In 1908, land on the corner of “C” and Lemon streets was purchased by the First Nazarene Church of Ontario to build a sanctuary. The church was built in the Gothic Revival style at a cost of $6,500. It represented one of the better examples of this style in the city with front and side facing gables, leaded glass windows, a Craftsman style roof, prominent corner hipped roof tower, faucet vents and a lancet arched main entrance. Over the decades, a...s the congregation grew, a parsonage, fellowship hall and classroom buildings were added to the property. In 1968, the congregation purchased five-acres of land on Fifth Street and Mountain Avenue and moved into their newly built facility.
From 1968 to 1970, the former church building was used by other denominations for worship and had also been a business college and nursery school. In September of 1970, it became the Harlequin Theater. No changes were made to the exterior; however, the interior was transformed into a theater/art gallery. A crystal chandelier measuring five feet in diameter hung in the main lobby and the interior walls were covered in red wallpaper. The walls were also to display the work of local artists. The stage area was a half circle with a seating capacity for 150 people.
In 1972, the facility was purchased by the Gallery Theatre Group of Upland, as their former theater in Upland was to be torn down and replaced with a parking lot. The theater group presented plays for family entertainment such as Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, and The Sound of Music. Most of the actors were amateurs, with the exception of the owners, Mark and Jeanne Shipley, and the theater had a track record of positive reviews for their productions. By 1977, the Gallery Theatre was one of four community theaters in the Pomona Valley. The Valley Community Theatre in Pomona was the oldest, followed by the Gallery Theatre, then Fontana Mummers Community Playhouse, and Claremont Playhouse.
By July of 1985, the owners suffered a drop in business of 50% and nearly faced foreclosure on the building. In April of 1989, the building was purchased by the City of Ontario Redevelopment Agency and the theatre company was sold to Lee and Darcy Bradshaw. By September of 1989 the building risked collapse and was ordered shut down. In 1990 the building suffered further damage as a result of a 5.5 earthquake. Efforts to save the 85 year-old building failed and it was demolished in June of 1993. The stained glass windows, some concrete blocks, a church pew and a banister were salvaged for the Church of the Nazarene who planned to make a heritage wall on their property with the concrete blocks. The former theater was replaced with a parking lot but has now become one of the entrances to the newly built Ontario Town Square.
Post content and Photo credit: Model Colony History Room
In 1972, the facility was purchased by the Gallery Theatre Group of Upland, as their former theater in Upland was to be torn down and replaced with a parking lot. The theater group presented plays for family entertainment such as Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, and The Sound of Music. Most of the actors were amateurs, with the exception of the owners, Mark and Jeanne Shipley, and the theater had a track record of positive reviews for their productions. By 1977, the Gallery Theatre was one of four community theaters in the Pomona Valley. The Valley Community Theatre in Pomona was the oldest, followed by the Gallery Theatre, then Fontana Mummers Community Playhouse, and Claremont Playhouse.
By July of 1985, the owners suffered a drop in business of 50% and nearly faced foreclosure on the building. In April of 1989, the building was purchased by the City of Ontario Redevelopment Agency and the theatre company was sold to Lee and Darcy Bradshaw. By September of 1989 the building risked collapse and was ordered shut down. In 1990 the building suffered further damage as a result of a 5.5 earthquake. Efforts to save the 85 year-old building failed and it was demolished in June of 1993. The stained glass windows, some concrete blocks, a church pew and a banister were salvaged for the Church of the Nazarene who planned to make a heritage wall on their property with the concrete blocks. The former theater was replaced with a parking lot but has now become one of the entrances to the newly built Ontario Town Square.
Post content and Photo credit: Model Colony History Room
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