Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

Has The Music Box at The Henry Fonda Closed?!?! [UPDATED]

music-box-marquee-360.jpg
Music Box marquee in March 2011 (Photo by Lucyrk in LA via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today. 

It seems this might be one of those tales of mysterious things that happen in the night: The Music Box theatre at The Henry Fonda appears to have cleared out and shut down out of nowhere. LA Slush has the story about the abrupt shut-down of a beloved local music venue, noting that there is a "Closed for Inventory" sign on the door, and unspecified people "proceeded to dismantle the amazing sound system, astounding in house lighting and bar. Then remove them from the building." Reportedly, promoters and venue employees had not been warned this was going to happen. An image posted to Facebook shows the marquee reads "OUT OF ORDER."

A look at the venue's January events calendar shows only a recurring Wednesday club night booking, but no individual nightly events. However, on Facebook, The Music Box has recently posted a listing for a March event, with tickets on sale via Ticketmaster, and tickets for ATB, promoted by Insomniac (yep, the Electric Daisy folks) are slated to go onsale today.

Right now the speculation is that the current owners are done, but that doesn't mean the venue is kaput, there would just be some issue with reinstating permits for operation. LA Slush addresses this:

After speaking with our sources, they seem to agree that in hindsight there were a couple red flags [about current problems with ownership], but nothing any rational person would have taken to mean the club was closing. The staff had been told that the venue was working on a new agreement with the landlord and it would be settled soon - not uncommon for venues in LA.
Support for LAist comes from

Stay tuned...UPDATE 11:44 AM
Buzz Bands has this statementfrom Goldenvoice about the closure:

At this time, it is our understanding that the closing of The Music Box is a short term closure, please be patient with us as we work out the details as they pertain to our previously scheduled shows.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist