Fox Theatre

Architect was C Howard Crane who also designed identical Fox theaters in St Louis and Detroit. I have a book about it and when I get it with more specifics I will e mail again. I know last owner of the theater was Barricini Candy and it sustained a fire loss before it was demolished

The Brooklyn FOX is an example of the adaptation of the GOTHIC style of decor, which was little used in theatres. The identical theatres that Mr. McQuade refers to are not Gothic, by "Siamese-Byzantine" if one is to accept the description of them by the late author of that seminal book: "The Best Remaining Seats: The Story of the Golden Age of the Movie Palace" (1961). This is an example of why CinemaTreasures should allow a write-in box that works for the many styles/types not listed in the drop down box. The Theatre Historical Soc. of America did an entire ANNUAL on this theatre with dozens of sharp photos and story. Order it from their web site at www.HistoricTheatres.org

the fox opened in 1929 with 4.088 seats

The Fox was, of course, one of William Fox's spectacular monuments to himself. But he lost control of the theatre when he went bankrupt at the start of the Depression. Several banks that held mortgages on the Brooklyn Fox got together and tried (unsuccessfully) to run it themselves, finally granting a long-term lease to Fabian Theatres, one of the circuits owned by Warner Brothers. Fabian also took over the management of Warner's nearby Strand Theatre and eventually the Brooklyn Paramount when it landed in the hands of its mortgage holders. The three downtown theatres were run as a "pool," with Fabian and the banks sharing any profits. The arrangement continued until the end of WWII, when the banks approved a deal that returned the Brooklyn Paramount to United Paramount Theatres, successor to the old Paramount-Publix chain that built it.

The Fox Theatre in Brooklyn was in no way Identical to the Fox Theatres in St. Louis and Detroit. The "Fox" in St. Louis is definately Siamese-Byzentine. When the fox in St. Louis first opened it seated 5,060 and after its remodel in 1959 the seating was 4,503. The twin to the St. Louis Fox was the Detroit Fox.

I just remember the Rock and Roll shows I saw... the best... they went on for hours with so many performers...Suzie

Strange that both the Brooklyn Fox and Paramount seem to be best remembered for their rock-and-roll shows. If you added the length of those engagements all together, you would probably get a total of a few months, only an ultra-tiny percentage of the lifetimes of those theatres.

Warren.... really? Suzie

I too remember the Rock & Roll shows at both theaters. Yes, both theaters were the epitome of architectual splendor and a cultural masterpiece. However, both seem to serve an ironic purpose. The Brooklyn Paramount in the early 50,s ushered in the beginning of the Rock and Roll era. When the Paramount became an edifice for higher learning, The Fox became the new melting pot for Rock & Roll shows and sadly, not by its own doing, ushered in the end, if you will, of that era in the early 70,s. A tiny percentange? I think not.

The Fox was demolished in 1970, so it barely survived into that decade. In fact, I think it closed several years prior to that. If you research the rock-and-roll shows that played there, I doubt that you'll find that they amounted to more than about 12 weeks of playing time.

I think you are mistaken here in regard to the Rock n Roll shows. They started in 1955 and lasted through April 1966 when the Fox was opened for one last engagement that Easter. The Fox had closed the first week of February with "Where The Spies Are". There were about four to five shows per year during that 12 year period. The engagements in the earlier days lasted 10 days. Some shows were held in the N.Y. Paramount as well. The grosses for these 10 day engagements reached $180,000 (crushing even the best of Broadway grosses for these weeks. I don't believe any of the film engagements for those years at the two Brooklyn houses ever grossed more than $30,000-$40,000 a week. So that's why the rock n roll shows are remembered fondly. 12 to 15 singers/groups performed 5 times a day for 10 days (with some "acts" they came in for a few days at a time). I doubt any of today's recording stars would be able to fill the shoes of or have that much stamina for that kind of a grind show. The Fox was demolished in 1971/2 shortly after the filming of the George C. Scott/Joanne Woodward film "THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS" in 1971.

The ANNUAL of the Theatre Historical Soc. for 1982, "The Brooklyn Fox" is Report No. 8 (in a series of 10) by the Historic American Buildings Survey of the Department of the Interior. It is reprinted in its entirety in this ANNUAL NO. 9 by architect A. Craig Morrison in 1971. The Report there lists the FOX to have been at 20 Flatbush Ave. (not "10") and the address of its surrounding office building to have been: 1 Nevins St. It also relates under "Alterations and Additions" that in 1934 William Fox's 8th floor apartment became radio station WBNY. Within the 50-page softcover publication are 44 pages of dense text describing all surfaces in the theater.

