The beautiful and historic California Theatre of
the Performing Arts was built in 1928 in opulent Spanish/Moorish
style and is beautifully preserved both inside and out. The theater
serves as home to many San Bernardino organizations including
the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of
Maestro Carlo Ponti Jr, the Inland Dance Theater, San Bernardino
Valley Concert Association and Theater Arts International.
The San Bernardino Symphony was founded in 1929 by Maestro James
K. Guthrie, an internationally renowned conductor and community
leader. The Orchestra is the oldest and most prestigious in the
Inland Empire. It was also the first fully professional ensemble
of musicians in the region, boasting an unparalelled standard
of musical performance under the dynamic leadership of its conductor,
Maestro Carlo Ponti, Jr.
Take note of the enormous outdoor mural on the east side of the
building. The mural was commissioned from renowned artist Kent
Twitchell and recalls Will Rogers' last stage performance, which
took place at this very theater in 1935, just before his death
in a plane crash in Alaska.
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