In 1937 Fontana's first movie theater was built in the downtown civic center area off Sierra Avenue and Arrow Boulevard. The Fontana Theater was designed by Kansas City architect Carl H. Boller who along with his brother is attributed for having built similar theaters throughout the United States, including the fully-operational as well as highly successful, Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado. The Fontana Theater, like many of Boller's designs was an immediate success.

In a time before Kaiser was producing steel or the City of Fontana was incorporated, the theater was a place where children and adults could spend a Saturday at a matinee watching movies like the first feature length animated hit, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, or falling in love with rising stars like Cary Grant or Barbara Stanwyck.

In time, the theater, like many in towns across America, was shut down, changed hands, or completely transformed to suit a whole new purpose. In the case of the Fontana Theater, the facility has been home of the Elks Lodge, a roller skating rink, tea shop, stationary store, and as of late, the home of the theatrical troupe the Fontana Mummers (later renamed the Fontana Community Players).

In 2004, the City Council began an exploratory review of how the citizens of Fontana would receive a proposed renovation of the Fontana Theater. The result was an expressed desire for more cultural arts programming including a renovation of the downtown theater that would offer citizens a night of fine cultural entertainment within the city limits.

Council made a bid and successfully purchased the facility in 2004 for $400,000. An additional $6 million was earmarked for the project to include a full refurbishment of the framework, the addition of a box office extension that has stayed true to the art deco motif, and a modern-day interior to provide comfort to audiences.

In preparation for the reemergence of the classic theater and the expanding cultural arts programming, the Council approved the creation of a performing arts program within the Community Services Department.

Nathan Hunt, who has played a significant role at the Fontana Library Foundation and has a strong background in the performing arts, was hired to facilitate infill programming for the Center Stage Theater as well as the Steelworkers' Auditorium at the new regional Lewis Library and Technology Center, and the outdoor amphitheater at Miller Park.

While Hunt acts as the liaison for the community and performance groups, the Council also recognized that to stay true to citizen requests for high quality performances, a contract with an outside production company to produce the shows was needed. An agreement was made in 2007/2008 between the City of Fontana and Stargazer Productions, owned and operated by Todd and Jennifer Vigiletti, who will be responsible for programming and operating the facility. This will be the fourth theatrical venue owned by the couple.

"In the past, we have had opportunities to open theaters in the Inland Empire, but the work that needed to be done was not being accomplished. In the case of Center Stage, we were brought on as project consultants and formed a very nice relationship with the City of Fontana in the process. We looked at what they were doing and finally, we had found a group who was doing it right," says Todd Vigiletti.

The Vigilettis' also see Fontana as the community that will become a model for others within the Inland Empire and all of Southern California. The unique blend of public and private sectors represents a significant new investment into Fontana's cultural arts.

Adds Vigiletti, "There is an excitement about the nature of the project. We will run the theater as a private sector business with some tax revenue from the ticket sales with the aim of eventually having a profitability for future investment in Fontana's cultural arts. This will be one project other cities will eye and most likely replicate."

Stargazer Productions is a well-known performance company that is the group behind Tibbies, a long running cabaret group founded at the turn of the century by actress Marie LaRoy who wanted "the best in elegant dining and extravagant entertainment." Decades later, the company was bought by Stargazer Productions. While Tibbies performers are featured at one of Vigilettis' theaters, the cabaret is also a leading show aboard the Queen Mary.

Similar performances including cabarets and specialty shows will soon grace the stage in Fontana.

For information on Tibbies, please visit www.tibbiescabaret.com. To find out more about the cultural arts programs, the Steelworkers' Auditorium, or the outdoor amphitheater at Miller Park, please contact Nathan Hunt at (909) 429-7469