Music Box Theatre

6126 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Unfavorite 17 people favorited this theater

Music Box Theatre

Viewing: Photo | Street View

Opened as the Carter DeHaven Music Box Theatre on 20th October 1926, this theatre went through several owners and corresponding name changes. It became a radio studio theatre in 1936, then returned to legitimate theatre use as the Music Box Theatre in the early-1940’s.

Before being renamed as the Henry Fonda Theatre, it went over to screening movies and was re-named the Fox Theatre (not to be confused with the Fox Theatre at Hollywood Boulevard and Wilcox Avenue, which was the old Iris Theatre) and then the Pix Theatre.

When the theatre was still known as the Pix Theatre, it had a really nice neon marquee. The Pix Theatre was the movie house that premiered “Jaws” on Hollywood Boulevard in 1975. A year later they showed “Rocky”. Not a very large theatre but it showed many blockbuster’s in the 1970’s before becoming a live venue named the Heny Fonda Theatre.

In recent years it has come under new management (leased from the Nederlander Organisation) and presents concerts, live performances and special events and was known as the Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre.

In 2007, a restoration was begun to bring it back to its 1926 appearance, and it was renamed The Music Box @ Fonda. In 2010, it reverted back to its original Music Box Theatre name. It was closed suddenly in early January 2012.

Contributed by William Gabel, B Erickson

Recent comments (view all 100 comments)

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on November 13, 2010 at 5:16 pm

You’re fast, Hollywood — I just got home from the event! Great pictures, by the way.

hdtv267
hdtv267 on December 1, 2010 at 7:29 am

On the date of Jan 19, 1965, the GHOULS took over when it was known as the Pix for “Tomb of Ligeia” Vincent Price himself led the Ghouls

View link

Ed Miller
Ed Miller on July 6, 2011 at 3:26 am

Of course, the theater was originally named for the father of movie star Gloria De Haven. Does anyone know if she’s active in the preservation/restoration plans?

Bill H
Bill H on October 20, 2011 at 9:05 pm

Today this theater first opened its doors for business 85 years ago in 1926 !!

MJuggler
MJuggler on January 6, 2012 at 5:21 pm

Just read that it is closed! http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2012/01/rip-music-box-for-good/

Ed Miller
Ed Miller on January 7, 2012 at 12:12 am

MJuggler, that really stinks!

CTCrouch
CTCrouch on January 7, 2012 at 1:36 am

The closure was the end result of a legal dispute between the property owners and the theatre’s, now former, operator; naturally, each side has a different take on the scenario. However, the property owners are actively seeking a new operator and are committed to reopening as soon as possible. This is NOT a case of a site which doesn’t make money and there are no plans to operate it as anything other than a live theatre.

Ed Miller
Ed Miller on January 8, 2012 at 10:55 pm

Thanks for that good-news update, CTCrouch!

hdtv267
hdtv267 on April 14, 2012 at 4:36 pm

The conversation between Robert Osborne and Peter O'Toole from last years TCM Film Festival recently aired. This was recorded at the Music Box.

Other than this being a great insight into an other wise very private man, you’ll also get a look at what, alas, is the now closed Music Box theater.

johngleeson
johngleeson on April 15, 2012 at 4:31 am

I saw The War Wagon at the Pix. The walls were covered with maroon drapes and the screen seemed bigger than would fit on the stage – possibly it was constructed forward of the proscenium.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater