Fonda Theatre

 Overview

The Fonda opened in late 1926 as the Music Box Theatre, offering light-hearted musical comedy reviews. It was one of a flurry of theatres to open in Hollywood during 1926 and 1927. An open-air terrace was included above the lobby which catered for dancing and socializing, as well as illicit drinking. The theatre was designed by L.A.-based architects Morgan, Walls, & Clements.

1926 Opening

Carter DeHaven, a stage and movie actor, opened the Music Box as a vaudeville revue theatre for the relatively modest cost of $500,000. His drive in building the Music Box was to “bring a bit of Times Square to Hollywood”, striving to get a “Ziegfeld flavor” into Los Angeles’ entertainment.

Despite being backed by investments from John Barrymore, John Gilbert, and King Vidor, and featuring artists such as Fanny Brice and Jack Dempsey, after less than a year the theatre switched to a legitimate operation with the U.S. West Coast premiere of Chicago starring Clark Gable and Nancy Carroll.

In 1936 the theatre became a radio studio for CBS, and was renamed as the Columbia Music Box and later the CBS Lux Radio Theatre. It then reverted to theatrical use in 1940.

Skouras-style 1940s exterior lobby

In 1945 Fox West Coast Theatres purchased the theatre and subsequently remodeled it in a Streamline Moderne decor (the present Skouras-style entrance lobby dates from this time). The Spanish Colonial Revival façade was covered with sheet metal which persists to this day.

Films were shown in the modernized theatre (renamed the Guild Theatre) from the start of February 1945.

In 1948 CBS returned to the theatre for a time, then in 1954 it was reopened as the Fox Theatre, showing movies again.

In the Fall of 1959 the theatre was renamed as the Pix, after Pacific Theatres took it over from Fox West Coast. In 1975 the premiere of “Jaws”  was held at the theatre, then in 1976 the premiere of “Rocky” . Latterly it tended to run Spanish-language films until its eventual closure in the mid-1980s.

The re-invented Auditorium

In early 1985 the Nederlander Organization reopened the theatre as the Henry Fonda Theatre (Fonda had played a long-running engagement at the theatre) after a $1.2 million renovation, with a gala dedication ceremony on 10th February 1985 hosted by James Stewart and Debbie Reynolds. Total seating capacity was reported as 863.

The first production was a stage adaptation of one of Fonda’s favorite films, Twelve Angry Men, with a cast including veterans Jack Klugman, Howard Hesseman and Ken Kercheval. Later productions included Glengarry Glen Ross and Driving Miss Daisy.

In 2002 the theatre was leased to a group who wanted to return the theatre to its “roaring twenties” roots. The space was reinvented as a music venue called the Music Box@Fonda and whereas the Orchestra seats were removed and the floor leveled to the stage, other historic details were revealed after many years of being covered-up, such as the deep alcoves flanking the proscenium arch. The theatre enjoyed a long run as a highly successful music venue and nightclub until January 2012.

In March 2012 Goldenvoice took over the lease and changed the name back to the Fonda Theatre. The Fonda continues to be a popular and vibrant live entertainment venue in the heart of Hollywood. The Fonda was recently named top music venue in L.A. (number one out of 50) by L.A.’s music critics.