Riverside Fox Theater
The Riverside Fox Theater, now known as the Fox Performing Arts Center, is a historic 1929 theater in downtown Riverside, California, restored as a regional performing-arts venue.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Riverside Fox Theater, commonly identified today as the Fox Performing Arts Center, is a historic theater and performing-arts venue in downtown Riverside, California. Constructed in 1929 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the building was part of the West Coast theater network developed by Southern California theater operators Abe and Mike Gore, Adolph Ramish, and Sol Lesser. Los Angeles-based architect Clifford Balch and engineer Floyd E. Stanberry were associated with its design, as they were with a number of West Coast theaters later connected with Fox Theaters. The theater became linked to Fox West Coast Theaters after the partnership behind the venue sold a controlling interest to William Fox's Fox Studios in 1928. That relationship reflected the vertically integrated film business of the period, connecting film production, distribution, and exhibition. The arrangement did not last indefinitely: antitrust pressure and financial problems affecting Fox contributed to the corporation's collapse into bankruptcy in the early 1930s. In 1932, the Riverside theater came under the control of the Skouras brothers and became part of the National Theaters chain. During the 1930s and 1940s, Riverside served as a preview market for Hollywood films. Studios used the city to gauge audience reactions to prospective releases because its population was viewed as broadly representative of small-town America. The venue is particularly associated with Gone with the Wind, which it reportedly screened before the film became the most commercially successful motion picture in history when adjusted for inflation. The building also adapted to wartime and postwar conditions. During World War II, nearby military installations placed pressure on local lodging capacity, and theater manager Roy Hunt allowed soldiers to sleep on the lobby and auditorium carpets. In 1942, the stage and dressing-room areas were converted into a 536-seat secondary cinema called the Lido, primarily for second-run films. These changes altered portions of the original stage, proscenium, and auditorium finishes. After World War II, changing demographics and the decline of the surrounding commercial district weakened the theater's business prospects. Walnut Properties acquired the property in 1978. The main auditorium was then used for Spanish-language films, while the Lido operated for a period as an adult-film theater under the name Pussycat Theater. Despite these changes, the building remained recognized as an important site in motion-picture history and was determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Riverside acquired the property in 2006 as part of an effort to strengthen downtown and expand community access to the performing arts. A major restoration and renovation began on May 3, 2007, within the city's broader Riverside Renaissance program. The theater work cost approximately $35 million and was completed in late 2009. A formal reopening followed in January 2010, returning the restored landmark to service as a performing-arts facility rather than solely as a movie theater. Following the reopening, FX Arts Management operated the venue for nearly four years and later contracted with the Nederlander Corporation. Subsequent arrangements involved Tom McCoy and Cathy Rigby for Broadway-related performances. Live Nation assumed operating responsibilities on December 1, 2013. The venue's present identity combines historic theater architecture, film heritage, touring entertainment, Broadway-style productions, concerts, and civic cultural programming.
History
The Riverside Fox Theater was built in 1929 in downtown Riverside, California, during the expansion of Southern California's neighborhood and metropolitan movie-theater network. Its Spanish Colonial Revival design was associated with Los Angeles architect Clifford Balch and engineer Floyd E. Stanberry, who worked on multiple West Coast theater projects. The theater was developed by a partnership involving Abe and Mike Gore, Adolph Ramish, and Sol Lesser. In 1928, the partnership sold a controlling interest to William Fox's Fox Studios, and the organization became known as Fox West Coast Theaters. This created a close relationship between film production, distribution, and exhibition, although the structure was weakened by antitrust concerns and Fox's financial troubles. The theater moved into the orbit of the Skouras brothers in 1932 and became part of National Theaters after Fox West Coast entered bankruptcy. In the 1930s and 1940s, the theater was used by Hollywood studios to preview films before final editing. Riverside was considered a useful test market because its audience was believed to approximate the country's broad small-town demographic. The venue is also remembered for showing Gone with the Wind, a film that later became the highest-grossing motion picture in inflation-adjusted terms. Its role was not limited to commercial exhibition. During World War II, soldiers from nearby military bases filled local accommodations, and manager Roy Hunt permitted them to sleep in the theater's lobby and auditorium. In 1942, a 536-seat secondary cinema named the Lido was created from the stage and dressing-room areas. The conversion changed parts of the stage house, proscenium, and auditorium acoustics. The theater's commercial position declined after World War II as neighborhood demographics shifted and the surrounding district lost vitality. Walnut Properties acquired the building in 1978. The main auditorium screened Spanish-language films, while the Lido later operated as the Pussycat Theater, an adult-film venue. Although these uses diverged from its original presentation, the structure remained historically significant and was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Riverside sought to restore the building as part of a downtown cultural strategy. The city acquired the property in 2006, and restoration began on May 3, 2007. The work formed part of the Riverside Renaissance program and cost approximately $35 million. Construction concluded in late 2009, followed by a grand reopening in January 2010. The restored building became the Fox Performing Arts Center, a regional venue for theater, concerts, Broadway-style presentations, film-related programming, and civic events. After reopening, FX Arts Management operated the venue for nearly four years. The city or venue subsequently used a contract arrangement with the Nederlander Corporation, followed by an arrangement involving Tom McCoy and Cathy Rigby for Broadway performances. Live Nation became the operator on December 1, 2013. The venue's identity today rests on the combination of its landmark architecture, connection to Hollywood exhibition history, and continuing role in Riverside's performing-arts infrastructure.
