The Fox Theatre, world-renowned as a concert and event venue
like no other, began its story in a most unusual way.
In 1928, the Fox was originally conceived as a home for
Atlanta’s Shriners organization. To create a headquarters befitting the group’s
prominent social status, the Shriners looked to the ancient temples of the Far
East to inspire a mosque-style structure befitting their stature. Storied
architectural gems like the Alhambra in Spain and Egypt’s Temple of Kharnak
heavily influenced the building’s elaborate and intensely ornate design.
Bursting with soaring domes, minarets and sweeping archways, the exterior of the
building gave way to stunning gold leaf details, sumptuous textiles and
exquisite trompe l’oeil art (an art technique that uses realistic imagery to
create optical illusions) inside.
Ultimately, the design was so fantastical, it became more of
a financial burden than the Shriners could bear. Shortly before its completion,
the Shriners leased their beautiful auditorium to William Fox, a movie mogul
who had launched his empire by building theatres across the country to meet
America’s insatiable affection for the new moving pictures that were sweeping
the nation. By the end of the 1920s, these aptly-named “movie palaces” were an
integral part of nearly every community in the country, each one more gilded
and exquisite than the next. Developers like Fox spared no expense,
understanding all too well that these movie palaces were the gateway to a brave
new world, transporting eager audiences to exotic, elegant settings they could
only imagine.
With Fox’s financial backing (the project cost more than $3
million, the equivalent of nearly $40 million today), the 250,000 square foot
Fox Theatre was completed, with the crowning addition of “Mighty Mo”, the
3,622-pipe Möller organ that remains the largest Möller theatre organ in the
world even today. The Fox opened on Christmas Day in 1929 to a sold-out crowd,
premiering Steamboat Willie, Disney’s first cartoon starring Mickey Mouse.
Word about the magnificent new Fox Theatre quickly spread.
Its striking red-carpet entryway and ornate gilt work, soaring turreted ceilings
and stained glass windows, all leading to a vast cobalt “sky” with a sea of
twinkling stars, were the perfect accent for the glamorous productions
audiences lined up to see. Despite its popularity, the Fox’s grandeur couldn’t
save it from the far-reaching effects of the Great Depression. In 1932, William
Fox and the theatre were forced to declare bankruptcy, and Fox lost his
namesake movie palace. The Fox was auctioned on courthouse steps and sold to a
private company for a paltry $75,000 during Mr. Fox’s bankruptcy proceedings,
but remained a beloved destination for Atlanta’s moviegoers. For the next three
decades, the Fox remained in high demand, showing hundreds of acclaimed films,
hosting live performances ranging from the Metropolitan Opera Company to pop
legends like Nelson Eddy, and reigning as the favorite dance hall in Atlanta as
the craze for live Big Band and Swing music swept the nation.
But the rocky fate of the Fox was still in flux. By the late
1960s, beautiful landmark movie palaces like the Fox were falling out of favor,
replaced by suburban movieplexes built for efficiency and multiple-screen
showings. As customers began migrating to the suburbs, the Fox fell into
disrepair, and in 1974, Mosque Inc. closed the Fox’s doors, seemingly forever.
This stunning landmark, beloved for generations, was suddenly facing
demolition. Confronted with the possibility of losing their beloved landmark,
the residents of Atlanta sprang into action. They created a non-profit called
Atlanta Landmarks and launched the now-legendary “Save The Fox” campaign, which
raised funds through every possible means – collecting donations from both
public and private organizations, organizing benefit concerts featuring
everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Liberace, even collecting pennies at local
businesses, all to save the Fox from what seemed a certain fate.
Saving the Fox truly was a community achievement, a journey
of a thousand small steps. Of the $3 million raised, no single donation was
over $400,000; the vast majority of the fund was made up of small personal
donations from Atlanta residents intent on rescuing this stunning structure. In
1975, after months of painstaking restoration efforts, the Fox opened its doors
once again, to the joy and celebration of the patrons and employees who had
pulled it from the brink of disaster.
Atlanta Landmarks (now called Fox Theatre, Inc.) continues
to run the theatre today, making it one of an elite group of not-for-profit
theatres in the country, committed to making performance art accessible to
everyone. Continuing their efforts to give back to the community they love, in
2008, the Fox launched the Fox Theatre Institute (FTI), a non-profit
organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of historic
theatres. The FTI provides essential technical, historical and organizational
support and education to theatres across the country. The successful program
recently spawned Georgia Presenters, a booking consortium project that helps
small communities band together to attract high-grade talent and performance
art in their area for an affordable price.
Since the “Save The Fox” campaign, the Fox has become a
destination for audiences, historians and tourists alike, all of whom flock to
the renowned theatre to see its grandeur firsthand. Now primarily a venue for a
huge variety of headlining events, the “Fabulous Fox” (as it is affectionately
known) has truly become a legend in its own right, showcasing unforgettable
performances by everyone from Elvis Presley to Madonna, and playing host to
countless Broadway shows, including the world premiere of The Phantom of the
Opera’s touring production. In addition, the theatre’s lavish ballrooms,
lounges and outdoor terraces are perpetually in high demand for fashionable
weddings and special events taking place in Atlanta.
Each year, the award-winning theatre hosts more than 250
shows and half a million visitors for its legendary offerings. In the past
decade, the Fox has been widely recognized by leading industry influencers for
excellence in arts and entertainment, preservation and arts education. It was
nominated for Theatre of the Year by Billboard and Pollstar Magazines, and
awarded the Outstanding Historic Theatre of the Year award in 2011 by the
League of Historic American Theatres. The Fabulous Fox was most recently given
the distinction by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of “The Best Big Rooms in
America”. For the past decade, The Fox
Theatre has been consistently ranked in the top three theatres in North America
for gross ticket sales, making it clear that this time, the Fox is here to
stay.
For visitors curious about the colorful history of the
unforgettable Fox, or just itching for a close-up look at the beautiful
building, the Fox is pleased to offer
tours of the theatre. These 60-minute tours are guided by dedicated Fox
employees who relish the opportunity to provide intimate firsthand details
about the theatre’s remarkable story, and give guests an unprecedented look at
Atlanta’s favorite theatre.