Fox Phoenix Theatre

Recently, I just became obsessed by the story of the Fox in Phoenix.... the place stood for 34 years and could have, should have been saved. The first wave of historic preservation was happening in 1975, so why didn't anyone care? I'll tell you why: No one in Phoenix really gives a damn. The Orpheum has been spared(thank God) and magnificently restored, but the Ramona, The Rialto, Cine Capri, (the last 70mm screen in town) and the Kachina in Scottsdale (Cinerama and very cool and kitschy) are all long gone and no one seems to mind at all. The Nile Theatre in Mesa is in use, but it is a sad, mutilated shell of its former glory.....All this boils down to is the fact that if a developer has enough cash, anything as grand as the Phoenix Fox can be knocked down and replaced by something incredibly bland.....I fear for other buildings around Phoenix besides theatres, too. We have a good number of Art Deco office buildings just sitting and rotting. Can we stop this destructive tide? Write me if you wanna talk about this. Also, the Fox had one screen and sat 1800 people. AND there is a great book about the architect, Mr. Charles S.Lee called The Show Starts On The Sidewalk, available at the Phoenix Public Library. Lee built HUNDREDS of theatres, he had an amazing life. Thanks for reading this!

When I was a child living in Safford, one of the greatest treats imaginable was to visit relatives in Phoenix and take in a movie at the Fox! What a pity that it was demolished; all those memories of a fantastic artistic "cathedral" in which to pass a few hours! Does anyone have access to photos of the gorgeous interior of the Fox? Tom Greer

Following is a link to a fantastic website which has tons of photos of the Fox, and makes you realize what the people of Phoenix lost in 1975:
http://acmeron.com/puhs/puhs_page_5.htm
Also, does anyone know what the address of the Fox Phoenix was?

I used to go to the Fox in mid-60s when I was a student at ASU. Even then it was a impressive place and I was very sad when it was destroyed. I was active in rebuilding the pipe organ at the Orpheum (then Paramount) and played it for intermission and preshow music. I am really glad certain people came to their senses in Phoenix and save and restored the Orpheum. I can't recall the address of the Fox but if you go to a related site called "cinematours" it and a lot of other AZ theatres are there. I'll be eagerly checking the site listed by "bryanb" above for photos and other info. I would be very interested in talking to anyone who has info/photos of other old AZ theatres in Winslow, Douglas, Yuma, and Globe. Thanks, D. Story at Story61@aol.com

The address for the Fox Phoenix Theatre was 11 South First Street, Phoenix, Az. 85004.

My very first trip to the movies with my Aunt Rose may have been 1943 at the Fox Theater. My sister and I saw "Bambi". I remember growing up as a kid and attending the Lew King Saturday Rangers Show at 9AM. We'd see a cartoon, coming attractions, news-reels, serials and full length kid features like "Lassie" etc. etc.
I saw my first Cinerama film there, "Beneath the 12 mile Reef" about 1953. Before relocating to another city as an adult, the last film I saw there was just after I was discharged from the Army in 1963. I believe the film was "Goldfinger". Other theatres we remember, The Orpheum, Studio, Rialto, Strand, Vista, Cinema Park and Indian Drive In Movies.

Thanks to all for making this piece of nostalgia possible. Bob Wasserman, 10-19-04.

The Fox Theater in Phoenix was located where the old Phoenix city hall was. The loss of the city hall was sad, the loss of the Fox was 100 times worse for it was the only Art Deco theater in Phoenix. It fronted on Washington street; the southeast corner of Washington and 1st Streets.

When I lived in Phoenix and worked downtown, one of the saddest things was how few old buildings there were. When one thinks about the vast and low density blocks that make up Phoenix, it seems ridiculous that this theater couldn't be saved, and whatever was built on its site constucted elsewhere. Scottsdale and Tempe have better downtowns that Phoenix.

