Bakersfield in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Fox Theater

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 16, 2018

1. The Fox Theater Marker

Inscription. The Fox Theater was designed by Los Angeles-based motion picture theater architect S. Charles Lee (1899-1990), built by Beller Construction, and supervised by local architect Charles H. Biggar (1882-1946). The three-story Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style building opened on December 25, 1930 as the only air-conditioned movie theater in the San Joaquin Valley. In 1953, its original Mediterranean Village interior was replaced by a contemporary Art Deco motif created by Fox-West Coast designer Carl G. Moeller (1893-1975) under the direction of Charles P. Skouras (1889-1954). The Fox closed to the public in 1977 but was rescued from demolition by community efforts and reopened on June 28, 1994 as movie theater, center for performing arts, and venue for community events.

Erected by Kern County Historical Society. (Marker Number 2015.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 25, 1930.

Location. 35° 22.653′ N, 119° 1.293′ W. Marker is in Bakersfield, California, in Kern County. It is at the intersection of 20th Street and H Street, on the right when traveling west

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on 20th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1700 20th Street, Bakersfield CA 93301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Kern County Land Company Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hayden Building (about 400 feet away); Standard Oil Company Building (about 500 feet away); Hay Building (about 500 feet away); Crites Building (about 700 feet away); Padre Hotel (about 700 feet away); United States Post Office (about 700 feet away); Bank of Bakersfield (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bakersfield.

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 16, 2018

2. The Fox Theater Marker

The Fox Theater Marker - Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 16, 2018

3. The Fox Theater Marker - Wide View

The Fox Theater Ticket Booth image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 16, 2018

4. The Fox Theater Ticket Booth

The Fox Theater image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 16, 2018

5. The Fox Theater

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 790 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 16, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.