of around $10 million and now operates as a multi-venue performing arts center. Jeff Greene's Evergreene Architectural Arts did the decorative work. The reopening was April 18, 2009. It's operated by the Tessier family's development firm, Arteco Partners, a company that has renovated (and operates) many other downtown Pomona buildings. 

The top half of the stagehouse was converted into a bar called the Flyway. A new events space was also created on the roof, branded as the Garey Tower and Rooftop. The building has a retail space on the west end of the 3rd St. facade, occupied by a bar connected to the theatre called the V Lounge. There's also a corner retail space, now Crazy J's Bar and Grill, as well as a Mexican restaurant in a space along 3rd.      

 

More exterior views:

1930 - A construction view from the Pomona Public Library collection. In addition to the photos displayed on this page, the PPL has many more Fox Theatre photos if you'd care to browse the collection.

1930 - A Burton Frasher photo taken December 31. It's in the Pomona Public Library collection. 

1931 - The building decorated for the grand opening. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo. The Pomona Public Library also has it.

April 24, 1931 - The crowd for the opening of the theatre and the world premiere of "Six Cylinder Love." The photo is in the Pomona Public Library collection. 

1931 - The new theatre was featured in "The New Fox Theatre in Pomona, Cal," a photo spread in the August 1, 1931 issue of Motion Picture Herald that included 8 photos. It's on Internet Archive.

 

1932 - "Midnite Preview Tonight." A great look at the entrance during the run of the May release "As You Desire Me" with Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas and Erich von Stroheim. It's a Pomona Public Library photo.

 

 

1932 - "Coolest Spot in the Valley." Jack Dempsey and Lina Basquette were appearing plus you got some vaudeville acts. The feature film was "Love is a Racket," a June release with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Ann Dvorak. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo. A version of the photo is also in the Pomona Public Library collection.

 

 1932 - Another "Love is a Racket" photo giving us a better look at the entrance. Thanks to ace theatre researcher Ken McIntyre for finding it.  

 

 

1932 - Winners of a Chevy at the Fox. No, Laurel and Hardy weren't in "Devil and the Deep." It was an August release with Tallulah Bankhead, Gary Cooper and Charles Laughton. Thanks to 47specialdeluxe for sharing the image on Flickr.

1933 - A Frasher Foto Card view looking west on 3rd St. toward the theatre from the Pomona Public Library collection. 

1933 - Promotion prior to the run of "King Kong." Thanks to film detective John Bengtson for the photo. For a treat, check out his blog Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more).

 

1933 - A crowd the final day of the run of "King Kong." Thanks to Shawn Dudley for locating the photo by Burton Frasher.

 

1933 - The arrival of Santa Claus before a screening of the December release "Alice in Wonderland" with Charlotte Henry as Alice. The film also features Gary Cooper, Richard Arlen, Cary Grant and W.C. Fields. It's a Frasher photo appearing on the page about the Fox from Arteco Partners, the firm that redeveloped and operates the theatre. Thanks to Lisa Kouza Braddock for spotting it as a post on the Pomona Proud Facebook page.

1934 - A Burton Frasher photo in the Pomona Public Library collection. The street was closed for an auto show.   

1934 - Ballyhoo for "Belle of the Nineties" with Mae West. It's a Burton Frasher photo in the Pomona Public Library collection.

1938 - The entrance during the run of  "The Cowboy and The Lady." The photo is in the Pomona Public Library collection.

1940 - Note the "Preview" neon atop the tower. On the marquee they're advertising "Charlie McCarthy, Detective," "Remember the Night," and the short "The Monroe Doctrine." Frank Wilcox, one of the performers in the short, was making a personal appearance. It's a photo in the Pomona Public Library collection.

1943 - A look at the theatre when it was running "Coney Island" with Betty Grable. It's a Pomona Public Library photo.

 

 

1944 - A view north on Garey from 4th by an unknown photographer. Thanks to 46specialdeluxe for including it in a great album of early Pomona views on Flickr. 

 

1944 - A look west on 3rd. The provenance of the photo is unknown. Thanks to 45specialdeluxe for sharing it on Flickr. 

 

 

1944 - A detail from the previous photo.

c.1951 - A revival run of "Gone With The Wind." It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.  Bruce Longmore notes that's it's a 1950 Studebaker in front.

1952 - A Frasher card with the caption "Garey Avenue looking toward the Sierra Madre Mountains." The card is in the Pomona Public Library collection. This fine version of the image is from 47specialdeluxe on Flickr.

1956 - Pomona High School used the theatre for a daytime assembly after their auditorium burned. It's a Pomona Public Library photo.

1957 - A look at the entrance following a renovation by Fox West Coast. The photo is in the Pomona Public Library collection.

1958 - The theatre running "A Farewell to Arms." It's a photo from the Los Angeles Public Library. A cropped version of the photo was featured on the cover of the March 9, 1959 issue of Boxoffice. The caption mentioned "Use of stone trim, replacement of old wood doors, removal of oldstyle trim and modernization of display cases helped provide the new look to the front of the theatre." 

The photo (along with an earlier one) also made an appearance in the April 6, 1959 issue in a three page story about various Fox West Coast remodeling projects at the Fox Van Nuys, Chinese, Loyola and Fox Arlington. 

 

1959 - Looking north on Garey toward the theatre's back wall. Thanks to 47specialdeluxe for sharing the photo on Flickr. 

