Los Angeles Theatres: California / United Artists Theatre

235 W. 3rd St. / 287 S. Thomas St. Pomona, CA 90602 | map |

Opened: November 27, 1923 as the California Theatre, an operation of West Coast Theatres. The inaugural film in 1923 was Buster Keaton's "Hospitality," allegedly a world premiere. At the opening were Keaton, his wife Natalie Talmadge, and Joe Schenck and his wife Norma Talmadge. In this 1926 photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection they were running "Merry Widow" with Mae Murray. The stage portion of the program was the Fanchon & Marco "Candlelight Idea."

When West Coast Theatres came under Fox control in 1929 the theatre became known as the Fox California. The building is on the north side of 3rd between Main and Thomas. It's a block west of the Fox Pomona. Until the opening of the Fox, this theatre was the most important one in the area. In the photo we see the marquee at the original entrance at 287 S. Thomas St., with the lobby going through this building on the corner of Thomas and 3rd. Later this entrance was abandoned and the inner lobby at the back of the house on 3rd, over on the left, became the main entrance.

An ad for the opening appearing in the November 24, 1923 issue of the Pomona Progress. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures. In addition to the Keaton feature "Hospitality," the opening program included the stage revue "Frivolities of 1923" and Eddie Horton on the Mighty Wurlitzer.

Joe Vogel found a story about the new theatre in the November 27 L.A. Times with the headline "Playhouse Elaborate in Details."

A report of the opening appearing in the November 30, 1923 issue of the Corona Courier.

Architects: Meyer & Holler. Ken Roe notes that the decor was a blend of Egyptian influences (on the outside) and Assyrian (on the inside). Joe Vogel notes that the project had been announced in an item appearing in the L.A. Times on August 6, 1922.

Gary Parks comments on the facade: "I can say that indeed there are remnants of Egyptian style on the facade, albeit slight. There is what is known as a cavetto cornice running along the top, and a cylindrical torus molding along the top and down the sides. As I recall, the facade 'leans' in slightly, in what in architecture is called a 'battered' wall."

Seating: 1,212 is a later number. In 1923 the Corona Courier noted that the capacity was 1,800. Ken Roe on Cinema Treasures reports a capacity of 1,275 initially.

A 1928 Sanborn insurance map showing the layout of the theatre and, in the lower right, the original entrance on Thomas St. This was once posted on Cinema Treasures but has vanished from that site.

Construction date of the building at the corner, originally known as the Investment Bldg., now called the Founders Bldg., is perhaps 1912 or 1913 -- although the owner's website says 1922. The site had a theatrical history before the opening of the California. From 1885 until 1895 it was the location of the Pomona Opera House.

In the 1926 city directory the California's address is listed as "S. Thomas Ave nw cor 3rd." The 287 S. Thomas address is used in 1928 and 1931. In 1936 the original lobby was abandoned and it's listed at 251 W. 3rd in the 1937/38 and 1940 directories. It gets the 235 W. 3rd address in the 1948 directory.

A December 24, 1936 ad appearing in the Pomona Progress Bulletin for the reopening of the "New California" after a remodel. It was intended as a second run house. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating this. The same issue had three photos (reproduced lower on the page) and an article under the heading "New California Theater Ready For Opening To Public - 'Preview' Planned Tonight." They noted:

"... Fox West Coast Theaters, Inc. has spent more that $20,000 rebuilding the California theater and equipping it with the latest projection and sound equipment... The New California, on 3rd between Main and Thomas streets, bears little resemblance in exterior appearance, lobby, foyer, equipment and decorative scheme to the California which, from the time it was opened in November 1923, until the opening of the Fox in 1931, was the principal theater in not only Pomona but this entire region.

"It is modern in every respect; all equipment in the booth and on the stage, including speakers and sound screen, is new; arrangement and furnishing are designed for the convenience, comfort and enjoyment of its patrons..."

The theatre was evidently closed for a period in 1938. This clipping announcing a December 25 reopening should have said the theatre had been remodeled two years earlier, not one. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Favebook page.

After the consent decree divestments of the late 40s, the venue got spun off to United Artists Theatre Circuit and it was remodeled and rebranded as the United Artists in 1949 with a reopening on December 2.

A November 27, 1949 article in the L.A. Times about the transfer of Loew's State, the Egyptian and the California from Fox West Coast to the newly energized UA circuit. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating the article. The additional theatres DeCicco mentions in the article to get the circuit up to 15 were 12 theatres that UA had an ownership interest in that had been managed for decades by Fox. That bunch was discussed in "Twelve FWC Theatres Under UA Banner," an article appearing in the February 4, 1950 issue of Boxoffice."

A November 29, 1949 ad for the reopening. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it. The theatre was listed as the United Artists in the 1951 Pomona city directory.

