Pomona Fox Theater
A restored 1931 Art Deco movie palace in Pomona, California, now operating as a concert, cinema, performance, and event venue.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Pomona Fox Theater, also known as Fox Theater Pomona, is a historic entertainment venue in downtown Pomona, Los Angeles County, California. The building was created during Hollywood's golden age as a large, single-screen movie palace and opened to the public on April 24, 1931. Its design by Balch & Stanberry reflects the period's theatrical Art Deco architecture, including a prominent tower and an interior conceived to give moviegoing a highly visual, ceremonial character. For approximately five decades, the theater operated primarily as a first-run motion-picture house. Its location and scale also made it useful to Hollywood studios, which used the venue for sneak previews of films and audience-reaction testing. This role connected the Pomona theater to the broader Southern California film exhibition industry while making it an important local civic and commercial attraction. The theater's original business model weakened in the early 1970s as multiplex cinemas became increasingly popular. Like many large single-screen palaces, it struggled to compete with the convenience and programming flexibility of newer venues. It continued for a period with Spanish-language films, but ultimately closed in 1977. The vacant building survived in part because of local citizen activism and preservation interest. The City of Pomona acquired the property, helping prevent its immediate loss and preserving the possibility of a future adaptive reuse. In 2002, the nonprofit Pomona Fox Corporation was established to investigate preservation and reuse options. The organization was unable to raise sufficient funds to complete the restoration, and the building was subsequently sold in February 2007 to the Tessier family and their family-owned Gerald Investments. The owners were also associated with the development of the Pomona Arts Colony and the redevelopment of historically significant buildings in the surrounding area. A restoration investment reported at approximately $10 million transformed the former cinema into a contemporary arts and entertainment venue while retaining its historic identity and Art Deco character. After about two years of work, the Fox Theater Pomona reopened on May 21, 2009, with capacity for roughly 2,000 attendees. Its post-restoration use expanded beyond film exhibition to include concerts, cinema, live performances, private parties, and other events. The theater now functions as a flagship attraction within the Pomona Arts Colony, an urban district known for galleries, nightclubs, lofts, restaurants, and other creative-economy businesses. Its programming has included performances by nationally and internationally recognized artists across alternative rock, metal, electronic music, indie, pop, and related genres. Artists associated with performances at the venue include Blur, Crystal Castles, Green Day, Megadeth, Marilyn Manson, Morrissey, Oliver Tree, Paramore, Slowdive, Tame Impala, Twin Tribes, Tyler, the Creator, and Twenty One Pilots. The venue has also received regional recognition, including a ranking at number 23 in LA Weekly's list of the top 50 venues in Los Angeles.
History
The Fox Theater Pomona opened on April 24, 1931, during the era when major American cities and towns supported ornate, single-screen movie palaces. Designed by Balch & Stanberry, the Pomona building used a Hollywood-influenced Art Deco vocabulary and was distinguished by its soaring tower. It was built to make film exhibition an immersive public spectacle rather than simply a utilitarian screening service. During its first fifty years, the theater operated as a first-run cinema. Hollywood studios also used it for sneak previews, screening forthcoming films for general audiences and gathering reactions before wider release. This made the venue part of the film industry's promotional and market-testing infrastructure in Southern California, in addition to its role as a local entertainment landmark. The economics of theatrical exhibition changed substantially in the early 1970s. Multiplexes offered more screens, varied schedules, and greater programming flexibility, putting pressure on traditional single-screen palaces. The Fox Theater Pomona declined along with many comparable venues. It remained open for a time with Spanish-language films, but closed in 1977. Preservation efforts were supported by community activism. The City of Pomona purchased the building, keeping the historic structure from being immediately lost and creating a foundation for possible restoration. In 2002, the nonprofit Pomona Fox Corporation was formed to explore preservation and adaptive-reuse strategies. The organization could not secure enough financing to carry out the full restoration, however. In February 2007, ownership passed to the Tessier family and Gerald Investments. The owners were involved in the development of the Pomona Arts Colony and in the redevelopment of other historically important local buildings. They undertook a major restoration reportedly costing approximately $10 million. The project preserved the theater's historic architectural character while adapting it to modern arts, music, film, and event use. After roughly two years of restoration, the venue reopened on May 21, 2009. With capacity for about 2,000 people, it returned to the city's cultural life in a new operating role. Rather than functioning solely as a movie theater, the restored Fox became a multipurpose venue for concerts, cinema, performances, and parties. Its current identity is closely connected to the Pomona Arts Colony, a district containing galleries, nightclubs, lofts, restaurants, and other creative businesses. The theater serves as one of the area's largest and most recognizable cultural anchors. Its concert history includes artists from alternative rock, metal, electronic, indie, pop, and adjacent scenes, including Blur, Crystal Castles, Green Day, Megadeth, Marilyn Manson, Morrissey, Oliver Tree, Paramore, Slowdive, Tame Impala, Twin Tribes, Tyler, the Creator, and Twenty One Pilots. The venue has also been recognized in Los Angeles-area venue coverage, including a number 23 placement in LA Weekly's top-50 venue ranking.
- 2009
Reopening as a multipurpose venue
[1]Following approximately two years of restoration, the theater reopens on May 21 with a capacity of roughly 2,000 attendees.
- 2007
Ownership changes
[1]The building is sold in February to the Tessier family and Gerald Investments, who undertake a major restoration and adaptive-reuse project.
- 2002
Nonprofit preservation effort begins
[1]Pomona Fox Corporation is founded to explore preservation and reuse of the closed theater, although it does not obtain enough funding to complete restoration.
- 1977
Closure
[1]After a period showing Spanish-language films, the theater closes.
- 1970
Decline of the single-screen cinema model
[1]The theater begins to face pressure from the growing popularity of multiplex cinemas and the changing economics of film exhibition.
- 1931
The theater opens
[1]The Fox Theater Pomona opens on April 24 as an Art Deco, first-run movie palace designed by Balch & Stanberry.
Products and positioning
A restored historic movie palace positioned as a distinctive, large-capacity arts and entertainment venue within Pomona's Arts Colony. Its identity combines architectural heritage, film history, live music, cultural programming, and event hosting.
Live music · 2009
Concerts
The restored Fox Theater Pomona serves as a large-capacity concert venue, presenting touring artists across rock, alternative, metal, electronic, indie, pop, and related genres. Its historic auditorium and approximately 2,000-person capacity distinguish it from smaller club spaces in the surrounding Arts Colony.
Film exhibition · 2009
Cinema screenings
Cinema remains part of the building's adapted post-restoration role, linking the current venue to its original identity as a first-run movie palace. Contemporary film use is presented alongside concerts and other cultural programming rather than as the theater's sole business.
Performing arts · 2009
Live performances
The venue accommodates performances beyond conventional film and concert programming. Its restored historic setting supports a broad arts and entertainment schedule within Pomona's cultural district.
Event venue · 2009
Private parties and events
The Fox Theater Pomona is also used for parties and other private or special events, taking advantage of its landmark architecture, auditorium scale, and location in the Pomona Arts Colony.
Brand decisions
2007
Adaptive reuse under new ownershipStrategyBackground
The closed theater had survived through civic preservation efforts, but an earlier nonprofit initiative could not raise enough money for restoration.
Action taken
The Tessier family and Gerald Investments acquired the building and pursued a major restoration intended to return it to public use as a multipurpose arts and entertainment venue.
Aftermath
The project reportedly required approximately two years of work and enabled the theater to reopen in 2009 with an expanded operating model beyond traditional cinema.
Reported restoration investment. Approximately $10 million (2007-2009 restoration period)
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