Of note in the descriptions is a statement on page 40, column 2, paragraph 2: "Above the foliated semicircular top of the 'boss,' there was an acanthus crown from which sprouted a burst of voluted foliation atop which perched a very large, long-necked bird with wings outspread, perhaps meant to represent a phoenix." The photo of this area on page 28 (left) shows the bird in question to have been a CORMORANT, a species of oriental diving bird. This is the only significant error of description I have found in the multi-thousand word text.

For those wanting this publication, it is still available from the Society:
PHOTOS AVAILABLE:
To obtain any available Back Issue of either "Marquee" or of its ANNUALS, simply go to the web site of the THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA at:
www.HistoricTheatres.org
and notice on their first page the link "PUBLICATIONS: Back Issues List" and click on that and you will be taken to their listing where they also give ordering details. The "Marquee" magazine is 8-1/2x11 inches tall ('portrait') format, and the ANNUALS are also soft cover in the same size, but in the long ('landscape') format, and are anywhere from 26 to 40 pages. Should they indicate that a publication is Out Of Print, then it may still be possible to view it via Inter-Library Loan where you go to the librarian at any public or school library and ask them to locate which library has the item by using the Union List of Serials, and your library can then ask the other library to loan it to them for you to read or photocopy. [Photocopies of most THSA publications are available from University Microforms International (UMI), but their prices are exorbitant.]

Note: Most any photo in any of their publications may be had in large size by purchase; see their ARCHIVE link. You should realize that there was no color still photography in the 1920s, so few theatres were seen in color at that time except by means of hand tinted renderings or post cards, thus all the antique photos from the Society will be in black and white, but it is quite possible that the Society has later color images available; it is best to inquire of them.

Should you not be able to contact them via their web site, you may also contact their Executive Director via E-mail at: execdir@historictheatres.org
Or you may reach them via phone or snail mail at:
Theatre Historical Soc. of America
152 N. York, 2nd Floor York Theatre Bldg.
Elmhurst, ILL. 60126-2806 (they are about 15 miles west of Chicago)

Phone: 630-782-1800 or via FAX at: 630-782-1802 (Monday through Friday, 9AM--4PM, CT)

From November 1929 to October 1933, WFOX licensed to Paramount Broadcasting Corporation (1400 on the dial) was on-the-air with studios at 1 Nevins Street.

Omitted from all of the above comments was what the Brooklyn Fox was best noted for and this their "Amateur Night"

I remember admiring the beautiful interior of this grand theatre.
What a shame that not one of the movie palaces in that area survied.

While the Fox and Albee are gone from downtown Brooklyn, the ex-Loew's Metropolitan is now a church, with much of Thomas Lamb's original decor restored, and the Paramount is more or less intact despite occupation by Long Island University. So 50% of downtown's "Big Four" survive, though no longer showing movies.

The fact remains that none of the movie palaces survived as theatres. The buildings have been altered to serve other purposes. The Paramount auditorium is a gym- and the Metropolitan has become a church.

This photo looks down Flatbush Avenue circa 1951. Trolleys were gone from late spring '51. Shows FOX marquee and vertical which were colored faded copper color at this time.

Brooklyn Public Library link

The above photo submitted by J.F. Lundy is definitely not circa 1951. It is very late 1946 or very early 1947. I verified this by the release dates of the films listed on the marquees. On the FOX marquee is “THE JOLSON STORY” with Larry Parks and Evelyn Keyes (10/10/46). On the RKO ORPHEUM marquee is John Garfield and Geraldine Fitzgerald in “NOBODY LIVES FOREVER” (11/1/46) and “PLAINSMAN AND THE LADY” (11/11/46). The MOMART marquee appears to the left of the Orpheum’s, but the lettering is not legible enough.

This exact photo appeared on the cover of a 1999 calendar devoted to Brooklyn’s theaters of the past and the marquee lettering was more legible than on the internet photo. However, if you enlarge the internet photo, the marquee lettering becomes legible enough to see that THE JOLSON STORY is indeed playing at the FOX.

