Tower Theatre (Fresno, California) facts for kids
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Tower Theatre (1939-80)
McHatton's Tower Theatre (1980-89) |
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Exterior of venue (c.2011)
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| Address | 815 E Olive Ave Fresno, CA 93728-3332 |
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| Owner | City of Fresno |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | 761 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 15, 1939 |
| Reopened | March 13, 1990 |
| Rebuilt | 1989-90 |
| Architect | S. Charles Lee |
| Website | |
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Tower Theatre
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| Location | Fresno, CA |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | S. Charles Lee |
| Architectural style | Streamline Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001276 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 1992 |
The Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts is a cool, old theater in Fresno, California. It's known for its unique Streamline Moderne style, which is a type of art and architecture.
It was built in 1939 and first opened its doors on December 15, 1939. A company called Fox West Coast Theater Corporation managed it back then. The famous architect S. Charles Lee designed the building. Its tall tower was inspired by a special "Star Pylon" at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
The theater closed for a short time in 1989 because of money problems. But it got a big makeover and reopened in 1990 as a place for live shows and performances.
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History of the Tower Theatre
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The area where the Tower Theatre stands in Fresno started becoming a popular shopping spot around 1923. People began talking about building a theater there as early as 1927.
The first idea for the theater was shared on December 3, 1938, in The Fresno Bee newspaper. Fox West Coast Theater Corporation and A. Emory Wishon suggested building a $200,000 theater. It was planned to be similar to another theater designed by S. Charles Lee in Westwood, Los Angeles. This big project would have covered an entire block.
A second, even larger plan was made in early 1939, but it was never built. A third, smaller plan for a $65,000 theater was also considered around April 1939, but it didn't happen either.
Building the Tower Theatre
Building permits were finally given on May 11, 1939, for a theater that was a bit smaller than first planned. It was secretly called "The Ritz" during construction. S. Charles Lee designed this version, and it was estimated to cost $100,000.
Construction started right away. The original design for the tower was changed in August 1939. The new tower was about 80-foot (24 m) tall. It looked like the 130-foot (40 m) "Star Pylon" from the 1939 New York World's Fair. That pylon was a symbol for electricity.
On December 14, 1939, the theater, officially named the "Tower Theatre," had a special party. Local important people and those connected to Fox Theaters attended. They watched the movie Balalaika. The very next day, it opened to everyone, showing the films Dancing Co-Ed and Henry Goes Arizona.
Changes Over the Years
After A. Emory Wishon passed away in 1948, the theater was sold to a company connected to Fox Theaters. In 1954, the theater was updated to show movies in CinemaScope, which made the screen wider.
In 1980, the theater stopped showing brand-new movies. Instead, it started showing older movies that people wanted to see again. For several years, it also showed movies from other countries.
By 1989, the theater was having financial difficulties and stopped showing movies. It was in a lot of debt. A special project then began to fix up the theater and its shops. After this big restoration, the theater reopened as the "Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts." This renovation won awards for its excellent work.
Today, a non-profit group called Fresno Filmworks shows independent movies at the Tower Theatre once a month. The theater also hosts the yearly Fresno Film Festival.
Why the Tower Theatre is Historic
The Tower Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 1992. This means it's a very important building in history.
It was recognized for its amazing architecture, especially because it was built during the end of the Great Depression. It's a great example of the Streamline Moderne style. It's also the only building designed by S. Charles Lee in Fresno. Plus, it's one of only six old theaters left in Fresno. It was special because it was built with its own parking lot and was located outside the main downtown area.
The theater is also listed on Fresno's Local Register of Historic Resources.
Design and Location
The Tower Theatre is in a neighborhood that is named after it, called the "Tower District." It's located at the corner of North Wishon and East Olive Avenues.
The building itself covers about 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) of land and is shaped a bit like an arrowhead. The main part of the theater, where the audience sits, is angled. The two side sections of the building have shops.
The theater and its parking lot used to cover a whole block, about 2.12 acres (0.86 ha). In 1964, a small part of the land was separated, leaving the theater with about 1.83 acres (0.74 ha).
Cool Features of the Design
The theater has a tall, 80-foot (24 m) concrete tower. This tower is lit up with bright neon lights and has a cool, spiky orb on top, also with neon lights. A special roof-like structure called a marquee wraps around the entrance. It looks like it's held up by a hexagonal box office.
The Tower Theatre is a great example of the Streamline Moderne style. This style uses smooth curves and long lines, often inspired by trains, ships, and planes.
A Dutch artist named Anthony Heinsbergen created beautiful murals for the theater's ceiling and walls. These murals have designs like "Leda and Swan" and "Vine" patterns. The Tower Theatre was one of the first theaters in the United States to have murals painted with special fluorescent paint that glowed under ultraviolet lights!
Inside, there's also a cool etched-glass panel. It's a copy of a famous artwork called "The Huntsman" by Gaetano Cecere.
See also
