Fremont Theatre
San Luis Obispo, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Downtown San Luis Obispo really lights up when the neon comes on at the Fremont Theatre. From the sweeping marquee to the towering 35-foot blade, this is one of those places that demands a nighttime photo. Add the curving Streamline Moderne facade and there is plenty to keep the camera busy.
The Fremont opened on May 19, 1942, with This Above All playing on the screen. Designed by noted theater architect S. Charles Lee, the building combined Art Deco details with a reinforced concrete structure sturdy enough to serve as an emergency community shelter during World War II. Inside, tropical murals and glowing decorative features added even more showmanship.
Fremont Theatre
San Luis Obispo, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
After years as a movie house, the Fremont found a second act as a live entertainment venue. Concerts, comedy shows, and special events now fill the auditorium, while the working neon continues to light Monterey Street just as it did for generations of moviegoers.
UPDATE: Part of the tower’s exterior casing broke loose during a major storm on February 17, 2026. The theater temporarily closed while engineers stabilized the facade and inspected the sign. Following repairs, the Fremont reopened in April 2026 and is once again welcoming crowds beneath all that neon. 09-26
Tower Theatre
Fresno, CA Photo courtesy D. Randy Riggs
The Tower Theatre in Fresno is all lit up for the movies in this 1997 view. From its sweeping marquee to the glowing 80-foot tower, the neon appears to be in great working order. The theater originally opened under Fox West Coast management in December 1939. 04-06
Designed by S. Charles Lee, the Streamline Moderne landmark was inspired in part by the futuristic Star Pylon at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. It eventually became so closely identified with the neighborhood that the surrounding area took its name and became Fresno’s Tower District.
UPDATE: The Tower Theatre remains open as a performing arts venue for concerts, comedy, films, and special events. Its extensive neon display received a major rewiring and restoration in 2019, helping keep this Tower District landmark glowing after dark. 09-26
Fox
Theatre
Bakersfield, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The neon still glows brightly from the Fox Theatre in downtown Bakersfield. Check out the illuminated facade, classic clock tower, and tall Fox lettering. When everything is switched on for a special evening, the theater once again becomes one of the brightest sights downtown.
Designed by S. Charles Lee, the Fox opened on Christmas Day in 1930. The sturdy theater survived the devastating 1952 Kern County earthquake, closed in 1977, and was saved from possible demolition by the Fox Theater Foundation in 1994. It now hosts concerts, comedy, and community events.
UPDATE: The Fox was opened on Christmas Day in 1930. This Art Deco theatre was then closed from 1977 to 1994 until the non-profit Fox Theater Foundation saved it from being destroyed. More information can be found at the Fox site here. 07-06
UPDATE: After years of electrical problems sometimes left the tower reading “OX” or “FO,” community fundraising paid for a complete neon restoration. The repaired sign was fully relit in March 2019 and continues to shine above downtown Bakersfield. 09-26
Fremont Theatre
Fremont Theatre
Tower Theatre