Here is a link for Murray the K with a photo of the Fox theater:

http://www.murraythek.com/

And here is a link to a photo of the Fox marquee when one of Alan Freed's Rock N Roll shows were there:

http://www.popsiephotos.com/IMAGES/popsie007.jpg

Some Fox theater trivia:

"C. Howard Crane, a Detroit architect who designed the Fox was known for his work with theaters. He designed 52 theater's in his hometown alone. In the late 1920's, 20th Century Fox was opening theaters throughout the United States and five theaters were their flagships. These five were located in St. Louis, Detroit, Atlanta, Brooklyn, and San Francisco. Although Crane was the architect, William Fox's wife, Eve Leo Fox, was involved with the interior decorating. She was said to have traveled the world looking for decoration ideas for her husband's theaters. The stock market crash in October 1929 created financial problems for William Fox. By 1932, he had lost all interests in his theater circuit".

C.Howard Crane did not design the San Francisco Fox or the Atlanta Fox. Eve Leo did however have carte blanche to decorate the San Francisco Fox.

My comment should have read "C. Howard Crane, a Detroit architect who designed the Fox theater in Brooklyn was known for his work with theaters". The five theater's that I mentioned were considered the Fox flagship theater's and I didn't mean to imply that Crane designed all of them.

Vintage exterior views of the Fox can be seen here and here.

I never heard of the two films that were playing there. The closed view is sad, another lost palace.

The two above photos of the Fox Brooklyn Theatre are available on eBay under Fox Theatre.

More Brooklyn Fox trivia. There was one item in the Brooklyn Fox that was identical to the Saint Louis, Detroit and San Francisco Fox Theaters. All of them had identical WurliTzer pipe organs, known as "Fox Specials." There were five of these instruments built, the first was for the New York Paramount Theater. You can see the console in the picture above at the left side of the orchestra pit.

These were the five largest instruments built for a theater by WurliTzer until 1932 when WurliTzer installed the organ in Radio City Music Hall. All of the Fox Specials, to my knowledge, had one fully working main console and a second slave console that looked like the main console, but only the keyboards were operable. The only installation by WurliTzer with two independently working consoles is the Radio City Music Hall. Two organists can actually play two independent piece of music utilizing the same pipes. (Wouldn't probably sound too well, either!) Four of the Fox Specials survive, but sadly, the Brooklyn instrument was sold for parts.

WurliTzer spared no expense on these instruments. In addition to their 36 sets (ranks) of pipes, each organ had a set of 12d tune kettle drums which look like large wash tubs. Pity that there are no recordings of the Brooklyn Fox instrument known.

The organ at the Fox is known as the "Crawford Special" not the "Fox Special".

What a shame they destroyed such a beautiful theater. Was it empty long before they demolished it?
Why was it demolished?
What is there now?

"Despite its popularity, it was torn down in the late 60's and The Consolidated Edison company of New York was built in its place."

I guess I didn't mean literally why was it torn down, but more why would they do such a thing. There must have been plenty of vacant lots or abandoned buildings they could have removed to build the Con Ed building.

The Fox's "popularity" was not reflected in its boxoffice takings. It was a big loser from the time it opened, and contributed to William Fox's bankruptcy. It had a few good years during the World War II era, and then felt the full brunt of competition from newfangled home TV. Its "legendary" rock-and-roll shows were comparatively few and not enough to offset all the losing weeks in between. It was far too large for its own good, and also had to contend with a "product split" in downtown Brooklyn where it usually ran its programs for at least two weeks and often longer. If it had weekly changes like Loew's Paradise in the Bronx or Loew's Valencia in Queens, for example it probably would have been more successful.

I am responding to the Sept. 24, 2004 post of Organ-ized.
This is such a wonderful thread of information but I want to give the readers some good news. The Brooklyn Fox Wurlitzer was not destroyed but rather found a home at the Fort Wayne Indiana Cardinal Music Palace before coming to rest here in our home in Gig Harbor, WA. It was moved here and installed by Ed Zollman and a bit can be read about it below.

The following is from Theatre Organ magazine, May-June 1988

Written by Paul Quarino

<<Often it is said that when a lady gets a new gown, she also gets a new personality. This may well be true of this lady, who started life wearing gold and ivory in the Brooklyn Fox Theatre in 1928, changed to bright royal blue and gold when she resided in the Cardinal Music Palace in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and now, in her new attire, presides over the home of Richard Wilcox [Ed, now called "Wurlitzer Soundview Manor and Gardens" and owned by Barbara Hammerman and Raymond Lavine].>>>

http://pstos.org/instruments/wa/gig-harbor/wurlitzer-manor.htm

Best regards, Barbara Hammerman

Why did I have to be born in 1961?! There are so many great Brooklyn Theaters I don't remember! Man! I wish I went to the Fox!

For many years, the FOX was operated by Fabian and was advertised in the newspapers as Fabian's FOX. They also had Fabian's STRAND, which was a short distance away on Fulton Street.

Did Fabian ever have any other theaters in the five boroughs of NYC ?

Besides attending those great Murray the K shows at the Fox I remember seeing a great Sci Fi flick there called "The Day of the Triffids" about man eating planets from space. I loved that theatre and was sad to see it go. Many good memories!

Fabian was owned by the theatre division of Warner Bros., which, for whatever reasons, chose to stay out of NYC exhibition except for first-run showcases in Manhattan (Strand & Hollywood) and downtown Brooklyn (Fox, Strand, and, for many years the Paramount). But Fabian had theatres on Staten Island and in New Jersey.

Some info on this theater provided by the Library of Congress:

Address: 20 Flatbush Avenue with an office entrance at 1 Nevin St.
Last Registered Owner: Barton Candy Company.
Seating: 4305
Demolition dates range from Nov. 7, 1970 to Jan 4, 1971

Theater Opened on Aug. 21, 1928
Original Owner: William Fox 1928-1934
The builder is listed as the Aronberg-Fried Co. It is rumoured that Fried was a relative of William Fox since William Fox's original name was William Fried.
From 1934 to 1966 leased to Fabian Theatres

The last movie listed as playing here was "Where the Spies Are" on Sunday, Feb 6, 1966. Rock and Roll shows continued until April of 1968. It was next used by the Salmaggi Grand Opera Co which lasted only a few months. The last time an "audience" was in this theater was a Humphrey for President rally in 1968. The building sat vacant for approximately two years before being purchased by the Borough of Brooklyn, in NYC.

Was the Fox loosing money that they decided to close it in 1966? What a shame it sat there all that time neglected.

Actually, Fabian leased the theater from 1934 to 1962 at which point they purchased it. By 1966 attendance on an average day is given as approximately 100 people. This theater had 70 employees. Almost as many employees as there were customers. Was it the theater owners fault for the lack of attendance? Was it the decline of the neighborhood? Or were there a number of factors that contributed to this theaters decline?

Here are two pages (23 photos) of this theater from the Library of Congress website.

Thanks for the hook up to all the photos of the Fox! What great memories they brought back. I'll never forget all the Murray the K shows I went to there as a kid. I think over the years the downtown Brooklyn area started to decline and people just stopped traveling there to see a movie. I remember the huge Fox & Albee showing movies straight from their run in Manhattan,but towards the end the movies seemed like lousy B flicks. People started watching more TV and catching movies at their neighborhood theater.I still mourn the loss of this great movie palace.

The photos depict the jaw-dropping splendor of the the Fox. Too bad when I was last there as a young teenager for a Murray the K show, I had to endure a Ray Milland b&w sci-fi movie. I would have rather toured the theater.

In its final years, the Fox lost its exclusive first-run status for Brooklyn as the result of the introduction of saturation release. Prior to that, people traveled from all over Brooklyn to the Fox. After that, they could see the same movies in their own neighborhoods...But even before that, the Fox suffered from the "product split" in downtown Brooklyn. Almost all programs stayed for at least two weeks, whether they were doing profitable business or not, because the Fox was mainly a showcase for WB and Columbia releases and couldn't get product from the other studios that were pledged to Loew's Metropolitan, the RKO Albee and the Brooklyn Paramount.

When Bwana Devil left Loew's State it moved here to the Fox with shows starting daily at 9am. As an added bonus on the program was a Disney featurete called "Alaskin Eskimo".

I went to this theater many times to see the Murray the K Rock 'n' Roll shows. At the time, I paid little attention to the theater itself. All I really remember about the building itself was how Large it was.

