Fox Theatres

For other uses, see Fox Theatre (disambiguation).

Fox Theatres was a large chain of movie theaters in the United States dating from the 1920s either built by Fox Film studio owner William Fox, or subsequently merged in 1929 by Fox with the West Coast Theatres chain, to form the Fox West Coast Theatres chain.^[2] Fox West Coast went into bankruptcy and was sold to The National Theatres Corporation, led by Charles Skouras, on November 19, 1934, for $17,000,000.00.^[3] Eugene Klein later became CEO of National, and turned it into the conglomerate National General. Mann Theatres bought National General's theatres in 1973.^[4]

Moorish architectural details of the Fox Theatre in Atlanta

Spanish architectural details of the Fox Theatre in Downtown San Bernardino

Fox Theatre in Visalia, California, currently a performing arts hall.^[1]

Winged lions atop the marquee in Detroit.

Fox Theatre in Oakland

Fox Theatre in Redwood City, California

This chain should not be confused with the Reading, Pennsylvania-based Fox Theaters, founded by Richard Allen "Dick" Fox in 1957 and primarily based on the East Coast.^[5]

Architectural styles

Many of these grand "movie palaces" were built with a mishmash of architectural styles drawn from Asian, Indian, Persian, and Moorish influences.

Restorations

Fox theaters surviving today share almost identical histories of decline and fall into disrepair as demographics and movie-going habits changed in the post-World War II years. As many were located in urban centers, there have been subsequent campaigns to save, restore and preserve the architectural extravaganzas for other uses, especially the performing arts. The largest of the Fox Theatres is the Detroit Fox Theatre, which was fully restored in 1988 and is used as a performing arts center.

The restored art deco interior of Fox Theater in Spokane, Washington

Other Fox theatres which have been restored and adapted for drama and music include those in St. Louis; also Spokane, Washington, which re-opened as the home of the Spokane Symphony on November 17, 2007; Tucson, Arizona, which reopened in January 2006 after being closed for thirty-two years; Hutchinson, Kansas, reopened in 1999; Oakland, California, reopened in February 2009; Aurora, Colorado reopened in 1986, and Fullerton, California, where a non-profit community project is restoring the theatre. The Fox theatres in Visalia, California, reopened in 1999, and Atlanta were shuttered for some time before restoration began.

The Fox Theatre in Joplin, Missouri, built in 1930, has been adapted for use as the Central Christian Church.

Bankruptcy

The financial pressures of the Great Depression compelled William Fox to declare bankruptcy.^[6] Initiated circa 1929, bankruptcy receivership court proceedings spanned "over a period of twenty-five or more years."^[7] The matter culminated in a final suit brought in 1954 by the trustees to vacate the "corrupt" November 17, 1933, settlement order. The trustees alleged a widespread "conspiracy to milk Fox Theatres Corporation of assets worth many millions of dollars, in derogation of the rights of its creditors and stockholders."^[7] The complaint named the issuing judge, indicted on unrelated federal charges in the intervening years, as collusive with some "thirty-odd named respondents" including "Chase National Bank, Bender, Van Kleeck and Aumack, individually and as co-partners doing business as Bender & Co., American Express Company, General Precision Equipment Corporation, National-Simplex-Bludworth Corporation, Inc., Skouras Theatres Corporation, Randforce Amusement Corporation, Rinfriss Corporation, Samuel Rinzler, and the executors under the will of Louis Frisch."^[7] In a 1960 published opinion of the United States District Court S.D. New York, the matter was dismissed for the trustees' failing to plead the fraud in particulars; however, the record was left open for them to revitalize with evidence.^[7]

List of Fox Theatres

See the following articles for information about specific theatres.

