Fonda Theatre

The Fonda Theatre is a historic performance venue on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The approximately 31,000-square-foot theater occupies a significant place in the city's entertainment history because it has operated under several names and hosted multiple forms of popular culture, including stage revues, legitimate theater, radio broadcasting, motion pictures, concerts, and filmed television events. The building opened on October 20, 1926, as the Carter DeHaven Music Box with the revue Fancy. Its opening had been postponed by two days because of the illness of Arthur Kay, one of the production's principal actors. Early investors reportedly included prominent figures from the entertainment and film industries, among them John Barrymore, John Gilbert, Reginald Denny, King Vidor, and Mae Murray. In 1927, the venue moved from revues toward legitimate theater and presented the West Coast premiere of Chicago, starring Clark Gable and Nancy Carroll. Stage productions remained an important part of the theater's identity for nearly two decades. Beginning in 1936, the building was also used as a broadcasting studio for Lux Radio Theater. In 1945, Fox West Coast acquired the property and remodeled it for film exhibition. The renovation introduced a Streamline Moderne interior treatment and covered the original Spanish Colonial Revival exterior with sheet metal. The cinema subsequently operated under the Guild Theatre, Fox Theatre, and Pix Theatre names. It remained a movie house for roughly 32 years before closing in 1977. The Nederlander Organization reopened the building in 1985 for legitimate theater and renamed it in honor of actor Henry Fonda. During this period, the venue hosted productions including Glengarry Glen Ross, which later won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and Driving Miss Daisy. A restoration effort launched in 2002 sought to recover the theater's earlier architectural character and Roaring Twenties atmosphere. The original Music Box name was restored to the marquee during that process. In 2012, Goldenvoice took over operation of the venue and returned it to the Fonda Theatre name. Since then, the venue has primarily been positioned as a concert and live-entertainment space, while retaining its theatrical and broadcast heritage. Its programming has included major touring artists, emerging acts, special performances, filmed events, and intimate shows. A widely noted example was the Rolling Stones' May 2015 performance, during which the band played the Sticky Fingers album in full for the first time; the performance was recorded and later issued as a standalone album. LA Weekly named the Fonda the top venue in Los Angeles in 2015. The Fonda's brand rests on the combination of historic Hollywood identity, a restored theater environment, and contemporary live-music programming. It continues to operate as an active venue, although public reference material does not establish a separately disclosed corporate owner, financial profile, or current executive roster.

The Fonda Theatre opened on October 20, 1926, as the Carter DeHaven Music Box. Its first presentation was Fancy, a revue whose opening had been delayed because of the illness of principal actor Arthur Kay. The venue was associated with a group of early investors that included actors John Barrymore, John Gilbert, and Reginald Denny, filmmaker King Vidor, and actor Mae Murray. Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the building was conceived as a theatrical venue during Hollywood's expanding entertainment boom. In 1927, the Music Box shifted from revue programming to legitimate theater. One of its early stage milestones was the West Coast premiere of Chicago, featuring Clark Gable and Nancy Carroll. The house continued to present stage plays for nearly two decades. Its role broadened in 1936 when it became a broadcasting studio for Lux Radio Theater, linking the building to the era's influential live radio productions. Fox West Coast acquired the building in 1945 and converted it into a cinema. The remodeling replaced much of the visible period character with Streamline Moderne styling and covered the Spanish Colonial Revival facade with sheet metal. The theater reopened in February 1945 as the Guild Theatre. It later adopted the Fox Theatre and Pix Theatre names while remaining focused on motion-picture exhibition. After approximately 32 years as a movie theater, the building closed in 1977. The Nederlander Organization reopened the property in 1985 as a legitimate theater and renamed it the Fonda Theatre in tribute to actor Henry Fonda. The renewed stage program included productions such as Glengarry Glen Ross and Driving Miss Daisy. This period restored the building's role as a live-performance house after its long cinema phase. Restoration work began in 2002 with the objective of recovering the atmosphere and architectural identity associated with the theater's 1920s origins. The original Music Box name was returned to the marquee as part of the restoration process. In 2012, Goldenvoice assumed control of the venue and changed the name back to the Fonda Theatre, establishing its current identity within Los Angeles's concert ecosystem. Since the Goldenvoice transition, the Fonda has principally functioned as a concert venue while remaining suitable for special events, filmed productions, and other live entertainment. Its documented programming includes the Rolling Stones' 2015 Sticky Fingers performance, television filming, and later shows by artists including Paris Hilton, Dream, and the Regrettes. The building's long succession of names reflects changing uses, but its central role as a Hollywood performance venue has continued for almost a century.