 

1962 - A view south toward the theatre as the new Garey Ave. underpass was under construction. The provenance of the photo is unknown. Thanks to 47specialdeluxe for sharing it on Flickr.

1982 - Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for this photo of the theatre as a Spanish language house.

1983 - A fine view from American Classic Images.

2007 - The building just prior to the restoration work. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - A nice detail view of the tower. Thanks to Yosoybones on Flickr for the photo.

2007 - The top of the tower at dusk. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - The marquee pre-restoration. Photo: Bill Counter

2008 - The ticket lobby ceiling after the 50s dropped ceiling was removed. The decoration we see was from a 40s renovation. Thanks to the Fox Pomona for the photo. It's photo one that once appeared on their website.

2009 - On the new roof deck along Garey Ave. looking north toward the tower. Thanks to Michelle Gerdes for her photo taken the year of the theatre's reopening. It's one of 32 in her Pomona Fox Theater album on Flickr.

2009 -  A look up the tower from below. Photo: Michelle Gerdes

2009 - A tower detail. Photo: Michelle Gerdes

2009 - Another bit of cast ornament. Photo: Michelle Gerdes

2010 - The restored marquee at night. Note that the front display cases were restored to their 1931 look. Thanks to Mark Peacock for his fine photo on Flickr.

2014 - The entrance with Christmas wreaths. Photo: Hunter Kerhart. Keep up with his recent explorations: on Facebook | HunterKerhart.com | on Flickr

 

2014 - Entrance door hardware. Photo: Hunter Kerhart. 

 

 

2014 - A readerboard detail. Photo: Hunter Kerhart

2014 - The west side of the building. Photo: Hunter Kerhart. Thanks, Hunter! 

c.2016 - A look into the ticket lobby. Thanks to the theatre for their photo. This one is on the Fox Pomona website's gallery page.

2017 - Another tower view. Photo: Bill Counter

2017 - The tower from the roof deck above the retail and dressing room wing along the east side of the building. Photo: Bill Counter

2017 - The view west from the 3rd St. side of the roof deck toward the California/United Artists Theatre, just beyond the office building on the corner. The original entrance was through the corner building. Later that was abandoned and a new entrance created at the rear of the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter

 

2018 - Prom night at the Fox. Photo: Sean Ault

 

2018 - The tower's signage lit. Photo: Sean Ault. Thanks, Sean!

 

 

2022 - The view along Garey Ave. Photo: Bill Counter

 

2022 - Tour time at the Fox. It was a July event sponsored by the Historical Society of Pomona Valley. Thanks to Steve Whalen for sharing his photo. It's one of 14 on his Facebook post about the evening.

 

 

 

2022 - A marquee detail. The horizontal runs of tubing behind the letters fill from top to bottom. Thanks to Cat Whalen for sharing this photo she took at the July tour.

 

 

2022 - The apex of the marquee. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - The view from across 3rd St. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - In the alley west of the building looking toward 3rd. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - A view toward the roof deck along the 3rd St. side of the building. The little addition on this end of the deck is for an elevator added during the restoration. The men's room is behind the blocked 2nd floor windows above the marquee with the ladies lounge getting the windows down on the corner.  Photo: Cat Whalen

 

 

2022 - The box office gets its portrait taken. Photo: Cat Whalen

 

 

2022 - Ornament above one of the display cases. Photo: Bill Counter

 

2022 - The west end of the restored ticket lobby. Photo: Steve Whalen 

 

 

2022 - A ticket lobby fixture. It's a replacement for one of the original ones removed long ago. For decades this area was hidden by a dropped ceiling. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - Looking toward the stagehouse on the roof deck that's above the retail and dressing room spaces along Garey Ave. The door on the left gets you to restrooms, an elevator and stairs. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - In the stairwell that gets you to the Flyway lounge and up a level to the rear deck on the southeast corner of the building. Or head down to dressing rooms. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - The view north from back near the stagehouse.  Photo: Steve Whalen

 

 

2022 - A wider view from the rear deck. The doors at the left go to the the upper part of the stagehouse, now a separate events space called the Flyway. The gray doors beyond go into the stairwell and elevator area. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - Looking back to the tower from the front part of the deck along Garey Ave. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - A closer tower view from the roof deck along Garey. On the lower left that's an exit from the balcony level of the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

2022 - A Fox sign detail. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

2022 - Another view from closer to the tower. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - The base of the tower, repurposed as a lounge. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - Looking up inside the tower. It originally functioned as the theatre's fresh air intake. Photo: Cat Whalen. Thanks, Cat! 

 

 

2022 - The view south along the Garey Ave. deck. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

2022 - The north portion of the roof deck along 3rd St. above the marquee. We're at the level of the exits at the top of the balcony. That's another new elevator on the left. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - On the north roof deck. That's the tower at the right. Photo: Steve Whalen 

 

2022 - The look after dark. The "Fox" sign on the tower is red on one side, blue on the other. Sad to say that it no longer rotates. Photo: Steve Whalen. Thanks, Steve! 

 

2022 - A closer view of the entrance. Photo: Bill Counter

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page for about twenty photos plus lots of comments. The Cinema Tour page has over 50 exterior views of the theatre. There's a not very active Friends of the Fox page on Facebook.

Check out Kelli Shapiro's fine 2024 Arcadia Publishing book "Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley Movie Theatres." The Fox gets covered on page 106.  

The Fox Pomona pages:  back to top - history + exterior views | interior views |

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