As a sidenote, I used to love to drive down Van Buren east of 7th Street at night and look at all the cool old neon lights that belonged to the forelorn-looking motels that lined that strip. I don't know if they are still there or not, since I haven't been to Phoenix in more than 10 years. However, someone should have saved, or should try to save, those neon lights and erect them in a neon sculpture park somewhere in Phoenix. I know eventually all those motels will be demolished and they will be lost otherwise.

Here is a link for some great pictures of the Fox theatre in Phoenix.
http://www.acmeron.com/puhs/puhs_page_5.htm

I'm now studying theatres connected with architect S. Charles Lee as his name has come to my attention due to the upcoming Oscars and the set design for this year's show. This theatre was so beautiful and to read that it has been demolished does NOT make my day! And I've never read the words "ground to dust" in a demo description, but that is unfortunately so true.

I've looked at most of the Lee theatres and this one is my favorite.

Wurlitzer opus 473 was moved from the Theatre Visalia when that theatre closed circa 1930. The organ was rebuilt and enlarged by Fox West Coast organ man, Louis A. Maas and installed in the Phoenix Fox. Maas kept the organ relatively intact and added an English Post Horn. Wel before the theatre was demolished, parts of this of organ were installed in a Phoenix area college. Every once in a while there is a flurry of activity to restore the organ, but, as far as I know, the organ is not in very good condition.

Information above is partly wrong. Don Story of Tucson pointed out that the organ in the Phoenix Fox was bought by the late Bill Brown and it eventually broke up for parts. Opus 473 did go to the Phoenix Fox.

However, the similar 2/9 Wurlitzer style 210 that was original to the Phoenix Rialto Theatre is the organ that is now being restored in Phoenix College where it has been installed for a few decades.

In Bob Wasserman's post from Oct. 19th 2004.

"I saw my first Cinerama film there, Beneath the 12 mile Reef about 1953."

It should have said CinemaScope. As to Phoenix would not get Cinerama theatre till much later.

...Phoenix Az hates to save it's past unlike Denver Colorado...

This page and the next have photos from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/qedj7

Ken Mc your tinyurl dont' seem to work.

Such a shame that this Fox was demolished and yet the Fox in Tucson is being renovated!

The b/w photos posted on 1/9/05 are absolutely breathtaking so why in the world would the City of Phoenix make the decision to destroy this beautiful art deco 1800 seat cinema? Such a shame!

IanArizona: I was going to email you, but that information is not provided on your CT profile page. I just your Sept. 11/02 post and found it interesting what you wrote..."We have a good number of Art Deco office buildings just sitting and rotting. Can we stop this destructive tide?" This is a shame as art deco of that era is my favorite and should be saved by the City of Phoenix. The Mayor of Phoenix and the Mayor of Tucson should be comparing architectural notes!

The theatre was part of Fox West Coast Theatres / National General Theatres during the mid 70's National General sold the theatre operations to Mann Theatres. During the early operations Mann Theatres (pardon the word), weeded out under performing theatres and theatres that leases where up or where the property was sold to developers. During this time alot of other Fox Theatres were let go or razed. The list goes on and on.

I am not completely certain of this since I have never seen a photo of the Fox Phoenix, but the photo above looks to me to be one of the Fox Tucson. Can anyone either confirm this or confirm that the photo is of the Fox Phoenix?

I have a post card that shows the same shot as being the Fox Phoenix.

Here is another shot from UCLA.

http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/servlet/SCLeeServlet?ITEMID=0021301&FULLSIZE=y

Having told friends who were recently in Phoenix about the Orpheum I have now refreshed my theatre memory to the fact that Phoenix also HAD the Fox, but chose to bring it down in 1975 to make room for a bus terminal!?! Shame.

I hesitate to ask, but does anyone have photos of the demolition phase?

"The Theater cost a $360,000 to build, including furnishings and equipment. The estimated cost to build today would be $100 million." Perhaps someone should have read this quote before demolition began in 1975.

I have one of the original art deco ceiling light fixtures from the back of the auditorium of the Phoenix Fox. It's a spectacular piece.

compass drive ins: Lucky you!