• Amarillo, Texas^[8][9]-Opened 1967, closed 1992, demolished 1993
• Anaheim^[10][11]-Opened April 1968, 2nd and 3rd screens created fall of 1974, demolished 1998
• Atlanta—Opened 1929
• Aurora, Colorado—Opened 1946
• Aurora, Illinois—Opened 1935
• Bakersfield, California—Opened 1930
• Banning, California^[12]—Currently open with 3 screens
• Beverly Hills, California
  • Fox Beverly - leased from 1925 until at least 1953^[13]
  • Wilshire^[14]-Opened September 19, 1930, closed 1977, reopened by Nederlander Theatres as the Saban 1981, currently being restored
• Billings, Montana—Opened November 13, 1931, the last Art Deco theatre in the United States built by 20th Century Fox Corporation; sold to Carsich Theatres in 1978; renovated and reopened as the Alberta Bair Theatre for the Performing Arts in 1987
• Boulder, Colorado—Opened 1926 as the Rialto Theatre
• Britt, Iowa^[15]-Now office space
• Brooklyn, New York
  • Alba^[16]-Opened 1929,^[17] operation later handed over to Randforce Amusement Corporation, closed 1970, eventually demolished, site now occupied by a hospital^[18]
  • Brooklyn^[19]-Opened August 31, 1928, demolished 1971, site now occupied by Con Edison^[20]
  • Congress^[21]-Opened 1927, later taken over by Randforce, vacant as of 2006
  • Meserole^[22]-Opened 1921, originally operated by Small & Strausburg, later taken over by Fox West Coast, then by United Artists, closed 1978, now Rite Aid^[23]
  • Savoy^[24][25]-Opened September 1, 1926, operation taken over by Randforce Amusement Corporation 1933, eventually became Charity Neighborhood Baptist Church, demolished 2014
• Burlingame, California
• Bunkie, Louisiana^[26]-Opened 1945, closed early 1960s, now city hall
• Centralia, Washington—Opened in 1930. Closed in 1990s. Currently being restored.
• Costa Mesa, California^[27]-Opened 1968, screen divided in early 1970s, closed 2000, demolished 2008, site now occupied by a lawn
• Detroit—Largest of the Fox theatres, opened 1928, fully restored 1988
• El Paso, Texas—Opened in 1965,^[28] and was the first in Texas. Has since been demolished.
• Forest Hills, New York
  • Kew Gardens^[29]-Opened September 14, 1929, later became a miniature golf course, demolished late 1950s
• Fullerton, California—Opened 1925 as the Alician Court Theatre
• Green Bay, Wisconsin—opened February 14, 1930
• Hanford, California—Opened 1929 and is currently used for live concerts, restoration is ongoing^[30]
• Hutchinson, Kansas—Opened 1931
• Inglewood, California
  • Academy Theatre — opened 1939, closed 1976^[31]
  • Fox Theatre Inglewood — Opened March 31, 1949,^[32][33] closed mid-1980s, vacant
• Joplin, Missouri—Opened 1930, now converted to a church
• Kingsport Tennessee^[34]-Opened 1944,^[35] closed no later than 1963,^[35] was a country music recording studio into the early ’90s, now a beauty salon
• Las Cruces, New Mexico—Opened 1926, acquired by Fox in 1929, restored in 2005
• Las Vegas^[36][37]
• Long Beach, California^[38]-Built 1929
• Dayton, Ohio - Cinema North 1-5 opened as Fox Northwest Plaza Theatre on December 22, 1967 with Audrey Hepburn "Wait Until Dark". Later sold to Mann then in 1975 sold to Springfield based Chakeres Theatres who renamed the theatre to Cinema North. Cinema North became a twin on October 7,1977. On June 8, 1984 a $500,00 expansion added three screens in the back of the building. The back theatres has their own entrance and concession counter. The now Cinema North 1-5 was sold to National Amusements in April 1988. On Friday July 12, 1991 during the opening night of " Boyz N The Hood", which was playing in both front theatres someone fired a gun inside theatre two. On September 27, 1998 Cinema North 1-5 closed with "Blade" and " How Stella Got Her Groove Back" on two screens and "Why Do Fools Fall In Love". The theatre was boarded up and sat for sale until 2013 when Mt. Calvary Baptist Church purchased the building and currently still uses it for services. Cinema North / Fox Northwest Plaza Theatre is identical to the Fox Kettering Theatre in Kettering , Ohio, Fox Valley Theatre in San Diego, California and Fox Mark Twain Theatre in Sunset Hills, Missouri. ^[39]