• 2015

  Named Los Angeles's top venue by LA Weekly

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  LA Weekly recognizes the Fonda as the top venue in Los Angeles.

• 2012

  Goldenvoice assumes operation

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Goldenvoice takes over the venue and returns the Fonda Theatre name.

• 2002

  Restoration program begins

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Work begins to restore the theater's Roaring Twenties character and historic appearance.

• 1985

  Reopens under the Fonda Theatre name

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Nederlander Organization reopens the property for legitimate theater and names it after Henry Fonda.

• 1977

  Cinema closes

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater ends its long period of movie exhibition.

• 1945

  Fox West Coast converts the venue to a cinema

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Fox West Coast purchases and remodels the building for film exhibition. It subsequently operates as the Guild Theatre, Fox Theatre, and Pix Theatre.

• 1936

  Broadcasting-studio period begins

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The building begins a period of use as a Lux Radio Theater broadcasting studio.

• 1927

  Move into legitimate theater

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue presents the West Coast premiere of Chicago and begins emphasizing stage plays rather than revues.

• 1926

  Carter DeHaven Music Box opens

  [1]The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater opens on October 20 with the revue Fancy.

A historic Hollywood theater repositioned as a premium live-music and entertainment venue, combining restored 1920s architectural character with contemporary concert programming.

• Live entertainment · 2012

  Live concert programming

  The Fonda's principal contemporary offering is a calendar of live concerts. The venue accommodates touring performers, special engagements, and artist-focused shows in a historic theater environment. Its documented concert history ranges from major international acts to contemporary performers and final or exclusive appearances, making the venue a recognizable stop in Los Angeles's live-music circuit.

• Performing arts · 1926

  Theatrical productions

  Stage theater was central to the building's original identity and returned after its 1985 reopening under the Nederlander Organization. Productions associated with the venue include Glengarry Glen Ross and Driving Miss Daisy. Although the current identity is primarily concert-oriented, the theater remains historically and physically suited to stage performance.

• Film and television venue · 1936

  Filmed and broadcast events

  The building has supported filmed and broadcast entertainment across different periods. It served as a Lux Radio Theater broadcasting studio beginning in 1936, and later hosted filmed entertainment events including a live edition of The Bachelor. This use extends the venue beyond ticketed concerts and stage shows.

• 2012

  Goldenvoice takeover and concert repositioningStrategy

  Background

  The venue entered a new operating phase focused more strongly on contemporary live music.

  Action taken

  Goldenvoice took over the Music Box and changed the name back to the Fonda Theatre.

  Aftermath

  The Fonda became principally identified with concert programming while retaining capacity for theatrical and filmed events.

  Source

• 2002

  Historic restoration initiativeStrategy

  Background

  The theater's successive uses and remodels had altered its original appearance and atmosphere.

  Action taken

  A restoration effort began to recover the building's Roaring Twenties character and historic identity, including the return of the original Music Box name to the marquee.

  Aftermath

  The restoration prepared the property for renewed prominence as a historic Los Angeles entertainment venue.

  Source

• 1985

  Return to legitimate theaterStrategy

  Background

  Following the cinema period and a period of closure, the Nederlander Organization reopened the house as a live theatrical venue.

  Action taken

  The building was restored to legitimate-theater use and renamed the Fonda Theatre in honor of Henry Fonda.

  Aftermath

  The venue again hosted stage productions, including Glengarry Glen Ross and Driving Miss Daisy.

  Source

• 1945

  Conversion from stage venue to cinemaStrategy

  Background

  After Fox West Coast acquired the building, the venue moved away from its earlier theatrical identity and was remodeled for motion-picture exhibition.

  Action taken

  The interior was redesigned in a Streamline Moderne style, and the Spanish Colonial Revival facade was covered with sheet metal. The venue operated successively as the Guild Theatre, Fox Theatre, and Pix Theatre.

  Aftermath

  The building remained a movie theater until its closure in 1977.

  Source

1. 1The Fonda Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Fonda Theatre official websitefondatheatre.com