- 2013
Live Nation takes over operations
[1]Live Nation assumes operating responsibility on December 1.
- 2010
Grand reopening as performing-arts center
[1]The restored venue holds its grand reopening in January.
- 2009
Restoration completed
[1]The $35 million renovation is completed late in the year.
- 2007
Restoration starts
[1]A major renovation begins on May 3 as part of Riverside Renaissance.
- 2006
City acquisition
[1]The City of Riverside acquires the property for downtown redevelopment and community arts use.
- 1978
Walnut Properties acquisition
[1]Walnut Properties acquires the theater; the main auditorium later shows Spanish-language films and the Lido operates as the Pussycat Theater.
- 1942
Lido Theater created
[1]The former stage and dressing-room areas are converted into a 536-seat second-run theater.
- 1932
National Theaters affiliation
[1]After the Fox West Coast organization enters financial difficulty, the theater comes under the Skouras brothers and joins National Theaters.
- 1929
Theater opens
[1]The Riverside Fox Theater is constructed in Spanish Colonial Revival style in downtown Riverside.
- 1928
Controlling interest moves to Fox Studios
[1]The theater's development partnership sells a controlling interest to William Fox's Fox Studios, leading to its association with Fox West Coast Theaters.
Products and positioning
A restored historic downtown theater positioned as Riverside's signature performing-arts venue and a regional destination for touring theater, music, film heritage, and community cultural events.
Performing-arts venue · 1929
Historic Fox Performing Arts Center auditorium
The principal offering is the restored 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival theater auditorium. It provides the architectural setting and audience capacity for touring theater, concerts, special presentations, and civic cultural events. Its historic fabric and connection to Hollywood exhibition history are central to the venue's identity.
Secondary cinema space · 1942
Lido Theater
Created in 1942 from the original stage and dressing-room areas, the Lido was a 536-seat secondary theater intended for second-run films. The conversion altered parts of the stage house and auditorium and represented an important adaptation of the building during wartime-era exhibition.
Live entertainment · 2010
Broadway and touring theater presentations
Following restoration, the venue expanded beyond movie exhibition to host Broadway-related and touring theatrical performances. Presentations associated with Tom McCoy and Cathy Rigby formed part of this transition, positioning the theater as a regional performing-arts destination.
Live entertainment · 2010
Concerts and special events
The restored center accommodates concerts, special events, film-related programs, and community cultural activities. These uses support Riverside's downtown arts strategy and broaden the venue's role beyond traditional cinema.
Brand decisions
2013
Change operating companyStrategyBackground
After the venue's reopening, operations had been managed through FX Arts Management and later contractual arrangements with other theater presenters.
Action taken
Live Nation assumed operations on December 1, 2013.
Aftermath
The venue continued operating as a live performing-arts center under a major concert and entertainment operator.
2006
Acquire and restore the theater for civic arts useStrategyBackground
Riverside sought to revitalize downtown and provide a major community performing-arts facility.
Action taken
The City of Riverside acquired the property and incorporated its restoration into the Riverside Renaissance initiative.
Aftermath
The project transformed the former movie theater into the Fox Performing Arts Center, which reopened in January 2010.
Theater renovation cost. $35 million (Renovation begun in 2007 and completed in late 2009)
1942
Create the Lido secondary theaterGeneration changeBackground
Wartime demand and changing film-exhibition needs created pressure to increase the building's usable cinema capacity.
Action taken
The stage and adjacent dressing rooms were converted into a 536-seat second-run cinema called the Lido.
Aftermath
The conversion altered the original stage and auditorium configuration and remained part of the building's later history.
1928
Join Fox West Coast TheatersM&ABackground
The theater was part of a Southern California theater partnership that sold a controlling interest to William Fox's Fox Studios during the era of vertically integrated film production and exhibition.
Action taken
The organization became associated with Fox West Coast Theaters, connecting the venue to Fox's distribution and exhibition network.
Aftermath
The arrangement was later disrupted by antitrust pressure and Fox's financial difficulties, culminating in bankruptcy for the corporation in the early 1930s.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/riverside-fox-theater · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled