Fox Theatre
2211 Woodward Avenue,
Detroit,
MI
48201
2211 Woodward Avenue,
Detroit,
MI
48201
38 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 96 comments
The original 1920’s marquee was simpler. I don’t know when the current marquee was put up. As far as why the St. Louis and Detroit Foxes were twins, I can only guess that the theatres were being built at close to the same time, and it was probably a money saving measure to be able to use the same molds for the plasterwork.
Is the current marquee a 1920’s original or a restoration of a 40’s or 50’s one? Also, can anyone tell my why the Detroit and St. Louis theatres were designed as “ twins”?
The last time I ventured into the Fox was during Spring Break from college in 1963. I rememember seeing the unforgettable “Days of Wine and Roses” starring Jack Lemon and Lee Remick. Sunday night at the movies was a ritual when I moved to Detroit in 1957 to live with my father and stepmother, but Dad was extremely “thrifty” and didn’t believe in wasting good money on first run movies shown at the Fox and other downtown theaters, so I had to sneak like a fox into the Fox whenever I got the chance. Was there an organ player during intermission or is it just my imagination? For me the Fox Theater and Michigan Central Station epitomized big city glamour, grandeur, and magic. I felt, “This is where I belong.” I was transformed.
I felt the same magical transformation when captivated by the Fox Theater in Atlanta after it integrated in the 60’s.
My wife and I went to the theatre last night for new years eve with Bare Naked Ladies. We went in over an hour early to take in all of the sights, and even that wasn’t enough time! The more you look at the detail, the more that you can see of this beautiful house.
Even though BNL can rock the house, I can’t imagine what a full fledged rock concert could bring. We sat in the mezzanine and could see the rail rise and fall with the sway from the crowd. Architecturally amazing that this cantilever still performs 80 years later.
FYI. There is a brief glimpse of the Fox marquee in a current Kid Rock music video, “Roll On” or something.
It features KR driving around the Detroit area in an `60’s Lincoln convertable.
A giant fenced-in classic building with arches is also featured. Presumably an abandoned auto manufacturer’s headquarters.
I got to play here once, amazing stage. Here is a close-up of the sign ( very cool ) , taken in mid-October 2007.
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I saw Rossanne Barr here in concert in the early 90s. Not the best theatre for that kind of show but im sure big touring musicals and movies are amazing in this beautiful auditorium.
little caesar’s may own it, but at least they haven’t changed the name. i saw wilco there last night and didn’t see any sign of little caesar’s other than banners in the concession stand advertising pizza for sale.
speaking of concessions, the candied warm nuts they sell just inside the door are delicious!!!!! what a great theater, in every possible way. it gives me hope that chicago’s uptown, which i live near, can still be saved from near-death.
Excellent photos of the Fox here:
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you could easily spend half an hour looking at them all.
It is, without a doubt, one of America’s magnificent buildings.
It was close to 4000!He had 3 other comedians from the Howard Stern show open for him and it was a great show.
Jeez…can Artie Lange fill a 5,000 seat theater? Who else was on the bill?
I went to the Fox to see Artie Lange on the 15th of september and was completely awestruck.The show was good also.
Aahhhh………….saps, that was the whole idea, and it was a lot less than a dollar. The palaces were very elaborate grind houses that entertained huge numbers of people every day, not just concert events as most of the survivors today are used.
I’m always amazed that once upon a time you could just go to the movies at these places — you know, walk up to the box office, pay a dollar or two (and often less!), and suddenly you’re whisked away for a few hours of magic.
Unlike most theaters listed in Cinema Treasures, Detroit’s FOX THEATRE is fully restored, operating a year-round calendar of shows, is attended by thousands, and is the most magnificent theatre I’ve ever seen. Do a search for olympiaentertainment.com for a full schedule, and the next time you eat a Little Caesar’s pizza, keep in mind that’s where the restoration money came from. They own it now.
Did I mention that the roof sign is sweet?
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Just a note to let everyone know, the projection equipment is still at the FOX in Detroit and is still is GREAT working order. Just last month there was a movie there, “Field of Dreams”
This place rules.
Sweet:
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Sweet:
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Lost Memory’s photo gallery above includes a picture of the entire roof sign.
It is sweet.
And I never picked up on the fact that this place has 5,000 seats!!!
Holy Moses!!!
This isn’t perfect for this page, but I doubt the Philadelphia Fox was built by the Mastbaums for their competitors. They were builders, so I am open to hearing the proof, but it doesn’t sound right to me.
I know Glazer says the Philly Fox building was a duplicate of NYC’s Loews State, but I don’t know if the entire interior of the theater was a twin.
I’m also disliking the long ownership chain. If not earlier, at least when Warner disappears from the name, there’s no resemblence to any former company.
The parent company National General also operated the Roxy Theatre in NYC. The Fox Theatre in Detroit opened on Sept. 21st 1928.
National Theatres had two Fox Theatres that were seperate from Fox West Coast Theatres, Fox Mid-West Theatres, Fox Wisconsin Theatres, and Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres. They were this Fox Theatre, and The Fox Theatre in Philadelphia. The Fox Theatre in Philadelphia was built by Stanley and Jules Mastbaum, of The Stanley Company of America (later known through mergers as Stanley Warner Theatres, RKO Stanley Warner Theatres, RKO Century Warner Theatres, Cineplex Odeon Theatres, and now as AMC Loews Theatres). I believe National Theatres purchased The Fox in Philadelphia from Stanley Warner in 1946, and later sold it to Milgram Theatres in 1969.
When The Fox Theatre in Philadelphia closed in 1980, it’s former backstage area was a seperate theatre, called Milgram’s Stage Door Cinema Theatre. The Fox Theatre in Philadelphia was a 100% duplicate of the Loew’s State Theatre in NYC.
Here is a current link:
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