• Kettering , Ohio - opened as the Fox Kettering Theatre on December 27 , 1966 with Peter Sellers "After The Fox". Later sold to Mann then in 1975 sold to Springfield based Chakeres Theatres. Renamed Chakeres Kettering Twin Cinemas in 1975. In 1985 with the opening of Chakeres Beavercreek 7 and following their opening of Dayton Mall 5-8 and Cinema North 3-5 in 1984, plans called for Kettering 3-5. Chakeres Theatres had plans to expand Kettering the same way as Cinema North. The Kettering 1-5 was to open in 1986. However soon after plans were made National Amusements announced two new twelve theatres opening in the area in. After selling most of their indoor Dayton area theatres to National Amusements in April 1988, the Kettering Twin expansion was scrapped and became a discount house. In November 2024 after the none compete agreement with National Amusements expired Kettering Twin would return to first run movies before closing in January 2006. The street marquee was later removed as it sat vacant for many years. The Kettering Twin was later purchased by Shelter Church and the continue to use the building. The Kettering is identical to the Fox Northwest Plaza Theatre in Dayton , Ohio, Fox Valley Theatre in San Diego, California and Fox Mark Twain Theatre in Sunset Hills, Missouri.
• Los Angeles
  • Adams^[40]-Open as the Kettering became a discount housee1In November 2004 after the none compete deal with 26, demolished 1969
  • El Portal^[41] - originally owned by West Coast Theatres, taken over by National General
  • Figueroa^[42]-Opened 1925, closed/demolished late 1960s, site now occupied by a Broadway Federal Bank^[43]
  • Florence^[44]-Opened 1932, closed around 1965, demolished around 1968, site now occupied by a Rite-Aid^[45]
  • Gentry^[46]-Opened 1938,^[47] eventually closed, now divided into multiple retail spaces^[47]
  • Granada - purchased 1927, later closed
  • Highland^[48] - purchased during or before 1938, sold during or before the early 1970s
  • Hollywood^[49] – Purchased 1965, later sold to Mann Theatres
  • Hollywood^[50] - purchased during or before 1938, now the Hollywood Museum
  • La Brea^[51][52]-Opened 1949,^[53] now a church^[53]
  • Metropolitan^[54] - owned by Paramount Publix but operated by Fox West Coast Theaters in the 1920s
  • Palace^[55] - purchased 1929, sold early 1940s
  • Parisian^[56] - purchased sometime after 1930, closed 1958
  • Northridge^[57][58] – Opened September 11, 1963, subsequently a shoe store, and now a Goodwill thrift shop.
  • Ritz^[59] – opened 1926, reopened 1963 as the Lindy Opera House, demolished 1977
  • Stadium^[60]-Opened 1931, now a church^[61]
  • Uptown^[62]-Open as early as 1926, closed, and demolished 1965
  • Vogue^[63] - purchased 1945, now the Vogue Multicultural Museum
  • Westwood—Opened 1931
• McCook, Nebraska - Opened January 28, 1927, now a live theater.^[64]
• North Platte, Nebraska - Opened 1929, now a live theater.^[65]
• Missoula, Montana^[66] — Opened December 8, 1949, demolished now
• New Orleans, Louisiana — Opened 1941,^[67] closed/demolished 1975
• Oakland, California — Opened 1928, restored in 2009
• Pasadena, California — bought in 1942, now operated by Regency Theatres^[68]
• Paso Robles, California — Opening and closing dates unknown, still standing but abandoned
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Later part of Stanley Warner and Milgram Theatres chains. Opened 1923. Closed and demolished in 1980.^[69]
• Phoenix, Arizona