Yes,the Fox was extremely large. I remember sitting up in the top of the balcony at one of Murray the K's shows. It seemed like I was miles away from the stage. To a kid that place was massive!It cost $2.50 back then to see Murray the K's rock n roll show which also included some lousy movie. If you arrived early you got a free Murray the K album. We would get to the Fox hours before the show started and waited on lines that snaked around the block for a good seat & free lp. We even got to meet The Shangri-las at one show when they stepped out to get something to eat.They were stuck up & wouldn't give autographs. I think I must have seen every important singer/group of the 60's at these shows.

I received a free album once. It was in 1964. I'm not positive but I think the show was around Easter of 1964.

I most likely was at that Easter show,I never missed one. I wish I had saved the programs, they have since become collectors items. I saw a few on E Bay going for a large sum. Remember when the WMCA Goodguys did their own rock n roll show at the NY Paramount? I think that was in 1964 also. Another massive theater too.

Here is the "Bwana Devil" ad from it's run at the Brooklyn Fox.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/FOx.jpg

The Fox's showing of "Bwana Devil" opened on 18 Feb. '53 and day-dated with Loew's State for two weeks. Arch Obler insisted that the polaroid 3-D process be projected on to a plastic screen for added luminosity. The Fox promptly installed such a screen according to his specifications, but the State did not. Instead, the Loew's management simply applied a commercial shellac to its existing screen, arousing Obler's ire. "If you want to see real 3-D," he fumed, "then go to the Fox." It may well be that the State was already planning for the first conventionally curved wide-screen in NYC, premiered with "Thunder Bay" on 20 May '53, and was unwilling to invest in a new interim screen for the short haul.

In any case, the episode points to my memory of the Fox's superb projection--that, despite a red glow which suffused the screen from residual house illumination and which was especially noticeable during black-and-white films. On the other hand, the Fox had a poor sound system. It seemed sometimes to me that the sound track was barely audible. The resonance seemed to get lost in the sheer height of the auditorium. Films I remember seeing there include "The Jolson Story," "All the King's Men," "Captain Horatio Hornblower," "On the Waterfront," "No Time for Sergeants," and "Pal Joey."

And add "A Star Is Born" to the preceding list--the Cuckor-Garland, not the Gaynor or Streisand ones.

Anyone know what this Beatles thing was they showed on the giant TV screen?
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/BeatlesatFox.jpg

The Victors was a movie that came out in 1963 so I assume the ad is from that year. The Beatles didn't come to the U.S. until 1964. I'm not sure about this but in 1963 the Beatles did alot of TV in Britain and what was being shown at the Fox might have been one of those telecasts. Possibly from the BBC. It was probably done similar to the boxing matches they would show in movie theaters.

I recall the Beatles doing a broadcast concert in 64 that was shown in US theaters. It also featured The Beach Boys & Lesley Gore. I see a copy of the Beach Boys performance from that show on E Bay a lot.I also see tickets from that broadcast on E Bay too.

Those are the Tami-TNT shows which were in Electronovision. Those played regular runs, this seems like something live.

here is a ad for the alan freed show at the- fox-1958
http://photobucket.com/albums/b15/myrtleave/?action=view¤t=scan0005.jpg

im new at photobucket.com if i make a few misakes forgive me
here is one moor ad for alan freed show
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/myrtleave/2b6c7a21.jpg

one moor show

The Beatles theatre/tv program probably was the March, 1964 concert given in Washington, DC.

one more time i hope i got it this time
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/myrtleave/scan0002.jpg

The Brooklyn Fox was very difficult to photograph due to the unusual color scheme and surface textures. Here are two views of the stage area. The drop curtain was made of grain satin. The peacocks and other decorations on the traveling curtain were done in rhinestones. The ceiling mural depicted guitar strumming caballeros and dancing senoritas:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/136-3608_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/136-3617_IMG.jpg

Here are two views of the balcony, which also had a loge section at the front (see introductory photo). And beneath this huge balcony was a separate mezzanine! The bright spots in the ceiling are from lighting coves and the central dome, where you can see the bottom tip of the huge crystal chandelier. This dome had triple cove lighting and could beam spotlights and color effects throughout the auditorium:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/136-3605_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/136-3627_IMG.jpg

Early and late Fox:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/136-3629_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/136-3622_IMG.jpg

Thanks Warren for those great photos of the Brooklyn Fox. I was just in the downtown Brooklyn area to visit Juniors restaurant and it was a shame to see how that neighborhood has changed. I could still picture the Brooklyn Fox,RKO Albee & Lowe's Metropolitan in all their glory. Now with all the downtown movie theaters gone there is nothing but 3rd rate bargain stores and an empty Macys. I can remember,as a kid,shopping with my family at all the big stores,A&S,Martins,E J Korvettes,Mays & McCorys. And who can forget all the great Murray the K shows at the Fox? Everything is gone, but at least we have some photos to preserve those great memories.

