Welcome to Fresno's Tower District!
*This Virtual has been adopted and updated with new logging requirements since it original publishment, see far below for original "Tower Trek"*
The Tower District is an older, central city neighborhood in Fresno, California. It is one of Fresno's earliest suburbs! In the 1880's what is now the Tower District was quite a far piece from downtown Fresno, nearly 45 minutes away by a good horse and buggy and an hour by foot. The district emerged in the early 1900's as a streetcar suburb of a rapidly growing Fresno. By the 1940's its namesake (the Tower Theatre) had been built and the district had evolved into a dense, diverse, thriving neighborhood.
The Tower District is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Fresno. The unique mix includes dozens of ethnic groups, families with children, singles, retired persons, students, artists, white-collar workers, blue-collar workers, and a broader spectrum of household incomes than anywhere else in the city of Fresno. Among the diverse people in the Tower District you will also find diverse homes which include examples of Neo-Classical, Mediterranean, Tudor, Prairie, and of course Craftsman Bungalow Architecture.
The Tower Theatre which give the Tower District its name was originally a Fox Theatre when it opened in 1939. The dramatic architectural featured backlighted etched green glass panels, and sculptured aluminum fittings throughout its art deco presence. This building is completely restored and is the only 1930's suburban theater extant designed by Los Angeles architect S. Charles Lee (1899-1990).
At the Tower Theater's Box Office and exterior Lobby, an eighty foot fluted prominence rises dramatically over the surrounding business and residential mixed-use zone. At night, the lighted tower's fittings of linear neon tube lighting, is crowned by a radiant multi-colored globe.
The Tower Theatre opened with a premier showing of the film 'Balalaika' for a private party of local dignitaries, Fox Theater executives and guests on December 14, 1939. The theater opened its doors to the film-viewing public on December 15, 1939. The double feature program included 'Dancing Coed' and 'Henry Goes Arizona.
As Fresno's first suburban cinema, The Tower Theatre became the dominant vertical landmark anchoring a loosely-knit collection of shops that had been developing into a lively shopping area since 1923. The Tower District as the area is now known, provides several retail establishments and acres of free parking, including the theater's own on-site parking lot. Two miles north of downtown Fresno, the Tower District was located just a few short blocks from Fresno High School and Fresno State College (Now Fresno City College).
Logging Requirements:
Please send your answers to the below questions and Post a photo of yourself in your log in front of the Tower Theater.
1.What was the main mode of transport from the Tower District Neighborhood in its earliest days?
2.Which style of house would you most want to live in in the Tower District Neighborhood if given the chance?
3.Who designed the Tower Theater?
4.What was the first movie shown at the Tower Theater?
5.Which movie would you have wanted to watch on the first opening day to the public?
6.Please send a photo of yourself in front of the theater to claim a find.
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Tower District and hope you came back soon again!
Below is the Original Tower Trek Available to still be completed but not required.
When near the first coordinates be on the lookout for a little guy in a cowboy hat. When you find him pay attention to the Latin word directly under him. Using the standard numerical values of the letters (A=1, B=2, C=3, etc) add the letters together.
Now divide the total by 9. Substitute your answer for the X's to have your next coordinates.
N36 45.380 W119 47.X8X
2. When you have arrived at this spot you'll be thinking of the beach. Take the letters of the name of the beach and add them together. Now minus 13 and fill in the blanks for your next location. N36 45.8_ _ W119 48.237
3. If you've made it this far you have just toured through some of the best and worst of the Tower District. This area of Fresno is well known internationally (on the archetechural level) for its diverse styles of cottage homes. Some of which have been featured in movies. Just to check yourself, make sure you are on Ms. Electra's street.
4. N36 46.123 W119 47.842
When you get to this location this riddle will make sense.
"I am going to _________ and I prefer my steak ________"
Add these words together (13 letters). Now minus 16 and fill in the blank
5. N36 45.472 W119 48.___
Here you are at the end of the cache-line. The was the FORMER and original location of a now famous business.Here's a FIELD-clue, if we drive for a bit we can see a...