  • Phoenix^[70] Opened July 30, 1931, demolished 1975
  • Chris-Town^[71]-Opened 1967,^[71][72] 2nd screen added 1971,^[71][72] 3rd through 11th screens added 1996^[72]
• Pomona, California—Opened 1931
• Ponce, Puerto Rico — Opened 1931, closed in 1980; now a hotel^[73]
• Portland, Oregon —Opened 1911; theater demolished April 1997
• Provo, Utah^[74][75]-Opened 1967, closed 1986, demolished
• Redlands, California—Opened 1928
• Redwood City, California—Opened in 1929, remodeled in the 1950s, listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1993^[76]
• Riverside, California—Opened 1929, first theatre to preview Gone with the Wind; restored in 2008–2009, reopened January 2010,
• San Bernardino, California—Opened 1929
• Salina, Kansas—Opened 1932, closed 1987, given to City 1989, restored by non-profit and reopened 2003 as a performing arts center (still in use 2018..)
• Salinas, California
• Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Cottonwood Mall 4^[77][78]-Opened July 10, 1968, screen divided into 2 December 1976,^[79] screens 3 & 4 added 1977,^[80] closed February 14, 2002, demolished late 2000s, site now vacant^[81]
• San Antonio, Texas^[82]-Opened 1969 as Fox Twin Theatres,^[83] renamed Fox Central Park 3 Theatres when screen 2 was divided in 1974,^[84] screen 1 divided 1984,^[84] closed mid 1990s,^[84] demolished 2003^[84]
• San Diego, California
  • Egyptian^[85][86]-Opened 1923, completely remodeled 1954, closed 1997, demolished 2003
  • Fairmount^[87]-Opened January 29, 1929, renamed Crest by 1950, closed 1959 and demolished shortly later
  • San Diego—Opened 1929
  • Valley Circle-Opened 1967,^[88] closed/demolished 1998^[89]
• San Francisco
  • Parkside^[90]-Opened 1928, closed 1988, now a daycare
  • Mission Street Showcase – closed in 1957, now a parking lot^[91]
  • San Francisco—Opened 1929, closed/demolished 1963, site now occupied by Fox Plaza (no relation to the famous Fox Plaza in Los Angeles)
• San Jose, California—Opened 1927, closed in 1973, renovated and reopened in 2004
• Santa Barbara, California—Opened 1930
• Santa Monica, California—Purchased early 1930s, sold late 1970s^[92]
• Santa Paula, California— Opened on October 12, 1950, the Fox Theatre ran through at least 1968 but was demolished in the late-1980s.^[93]
• Seattle, Washington—Opened 1929, renamed Roxy in 1933
• Spokane, Washington—Opened 1931
• Springfield, Massachusetts^[94]-Opened February 26, 1970,^[95] now a "Carpetland & More Inc" store
• Springfield, Missouri—Also originally part of the Electric Theatre chain, and also now serving as a church. Built by M.E. Gillioz, who later built the Gillioz Theatre in Springfield.^[96]
• St. Louis—Opened 1929 with a nearly identical interior to its Detroit counterpart (with about 500 fewer seats), fully restored in 1982.
• Stockton, California—Opened 1930, renamed the Bob Hope Theatre
• Toronto, Canada—Opened 1914
• Tucson, Arizona
  • Buena Vista—Opened February 10, 1967,^[97] 2nd screen added in 1972,^[98] closed early 1990s, reopened 1995, closed late 1997 to early 1998, demolished 2008,^[99] site now occupied by Hampton Inn & Suites^[100]
  • Lyric^[101]-Open as early as 1919,^[102] operated by Fox West Coast as early as March 19, 1949,^[103] in operation as late as May 21, 1963,^[104] since demolished, site now occupied by Pima County building^[105]
  • Tucson—Opened 1930, closed 1974, reopened 2005
  • 22nd Street Drive-In^[106]-Opened June 2, 1954, closed and demolished 1979,^[107]
• Taft, California—Opened 1951
• Venice, California—Opened 1951, now an indoor swap meet^[108]
• Ventura, California^[109]-Opened 1969,^[110][71] twinned December 1982, closed late 1980s, now a Jewelry Couture^[111]
• Visalia, California—Opened 1930, reopened 1999
• Watsonville, California—Closed 2009
• Wichita, Kansas^[112]-Opened October 23, 1969