the Fonda Theatre
{{Short description|Concert venue in Los Angeles, California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = The Fonda Theatre
| image = HANA 2 28 2020 (50774119022).jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption = The Fonda Theatre in 2020
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| address = 6126 Hollywood Boulevard
| city = Hollywood, California
| country = United States
| designation =
| coordinates = {{Coord|34.101642|-118.323259|display=inline,title}}
| architect = Morgan, Walls & Clements
| publictransit = {{LACMTA link logo}} {{LACMTA icon strip|Red}} Hollywood/Vine
| owner =
| tenant =
| operator = Goldenvoice
| capacity = 1,200
| opened = {{Start date|1926|10|20}}
| reopened =
| yearsactive =
| rebuilt =
| closed =
| demolished =
| former names = {{ubl|Music Box Theatre|Guild Theatre|Fox Theatre|Pix Theatre}}
| production =
| currentuse = Music venue
| website = {{URL|http://fondatheatre.com}}
}}
The Fonda Theatre (formerly Music Box Theatre, Guild Theatre, Fox Theatre, and Pix Theatre) is a concert venue located on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the {{convert|31000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} theater has hosted live events, films, and radio broadcasts.{{cite web |title=On Golden Fonda |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-103124636.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105032755/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-103124636.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |work=Los Angeles Magazine |publisher=HighBeam Research |date=June 1, 2003 |format=fee required}}
History
On October 20, 1926,{{Cite news|url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/|title=Music Box Ready To Open Doors|date=1926-10-20|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-08-21}} the Carter DeHaven Music Box opened with a revue called Fancy. It had been planned to open the theatre two days earlier however a postponement was caused by the illness of Arthur Kay, a principal actor. Among the first investors in the new theater were John Barrymore, John Gilbert, Reginald Denny, King Vidor, and Mae Murray.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-06-re-6966-story.html |title= Hollywood Pix Theater to Become Fonda Playhouse |date=January 6, 1985 |work=Los Angeles Times}}
The Music Box switched from revues to legitimate theater in 1927 with the west coast première of Chicago, starring Clark Gable and Nancy Carroll. Stage plays continued at the Music Box for nearly two decades—aside from a period beginning in 1936 when the site was used as a broadcasting studio by Lux Radio Theater.{{cite web |url=http://www.lastagetimes.com/2011/10/la-stage-insider-38/ |title=Inside LA Stage History |first=Julio |last=Martinez |date=October 27, 2011 |work=LA Stage Times |access-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-date=July 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727102014/http://www.lastagetimes.com/2011/10/la-stage-insider-38/ |url-status=dead }}
In 1945, Fox West Coast purchased the building and remodeled it for film exhibition in a Streamline Moderne decor, which included covering the Spanish Colonial Revival façade with sheet metal. Opening in February 1945, the theater showed movies for 32 years; first as the Guild Theatre, then as the Fox Theatre, and finally as the Pix Theatre, before closing its doors in 1977.{{cite web |url=https://digital.lib.washington.edu/architect/structures/7588/ |title= Carter DeHaven Music Box Theatre |first=Alan |last=Michelson |work=Pacific Coast Architecture Database |access-date=July 29, 2012}}
The Nederlander Organization reopened the house as a legitimate theater in 1985 and renamed it in honor of film and stage actor Henry Fonda. In ensuing years, productions such as the Pulitzer Prize winning play Glengarry Glen Ross, and Driving Miss Daisy graced the stage.
Efforts to restore the theater to its Roaring Twenties glory began in 2002, culminating in the original name being placed back on the marquee.{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodheritage.org/newsarchive/fall_2004/musicbox.html |title= Return of the Music Box Theater |first=Robert |last=Nudelman |date=Fall 2004 |work=Hollywood Heritage |access-date=July 29, 2012}} In 2012, Goldenvoice took over the Music Box and changed the name back to the Fonda Theatre.{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2012/02/15/goldenvoice-reportedly-taking-over-music-box |title=Goldenvoice Reportedly Taking Over Music Box |first=Rebecca |last=Haithcoat |newspaper=LA Weekly |date=February 15, 2012}} The theater was named the top venue in Los Angeles by LA Weekly in 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/las-50-best-music-venues-5664190 |title=L.A.'s 50 Best Music Venues |newspaper=LA Weekly |date=June 15, 2015}}
Avenged Sevenfold filmed a music video for the song "Unholy Confessions" on March 6, 2004 at the Fonda Theatre.
The Bachelor was filmed live at the Fonda Theatre on January 7, 2019.
Baby Keem jumped off the stage at the Fonda Theatre, as mentioned in his 2022 song “naked freestyle.”
American rap collective and boyband BROCKHAMPTON performed their final show at the Fonda Theatre on November 19, 2022.
Socialite, entrepreneur, model, and singer Paris Hilton performed at the Fonda Theatre on June 7, 2023.
Popular YouTuber, Twitch Streamer, and Singer-Songwriter Dream performed at the Fonda Theatre on September 26-27 2023.{{Cite web |title= The Fonda Theatre|url=https://www.fondatheatre.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915074828/https://www.fondatheatre.com/ |archive-date=September 15, 2023 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Anschutz}}
{{Movie theaters in Los Angeles}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fonda Theatre}}
Category:Theatres in Hollywood, Los Angeles
Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in Hollywood, Los Angeles
Category:Former cinemas and movie theaters in Los Angeles
Category:Music venues in Los Angeles
Category:Theatres completed in 1926
Category:Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in California
Category:Spanish Colonial Revival cinemas and movie theaters