California Theatre of the Performing Arts

The California Theatre of the Performing Arts, commonly known as the California Theatre, is a historic performing arts center in downtown San Bernardino, California. The venue opened in 1928 as part of the Fox Theatres chain and has remained an important cultural and entertainment site in the Inland Empire. Its identity is rooted in the combination of historic cinema architecture, live performance, and continuing community use rather than in the sale of consumer products. During the early years of Hollywood, the theatre served as a venue where filmmakers could test-screen motion pictures before broader release. The reference material identifies King Kong and The Wizard of Oz among the classic films first shown to audiences there during the 1930s. This screening history connects the theatre to the development of American cinema while also illustrating its original role as a movie palace. The building retains its original Wurlitzer Style 216 pipe organ, an important surviving feature of its early theatre design and programming. The venue is also associated with the final performance of entertainer Will Rogers before his death in a 1935 plane crash. That event forms part of the theatre's historical significance, although the venue's broader importance rests on decades of film exhibition, concerts, theatrical productions, comedy, and civic programming. The San Bernardino Symphony has performed at the theatre since 1929, making the venue a long-standing home for orchestral music in the region. In its contemporary role, the California Theatre presents live entertainment and touring productions, including Broadway tours from the national touring circuit. The theatre is managed by Theatrical Arts International, described in the reference material as the largest theatre company in the Inland Empire. Its programming has also included recorded or filmed comedy productions, including Showtime's The Latin Divas of Comedy and The Payaso Comedy Slam. The California Theatre therefore functions as both a heritage venue and an active regional performance facility. Its positioning is based on historic authenticity, local cultural continuity, and access to touring and specialist entertainment in San Bernardino. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate ownership structure, detailed financial performance, or a complete current leadership roster. Those fields remain unreported here rather than inferred.

The California Theatre of the Performing Arts opened in 1928 in the historic downtown area of San Bernardino, California. It was originally associated with the Fox Theatres chain, placing it within the large American movie-palace network that operated cinemas and entertainment venues during the development of the studio-era film industry. Its original purpose centered on motion-picture exhibition, but the building also possessed the architectural and technical characteristics needed for live stage entertainment. The theatre became connected to the culture of early Hollywood through test screenings. Before wide release, filmmakers used the venue to gauge audience responses to films. Reference material identifies King Kong and The Wizard of Oz as films first seen by audiences at the theatre during the 1930s. These screenings give the venue a notable place in local film history, although the available material does not provide detailed dates, production records, or audience-response data for each screening. The venue is also associated with Will Rogers's last performance before his death in a plane crash in 1935. This episode is one of the most frequently cited historical associations of the theatre and contributes to its heritage value. The building continues to house its original Wurlitzer Style 216 pipe organ, preserving a significant part of its early entertainment infrastructure. Live music became an enduring part of the theatre's identity. The San Bernardino Symphony has used the venue since 1929, establishing a relationship that spans the theatre's early years and its later role as a broader performing arts center. Over time, the California Theatre evolved beyond its original cinema function to accommodate theatrical productions, orchestral performances, concerts, comedy, and other public events. In its modern operating model, the theatre is managed by Theatrical Arts International. The company presents Broadway tours drawn from the national touring circuit and supports the venue's role as a regional destination for professional entertainment in the Inland Empire. The theatre has also hosted tapings or recordings of comedy programs, including Showtime's The Latin Divas of Comedy and The Payaso Comedy Slam. These activities demonstrate the venue's continued use for both in-person audiences and recorded entertainment. The California Theatre's present identity is consequently based on continuity: it remains a functioning performance venue while retaining elements of its 1920s movie-palace character. Public reference material does not specify the date of any major restoration, a detailed ownership history, annual attendance, financial results, or a comprehensive list of current executives. Such information is therefore not included.

• 1935

  Will Rogers's final performance

  [1]California Theatre of the Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre hosts what is identified as Will Rogers's final performance before his death in a plane crash.

• 1930

  Early Hollywood test-screening role

  [1]California Theatre of the Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1930s, the theatre is used for test screenings of films, including early audience presentations of King Kong and The Wizard of Oz.

• 1929

  San Bernardino Symphony relationship begins

  [1]California Theatre of the Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The San Bernardino Symphony begins hosting performances at the theatre, establishing a long-running association with the venue.

• 1928

  Theatre opens

  [1]California Theatre of the Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The California Theatre opens in downtown San Bernardino as part of the Fox Theatres chain.

A historic San Bernardino performing arts venue combining preserved movie-palace heritage with live theatre, orchestral music, touring Broadway productions, concerts, and comedy programming.

• Live theatre

  Broadway touring productions

  The theatre presents Broadway tours from the national touring circuit through its management by Theatrical Arts International. These productions extend the venue's role beyond local performance and connect San Bernardino audiences with professional touring theatre.

• Orchestral music · 1929

  San Bernardino Symphony performances

  The San Bernardino Symphony has performed at the California Theatre since 1929. Symphony concerts are a longstanding part of the venue's cultural programming and reinforce its function as a regional classical-music facility.

• Cinema · 1928

  Film screenings

  The venue originated as a Fox Theatres cinema and played a role in early Hollywood test screenings. Its historical film identity includes reported early audience presentations of King Kong and The Wizard of Oz during the 1930s.

• Comedy and recorded entertainment

  Comedy programming

  The California Theatre has hosted comedy events and tapings, including Showtime's The Latin Divas of Comedy and The Payaso Comedy Slam. These programs broaden the venue's use beyond theatre and orchestral performance.

1. 1California Theatre of the Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org