First to Maureen951. The opening gala is January 15 (as described above) and if you call 951.826.5312 and ask for information about the Fox, they will connect you.
I posted in October, 2008 about a book I was planning about the Fox Theater. That book, which is titled “Riverside’s Fox Theater: An Intimate Portrait,” is about to go to the printer, and will appear in December, 2009 at many downtown museums and stores, at Barnes and Noble, at Borders, and at my gallery at 3850 Lemon St. in downtown Riverside.
I am still in the process of raising funding for this project, and if you are interested in advance purchase of boxed-set books, 10 or more regular books at a 30% discount, an art print from the collection, or just in donating to the project, for which you will receive books and a mention on the Donors Page, please contact me at This address is also good if you would like to reserve between 1-9 books at the retail price of $34.95 plus tax and shipping (where applicable). I will post a link to an image of the book cover as soon as it is available. Thanks to those who have given me encouragement all along with this exciting project.
My photos of the opening night at the Pomona Fox theater are online now if you’d like to take a look. Go to www.mjeldermanphoto.ifp3.com, click on “Gallery” and scroll down to “Fox Pomona Opening Night.” You can also see some early construction photos by going down the list further to “Pomona Fox.”
I have been documenting both the Riverside Fox Theater and the Pomona Fox. The Riverside Theater will be showcased in a book, scheduled for publication in November, 2009, entitled “Riverside’s Fox Theater: The Heritage Continues”. This will be two months before the theater officially opens on January 22, 2010 (my latest info). The Pomona work will, I hope, be featured at the Theater’s opening in April, and in a gallery showing sometime this Spring or Summer in Pomona.
I am planning to mount a blog about both theaters (but primarily the Riverside Fox), and when that happens — I hope within a couple of weeks — I will announce on this site.
I have been documenting both the Riverside Fox Theater and the Pomona Fox. The Riverside Theater will be showcased in a book, scheduled for publication in November, 2009, entitled “Riverside’s Fox Theater: The Heritage Continues”. This will be two months before the theater officially opens on January 22, 2010 (my latest info). The Pomona work will, I hope, be featured at the Theater’s opening in April, and in a gallery showing sometime this Spring or Summer in Pomona.
I am planning to mount a blog about both theaters (but primarily the Riverside Fox), and when that happens — I hope within a couple of weeks — I will announce on this site.
Thanks ken mc for posting the photos. Interesting that you have listed two drive ins back east in New Jersey among your favorites — I grew up in Atlantic City and went to the drive ins through high school with lots of my friends. Obviously you are here in Riverside now — what do you do (or what DID you do, if you’re retired). My e-mail address is above if you want to send a note.
The opening date for the theater has been pushed back to January 11, 2010, the anniversary of the grand opening gala in 1929. I understand that the “Preview” sign was pulled off the tower facade a few months back and unceremoniously thrown to the ground, where it shattered. There is a movement to see if the city will have another one made, but I don’t know who is involved, or whether there will be a response. The theater itself is changing dramatically, and scaffolding near the stage has already been removed, while the scaffolding allowing workmen to repaint the ceiling will most likely come down within a couple of weeks. You can see some photos from my book project by going to my website at www.mjeldermanphoto.ifp3.com and scrolling down the “Gallery” to Riverside Fox (there are also some photos from documentation of the Pomona Fox here).
Anyone who has artifacts, photos or any other information about the Fox, including interesting stories of your memories or experiences there — please send me your stories, info, and photos via e-mail, or to me at P. O. Box 55435, Riverside, CA 92517. —Michael J. Elderman
I AM planning a book, to be published at about the time the Fox has its grand reopening, probably about September-October, 2009. It will be primarily artistic photos made using light, shadow, color, geometry, but it will also have more literal documentation particularly of the features people associate with the theater — the grand staircase going up from the lobby, the two curved stairway facades at left and right front of the theater, the tower, the “preview” sign (which I think will return when the theater is finished). It will be a hardcover coffee table style book. Anyone who has historic information about the uses of the theater over the years is invited to send me the information at If you would like to receive e-mailed information on how to purchase the book for yourself or your company, please let me know. This is such an exciting project and the changes in the theater inside are already spectacular. Submitted by MJ Elderman
First to Maureen951. The opening gala is January 15 (as described above) and if you call 951.826.5312 and ask for information about the Fox, they will connect you.