Worth repeating.........."Sadly, the Fox Phoenix was ground to dust during its demolition in 1975.

If anyone from the Phoenix area could tell us why this theatre was brought down, please post. Thanks.

The theater wasn't demolished for a new structure, but to create a series of off-street bus lanes for the city bus system. A transit hub in sort of a plaza with side-by-side bus lanes to park the buses with some simple shelters. There were any number of vacant lots they could have done that on instead of tearing down the theater.

RobbKCity: As I read your post and got to the part that mentioned "to create a series of off-street bus lanes for the city bus system" I thought to myself....now that's a new one. Then I read "There were any number of vacant lots they could have done that on instead of tearing down the theater" and felt that the City of Phoenix didn't do the Fox any favors nor the citizens when they demolished the S. Charles Lee Fox/Phoenix with its 1800 seats and art deco design. Such a shame.

I just viewed the May 12, 2004 post with photos and I just can't believe my "art deco" eyes! To have demolished this theatre was a true crime! I guess it's a good thing the bus system didn't want the land that the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Biltmore Hotel sits on or we wouldn't have that grand piece of architecture in AZ today!

Nope. They sure didn't. As a result, Phoenix really only has one grand old movie theater within its city limits, the Orpheum. As a contrast, Kansas City, which is now a smaller city and metro, has 22 theater buildings remaining that were built between 1891 and 1950.

If you include the metro suburban municipalities around Kansas City, there are 29 theaters that were built before 1950. Additionally, 21 of the metro theaters are in use for a variety of purposes, and open to the public. Fifteen of these old metro theaters still being used as movie theaters, event halls, or performance spaces. Fourteen are fully restored venues. Five more are used as churches. Six are being used as commercial space, and one is being renovated for performing arts. Two others still stand, but are vacant and unused.

While Kansas City lost its only theater designed by Charles Lee, the Pantages Tower Theater, it still has theaters designed by Thomas Lamb, John Eberson, the Boller Brothers, Rapp & Rapp, and eccentric innovator Louis Curtiss. At least one example from each of these architects is restored and remains open to the public. There are several Boller theaters here. Seven Boller theaters are accessible by the public; four are restored.

Arizona turned down Frank Lloyd Wright's innovative design for their state capital building. They ended up building a non-descript tower. Had the gone with Wright's design, they would have the most unique state capital building in the country.

Correction: I stated that the Pantages Tower Theater in Kansas City was designed by Charles Lee. I am mistaken. The architect was Marcus Priteca.

RobbKCity: You are a wealth of information and I enjoy reading your informative posts. Interesting to read about what could have been the design for the AZ state capitol building. Another missed opportunity that could have stood the test of time! And my hat is off to the City of Kansas City for their theatre respect.

Like most here, I'm surprised that this theater was ground to dust. Although preservation wasn't what it is today, still there was a nascent movement because of the criminal demolition of New York's Penn Station in 1964.

But I have several questions to try to get into the heads of the Phoenix City Fathers. Not to justify their actions, but to try to see it as they saw it. What was the state of the Fox at the time it was demolished? Was it sadly in need of repair? If so, did they want to save and repair it, but felt it cost too much? Was there any movement at all, even if tiny, to try to save it? Where there other architecturally-significant buildings (not theaters) that the city also let go about this same time?

Homeboy: It would be interesting to get the answers to the questions you have posed.

This photo was taken during the demolition in 1975:
http://tinyurl.com/2n4ub3

It's been awhile since I visited this theatre link, but I am reminded of the wrong that was done to THIS beautiful art deco theatre in 1975. The folks of Phoenix should hang their hands in shame for destroying this Fox!