A detail from a 1969 ad for "Che." It's from the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. Thanks, Ron.

After UA left, the house struggled for several years as a Spanish language film venue in the early 70s. It closed as a film house following a fire in 1977. Later as a concert hall it was known as the Pomona Valley Auditorium.

A 1987 flyer. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Sameegrl for locating it.

Closing: Final closing date as the PVA is unknown.

Status: It's been churched. It's now being used by the group JRES Catolico.

Interior views:

It's the Fall 1926 fashion show onstage from Valley Outfitting Co. The Frasher photo is in the Pomona Public Library collection. Also see another shot of the production.

The theatre was celebrating its birthday onstage in 1927. It's a Pomona Public Library photo.

Rehearsing the prologue for "The Covered Wagon" in 1927. The Frasher photo is in the Pomona Public Library collection. Also see another shot of the production.

An undated Frasher photo in the Pomona Public Library collection.

In the booth in 1928, equipped for Vitaphone. Note the turntables. And check out that decorative painting around the ceiling. It's a Frasher photo in the Pomona Public Library collection.

The battery room adjacent to the booth. The 1928 Frasher photo is in the Pomona Public Library collection.

A 1928 talent show. The Frasher Foto is in the Pomona Public Library collection.

"Newly Equipped Theater Fully Modern in Design." This booth view appeared in the December 24, 1936 issue of the Pomona Progress Bulletin. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures. They noted "Entirely new projection and sound equipment of the New California theater is of the latest type."

A lobby view that unfortunately wasn't reproduced well. It also appeared in the December 24, 1936 issue of the Pomona Progress Bulletin. They noted: "Finished in light colors with brilliantly colored carpet, the foyer...extends across the back of the entire auditorium." The entrance doors to the auditorium are on the right.

Happy people at a church service. It's a c.2015 photo from the JRES Facebook page.

A look toward the stage taken by Rosa Cruz Berrera in 2020. It's one of 18 images that pop up via Google Maps. Thanks to religious scholar Kurt Wahlner for investigating.

More exterior views:

1924 - Usherettes in front of the boxoffice ready for work. It's a Frasher Foto in the Pomona Public Library collection.

1927 - A special night for veterans of the Spanish-American War. The Frasher photo is in the Pomona Public Library collection.

1927 - A wagon to promote a return engagement of "The Covered Wagon" with a "special atmospheric prologue." The Frasher photo is in the Pomona Public Library collection.

1928 - A Thomas St. entrance detail by Pomona based Frasher's. It's in the collection of the Pomona Public Library. In 1936 this entrance would be abandoned.

1933 - A view south on Thomas toward 3rd St. toward the theatre, with its lobby in the Investment Building. It's a Frasher photo. Thanks to 47specialdeluxe for sharing it on Flickr. It looks like the marquee's end panel says "Finest New Shows At This Theatre."

1933 - A detail from the previous photo.

1933 - A bit of the marquee and corner sign still in the frame as we look across the 3rd St. intersection. It's a Frasher photo from the Pomona Public Library collection. 47specialdeluxe has it on Flickr. The marquee was advertising the Fox Pomona as well as "500 Good Seats Twenty..." at the California.

1933 - Looking north on Thomas with the theatre on the left across 3rd St. It's a Frasher photo that appears on Flickr thanks to 47specialdeluxe.

1936 - A photo that appeared in the December 24 issue of the Pomona Progress Bulletin. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures. During the remodel they had abandoned the original entrance and created a new one around the corner on 3rd St. at the back of the auditorium. The photo appeared with this caption:

"Brilliant Marquee Adorns New Front of Theater - Brightening the second block of W. 3rd street, the new front of the New California theater is dominated by a large and brilliant marquee. A box office of ultra modern design is in the center of the lobby, which has a terrazzo floor. Doors shown lead into the theater's foyer."

1948 - Looking west on 3rd toward the California, soon to be renamed the United Artists. In the foreground it's the Fox Theatre, doing big business for some unknown feature. It's a photo from the Pomona Public Library collection. Thanks to 47specialdeluxe for posting it on Flickr.

c.1953 - The boxoffice in the UA days. All seats $1.50. On the right note the poster for the Elks Charity Show - 10 Big Acts. It's a Pomona Public Library photo.

c.1953 - An undated photo from the Pomona Public Library collection.

c.1953 - Another view from the Elks Charity Show night. It's in the Pomona Public Library collection.

1970 - The 3rd St. entrance of the theatre, then a Spanish language film house. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.

1983 - Now here's a look. Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for the photo.

2019 - Looking west on 3rd across Thomas St.. The corner storefront of the office building was the theatre's original entrance. Beyond is the theatre itself. Photo: Google Maps