Tower Theatre, Fresno, California
historic place
The Tower Theatre, a historic place in Fresno, California, opened to the public on December 15, 1939. Located in Fresno County, this landmark was designed by Los Angeles architect S. Charles Lee. It was Lee's only completed project in Fresno. The building is a prominent example of the Streamline Moderne architectural style. Its eighty-foot tower was inspired by the "Star Pylon" at the 1939 New York World's Fair. The Tower Theatre was Fresno's first suburban cinema. Inside, Dutch-born muralist Anthony Heinsbergen created captivating murals, including "Leda and Swan" and "Vine" motifs. These were illuminated by ultraviolet lights, making the Tower Theatre one of the first in the nation to use this ornamental technique. The Tower Theatre remains historically important as a significant example of Streamline Moderne architecture and an early suburban movie theater in Fresno.