From the pictures, the Fox Phoenix was a beautiful theater which could have been saved! The officials of Phoenix belong in the same catagory as the 1962 City Commission of San Francisco, which lost the greatest theater of all time - the San Francisco Fox - those idots were offered the theater FOR FREE if they just purchase the property. It could have been used for a performing arts center or home of the S.F. Symphony. $1 million dollars - the city thought it was too much! Some ten years later, the city spent over $60,000 for building the Davis Symphony Hall and another 40+ million for building the George Moscone Convention Center - neither facility had the seating capacity of the Fox (5000+). Then in the 1990's, S.F. had to spend ANOTHER $20 million to fix the acoustics of Davis Symphony Hall; the S.F. Fox was in great shape and had excellent acoustics. Let's see, $1 million for the Fox versus about $150 for these pieces of junk - what is wrong with S.F.

Phoenix should take a lesson from Oakland (which learned from S.F.'s mistake). When the 4000 seat Oakland Paramount was scheduled to be sold and torn down for a parking lot, the Oakland Symphony jumped in and bought the theater for the same $1 million asking price (which Mann Theaters donated half the cost-same offer as to S.F.) and another $1 million was raised to restore the theater to its glory.
The Oakland Symphony went bankrupt and the City of Oakland took over the operations of the Paramount. Today, it has a large endowment fund.

Another Cinderalla story features another great Oakland palace, the Fox Oakland. Built in 1928 and slightly larger than the Paramount, the Fox closed in 1966. In 1973, an arson fire was set; the insurance fixed the theater. Mann theaters had an auction in 1977 to sell the theaters to a developer to tear it down - it looked like the end for the Fox Oakland! Then, a wealthy elderly woman appeared at the auction and offered the highest bid - she wanted to save the theater because it was where she and her husband met and dated. The
building was sold to Erma Deluchi for $300,000. A few months later, her husband passed away and she lost all interest in rennovating the Fox and re-opening it. Looks like the Fox Oakland was doomed, again.
Question was, when would it be torn down?

Then the City of Oakland planned a revitilization program of its downtown area and need the Fox for performing arts and other venues (the Fox had the deepest state of any bay area place) and they also envisioned opera visiting the Fox. They used eminant domain to purchase the Fox for $3 billion from the Deluchi family. The problem then was the renovation cost - another fire had gutted the floor, the roof was shot and mushrooms were growing inside the sadly delapidated theater. Friends of the Fox Oakland (FOOF) was formed, and the funds were raised - it cost over $60 million to restore the Fox. It re-opened as a theater/performing arts center on February 5, 2009. Below are links to pictures of both theaters....

FOX OAKLAND:

http://www.foxoakland.org/ Friends of Fox Oakland

http://oaklandfox.com/

And the beautiful art deco Paramount, considered the finest in the nation:

http://www.personal.dvint.com/events/ParamountTheater2001/ParamountTheater2001.html

Charles S. Lee designed the Fox Phoniex. His most famous theater is the Los Angeles Theater, which he copied after the San Francisco Fox.
Although the Los Angeles is spectacular, it did not compare with the San Francisco Fox - Lee did not have the Fox money to spend. The loss of the Fox San Francisco, the New York Roxy and the Mastbaum in Philadelphia are the tragic loss of 3 of the top theaters in the country.

PHONIEX - take a lesson from Oakland!

I agree with many of the comments here about the heritage of downtown Phoenix. I lived in Phoenix for two years and found the area to be so lacking in architectural past. I'm glad the Orpheum was saved, but with so much land elsewhere, I too am surprised that developers were allowed to bulldoze places like the Fox into oblivion without a trace. (I never knew it even existed until I read this.) Downtown Phoenix may have been dying in the 1970s, but tearing down something so beautiful like the Fox takes away part of a unique urban character of a city that you can't get back.

The Fox Theatre opened on July 30, 1931 with seating listed at the time of opening at 1,796.

Wallace and Ladmo stage shows here were the best. I still have the empty Ladmo bag I won here in 1963! One of my favorite memories if The Fox was seeing The Beatles movies A Hard Day's Night and Help there. As The Beatles never did a concert in Phoenix, it was about the closest you could get. We camped outside the theatre the night before Help opened so we could get the best seats. KRIZ even had commemorative tickets printed for the event.