Theaters with a premiere of the film Balalaika. It opened to the public the next day, featuring the films Dancing Co-Ed and Henry Goes Arizona. The theater was not certified as complete until January 29, 1940, but there was a push to occupy the building prior to Christmas 1939. Following A. Emory Wishon's death in 1948, the theater property was sold to a Fox Theaters subsidiary by his estate. The theater was converted to CinemaScope in 1954, resulting in the removal of a false proscenium stage. The theater stopped showing first run films in 1980 and switched to a repertory cinema format. The theater later ran foreign films for several years until 1989 when it ceased operation. The theater was deeply in debt and running films was no longer economically viable. A Certified Historic Rehabilitation began on the property, renovating the theater and retail wings. Following the restoration, the theater reopened as the "Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts". The renovation earned awards from the California Preservation Foundation and the San Joaquin Chapter, American Institute of Architects. The non-profit organization Fresno Filmworks has been showing first-run independent cinema at The Tower Theatre on the second Friday of each month since 2002. The theater also hosts the annual Fresno Film Festival. Historic designations The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 1992. It was nominated under Criterion C for its local architectural significance within three contexts. It was built at the close of the Great Depression and during the peak popularity of the Streamline Moderne style. The theater was the only work completed by Lee in the city of Fresno, and is representative of his designs for suburban movie theaters. Lastly, it is one of only six extant vintage theaters in Fresno; the only one designed with an on-site parking lot and the only suburban facility. Its period of significance was given as 1939–1940, the construction and completion of the theater being the primary significant events in its history. No claim of significance under Criterion B was made, since its owners and developers were not singularly associated with the theater. The theater is also listed on Fresno's Local Register of Historic Resources as property 190. Design and setting The theater is located in a neighborhood eponymously named the "Tower District". It is located at the northwest corner of North Wishon and East Olive Avenues. The