Red carpet, history all part of Pomona Fox Theater grand-reopening
POMONA -- A little history, some glitz and a newly restored grand building will all be part of the first event taking place this evening at the historic Fox Theater.
The sold-out Fox First Night Sneak Preview fundraiser has generated excitement among people offering them a chance to take a look at the restored and renovated building, which had been closed since 2000 following years of decline.
The black-tie optional event has generated such enthusiasm in people that some are opting to dress in 1930s period attire, said Larry Egan, executive director of the Downtown Pomona Owners Association, and one of those involved in organizing the event.
Plans call for closing Third Street between Garey Avenue and Thomas Street from 6 a.m. to midnight today to accommodate activities.
Visitors will have a chance to walk up a red carpet, and see historic displays before a ribbon-cutting ceremony, said Mike Schowalter, president of the non-profit Pomona Fox Corp.
The event will benefit the nonprofit, which has plans to raise funds to complete some of the remaining work on the theater such as replacing a ticket booth that was once outside the Fox.
Following the ribbon-cutting, the program will continue inside the theater auditorium, which is expected to include the screening of a documentary on the Fox.
Charles Phoenix, author of several books including "Cruising the Pomona Valley," will serve as master of ceremonies of the event and Tony-winning actress Carol Channing will be a special guest.
Phoenix, who mixes humor and history in his presentations, said the Fox Theater is a building most people in the region know about.
"It's an absolute icon of the Pomona Valley," Phoenix said.
The Fox, like many other movie palaces, could have had a meeting with a wrecking ball but somehow was spared, Phoenix said.
Many things make the Fox special, among them that its the only existing Southern California movie palace in Art Deco architectural style, he said.
The original interior paint schemes, which have been replicated, are eye-catching.
"It's more like Art Deco goes science fiction," Phoenix said.
However, the various shades work and reflect the period during which the Fox opened original.
"It's the Tomorrowland of its day," he said.
Phoenix has made two visits to the Fox and is impressed with what he's seen.
"Nothing like this has ever happened in the Pomona Valley," he said.
Many factors, including neglect, hurt the Fox and the damage to its artistic features was profound making the results of the restoration so much more significant.
"No movie palace has come back so far," Phoenix said.
Among those taking part in the festivities will be a group from the Pomona Valley Model "A" Club with 10 Ford Model A cars.
The cars, which were often spotted on the roads at the time the Fox opened, will be parked just west of the theater today, said Pomona resident George Munday, a member of the club.
He and his wife, Phyllis, who will dress in period attire, wanted to take part in the event.
They both have fond memories of the Fox but they are more special to Phyllis Munday who worked at the Fox during her teens. She started out as an usher and worked her way up to being in charge of concessions counter. She left her job at the Fox when she married her husband in 1953.
Back in the day, the Fox "was the place to go and take your date," she recalled recently.
She hasn't been inside in years, and even though there were some opportunities to look inside prior to the start of construction, she and her husband passed on the chance.
"I can't see it all torn up," she said.
The Mundays will take a look today.
"I'm excited to see it all fixed up. It was part of my (life) growing up," she said.
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