Appellate court orders Tower Theatre sale to remain on hold, says theater operated in ‘bad faith’

In the ongoing saga of whether the iconic Tower Theatre will be sold to a conservative church, Heather Parish of the Save the Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee passes along the news:

Appellate Court rules in favor of Sequoia against Tower Theatre and orders the sale remain on hold. Also includes that Tower Theatre operated in “Bad Faith.” https://t.co/FfmkqCapnC

— Heather Parish (@heatherdparish) January 19, 2022

As noted above, Corin Hoggard of ABC30, who follows this stuff scrupulously, says the sale is “now unlikely in its current form.”

In legalese: The appellate court ordered the Fresno County Superior Court to vacate its earlier ruling and orders that the lis pendens halting the sale of the theater to Adventure Church remain in place.

Related stories: With the neighborhood so opposed, why would Adventure Church want to buy the Tower Theatre?
And: Syndicated Joe Mathews column gets it wrong about the Tower Theatre controversy. Why would the Bee publish it?
And: My Top 20 cultural events of 2021 includes the remarkable fight for the Tower Theatre

Parish also notes that Sequoia is entitled to have Tower Theatre pay their legal fees.

Which is going to hurt.

---

“The legal process may continue from here, but this reversal of the Superior Court’s ruling gives heft to Sequoia’s odds,” Parish tells me.

In an earlier discussion this week, Parish notes that Adventure Church continues to rent the Tower for services week-to-week, which is still in violation of zoning ordinances.

“There are also regular picketers handing out literature at Tower Theatre shows to raise awareness of the issue and some touring bookers and local arts orgs have avoided booking the Tower Theatre as long as the issue of Adventure Church operating against the best interests of the neighborhood remains,” she says.

The Munro Review has no paywall but is financially supported by readers who believe in its non-profit mission of bringing professional arts journalism to the central San Joaquin Valley. You can help by signing up for a monthly recurring paid membership or make a one-time donation of as little as $3. All memberships and donations are tax-deductible.