I posted in October, 2008 about a book I was planning about the Fox Theater. That book, which is titled “Riverside’s Fox Theater: An Intimate Portrait,” is about to go to the printer, and will appear in December, 2009 at many downtown museums and stores, at Barnes and Noble, at Borders, and at my gallery at 3850 Lemon St. in downtown Riverside.
I am still in the process of raising funding for this project, and if you are interested in advance purchase of boxed-set books, 10 or more regular books at a 30% discount, an art print from the collection, or just in donating to the project, for which you will receive books and a mention on the Donors Page, please contact me at This address is also good if you would like to reserve between 1-9 books at the retail price of $34.95 plus tax and shipping (where applicable). I will post a link to an image of the book cover as soon as it is available. Thanks to those who have given me encouragement all along with this exciting project.
My photos of the opening night at the Pomona Fox theater are online now if you’d like to take a look. Go to www.mjeldermanphoto.ifp3.com, click on “Gallery” and scroll down to “Fox Pomona Opening Night.” You can also see some early construction photos by going down the list further to “Pomona Fox.”
I have been documenting both the Riverside Fox Theater and the Pomona Fox. The Riverside Theater will be showcased in a book, scheduled for publication in November, 2009, entitled “Riverside’s Fox Theater: The Heritage Continues”. This will be two months before the theater officially opens on January 22, 2010 (my latest info). The Pomona work will, I hope, be featured at the Theater’s opening in April, and in a gallery showing sometime this Spring or Summer in Pomona.
I am planning to mount a blog about both theaters (but primarily the Riverside Fox), and when that happens — I hope within a couple of weeks — I will announce on this site.
Michael J. Elderman/
I have been documenting both the Riverside Fox Theater and the Pomona Fox. The Riverside Theater will be showcased in a book, scheduled for publication in November, 2009, entitled “Riverside’s Fox Theater: The Heritage Continues”. This will be two months before the theater officially opens on January 22, 2010 (my latest info). The Pomona work will, I hope, be featured at the Theater’s opening in April, and in a gallery showing sometime this Spring or Summer in Pomona.
I am planning to mount a blog about both theaters (but primarily the Riverside Fox), and when that happens — I hope within a couple of weeks — I will announce on this site.
Michael J. Elderman/
Thanks ken mc for posting the photos. Interesting that you have listed two drive ins back east in New Jersey among your favorites — I grew up in Atlantic City and went to the drive ins through high school with lots of my friends. Obviously you are here in Riverside now — what do you do (or what DID you do, if you’re retired). My e-mail address is above if you want to send a note.
The opening date for the theater has been pushed back to January 11, 2010, the anniversary of the grand opening gala in 1929. I understand that the “Preview” sign was pulled off the tower facade a few months back and unceremoniously thrown to the ground, where it shattered. There is a movement to see if the city will have another one made, but I don’t know who is involved, or whether there will be a response. The theater itself is changing dramatically, and scaffolding near the stage has already been removed, while the scaffolding allowing workmen to repaint the ceiling will most likely come down within a couple of weeks. You can see some photos from my book project by going to my website at www.mjeldermanphoto.ifp3.com and scrolling down the “Gallery” to Riverside Fox (there are also some photos from documentation of the Pomona Fox here).
Anyone who has artifacts, photos or any other information about the Fox, including interesting stories of your memories or experiences there — please send me your stories, info, and photos via e-mail, or to me at P. O. Box 55435, Riverside, CA 92517. —Michael J. Elderman
I AM planning a book, to be published at about the time the Fox has its grand reopening, probably about September-October, 2009. It will be primarily artistic photos made using light, shadow, color, geometry, but it will also have more literal documentation particularly of the features people associate with the theater — the grand staircase going up from the lobby, the two curved stairway facades at left and right front of the theater, the tower, the “preview” sign (which I think will return when the theater is finished). It will be a hardcover coffee table style book. Anyone who has historic information about the uses of the theater over the years is invited to send me the information at If you would like to receive e-mailed information on how to purchase the book for yourself or your company, please let me know. This is such an exciting project and the changes in the theater inside are already spectacular. Submitted by MJ Elderman