Fox Theatre Inglewood
Why it's listed
Built in 1949 at 115 N. Market Street in downtown Inglewood, this movie theatre replaced the Granada Theater, which opened in 1924 and was gutted by fire in 1945. Architect S. Charles Lee designed the street front, with a metal blade-shaped tower sign, a projecting marquee and a recessed entrance meant to start the show on the sidewalk. Inside, a kidney-shaped lobby leads to an auditorium that originally seated about 1,000. Designer Carl G. Moeller decorated the auditorium in the 'Skouras Style', combining Art Deco and rococo forms in gilded plaster and metal, including large sconces and a sweeping ceiling arabesque that hid neon lighting. The nomination treats it as a turning point in the Lee-Moeller partnership and as an outstanding example of the style, which was used for Fox West Coast theatres. It is listed for architecture at the local level. The theatre is now vacant, and much of its original seating and detailing survives.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant at the local level under Criterion C as the work of two masters, Lee and Moeller. It also embodies the distinctive characteristics of a 'Skouras Style' movie theatre, a mix of Art Deco and rococo ornament used for Fox West Coast Theatres between about 1945 and 1954.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12001163, listed January 14, 2013. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 N. Market St., Inglewood |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | January 14, 2013 |
| Reference number | 12001163 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1949 |
| Architect / builder | Lee, S. Charles, Architect; Moeller, Carl G., Designer |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Streamline Moderne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the marquee is boxed behind plywood and the neon has been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.96318, -118.35275 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12001163.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16928091
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.