Fox Theatre

7900 Kingston Pike,
Knoxville, TN 37919

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tntim
tntim on August 28, 2022 at 8:28 pm

Fotomac, The movie playing on July 15, 1977 was “House of Wax” and was presented in Stereovision 3D.

Fotomac
Fotomac on February 18, 2021 at 2:05 am

Can anyone remember what the feature was for the week of 15 July, when Star Wars came to town?

Robbie Stewart
Robbie Stewart on November 8, 2020 at 3:54 am

I remember my mom taking my brother and I to see several movies at this theatre back in the early 1970’s when we first moved to Knoxville in 1971. It was either this theatre or the former West Town Theatre that fronted West Town Mall. We lived on Alki Lane at the time. My late father (Bob Stewart) was a professional musician and entertainer who played several nightclubs on the west end at the time (Bobby McGee’s on Northshore Drive and the Tiki Lounge further down Kingston Pike) so we’d end up here whilst dad was at work. Eventhough my reading level wasn’t so good at the time, I do remember the marquees that were on the front of the building and the one facing Kingston Pike that had the Fox name above it. Shortly after this theatre closed, I remember it became a music store called “Music Isle,” which later moved to a location on Downtown West Blvd. Bought several cassettes from them including Eagles “The Long Run,” Supertramp’s “Breakfest In America,” and the soundtrack to the movie “Teachers” in 1984. Glad to see that David’s Bridal has kept the original marquee facing Kingston Pike, although they have modified it to their use.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 4, 2018 at 9:28 am

July 18th, 1969 grand opening ad posted

tntim
tntim on September 3, 2016 at 11:09 pm

I have posted articles from the Knoxville News-Sentinel of the opening and closing of the Fox in the photo section.

tntim
tntim on June 14, 2014 at 10:29 pm

The Fox opened on July 18, 1969 and had 800 seats. The one thing that I remember about this theatre is the projection booth was only four steps above the back row of seats. They had a continual problem with people standing in the back row and playing shadow puppets in the projector’s light.

The theatre closed January 7, 1979.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 9, 2010 at 10:36 pm

Nice slideshow by Jack Coursey.

JackCoursey
JackCoursey on May 2, 2010 at 7:53 pm

Here is a 2009 photo of the former Fox Theatre.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 29, 2009 at 10:57 pm

Owners:
1969-1973 NGC Cinemas
1973-1975 Mann Theatres of California

This was one of NGC’s attempt to expand across North America reaching as far of Montreal,QC.

Patsy
Patsy on October 31, 2006 at 5:51 pm

Will, Thanks for the Fox explanation.

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on October 31, 2006 at 5:01 pm

Patsy, I think you confuse our Fox with a much older, finer hall. This was just a plain-jane, 1960’s box on the highway: it’s nothing worth resurrecting. Only the name “Fox” connects it to the extraordinary buildings in Atlanta, Detroit and St. Louis.

Cheers
Will

Patsy
Patsy on October 31, 2006 at 2:45 pm

Too bad that this theatre can’t be resurrected since Knoxville does have the Tennessee.

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on April 10, 2006 at 8:18 pm

The Fox was a single screen box built as the downtown theatres ended their careers: late 1960’s or early 1970’s. It still stands, as a retail space, the exterior covered in E.I.F.S. and wedding dresses of questionable taste hanging in what once was the lobby.