BklynRob, do you mean that Macy's (original premises of A&S) has closed down or just that it was empty of shoppers when you visited? If closed, I'm shocked. When did that happen? I don't recall reading about it in the press.

Sorry Warren,I should have made myself more clear,it was empty of shoppers. I use to work in that building when it was A&S back in the early 70's and I wanted to stop in for a look now that it's become Macys. First thing I noticed was how empty it was compared to when I was employed there. It always seemed crowded with shoppers back then. Also the place lost some of its splender to me. I always thought that this store was the gem of the A&S franchise.It seemed all the shoppers were at the bargain/99 cents stores. They were packed! I also walked by the spots where our old movie palaces once stood. As you know,Con Edison is where the Fox once was. I still have fond memories of that place and appreciate your photos.

BklynRob, thanks for clarifying. The original A&S was the flagship store and its success made the later "franchise" possible. If I recall correctly, the first A&S branches didn't open until the very late 1950s or early 1960s. One was in Hempstead, L.I. on Hempstead Turnpike, and the other near Manhasset, L.I., just off Northern Boulevard. I think the Manhasset site is now a Bloomingdale's. I don't know what happened to the one in Hempstead.

A&S & Martins were to merchandizing, what the B'klyn Paramount, the Fox & RKO Albee were to moviegoing, a unique Brooklyn downtown, cosmopolitan experience.

Does anyone on this site know that A&S stood for Abrham and Strauss, and Strauss owned part of Macy's.

Two members of the Straus family, Isador and his wife, Ida, died on the Titanic.

That's right;
The wife said that she would not get in the lifeboat without her husband, so she died with him when the Titanic went down.

http://www.subwaywebnews.com/Buses2/6026-41.jpg

Hi,
My name is Bill Erbis from 1960 to 1965 I was an employee of Fabian Theatres Corp. I also lived in Williamsburgh Brooklyn. I too have fond memories of the Fox. As a matter of fact I worked one of Murray The "K"s shows. I worked backstage as a elevator operater and also stamped albums (compliments of Murray The K) which were given away free. I have some good and not too good memories of the performers.

Bill

would love to hear any memories you would like to share. Performers,
Murray The K, the theaters.

Hi Bill,
Would love to hear your memories of the Murray the K shows at the Brooklyn Fox. I attended many of his shows and recieved the free albums you passed out when one got there for the early show. I met a few of the performers myself after one of his Easter shows and they weren't all that pleasant.

Bill;
That would be a part of Cultural and Rock and Roll History that should be shared. Go for it, man, go for it! That from a guy who loves old theater and oldie gold.

On Oct 14, 2004 'melders' wrote: 'The organ at the Fox is known as the "Crawford Special" not the "Fox Special".' Sorry to say this is totally incorrect, as verified by an interview with Jesse Crawford himself who denies designing the organ, but admits suggesting the inclusion of several of the ranks. This 'urban legend' of the Fox organs being 'Crawford Specials' no doubt comes from the fame Jesse acquired from playing the prototype of the Fox model at the New York Paramount. Jesse Crawford did not design the WurliTzer 4/36 models any more than B.B. King designed his famous guitar 'Lucille'. In both cases the musicians made the instrument famous. Mr. Crawford DID design the Publix I, a four manual 20 rank organ of which a significantly larger number were built for the Publix chain of theaters. These were a far more 'cost conscious' design, but were magnificant instruments in their own right, despite the fact that none of them originally contained a Posthorn rank.

LES KNOLL

Look at this ad for "Hard Days Night" on Premiere Showcase. How could the Fox fill all those seats anymore when it opened all over the place?
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/chalkgarden.jpg

I attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn from 1952-56. I used to go to the Fox with my girlfriend on most Friday evenings before taking the LIRR out to the Island. Being an art student I remember seeing a large painting of a seascape hanging in one of the hallways. It was of a wave rolling into the shore with the sunlight shining through it. Does anyone remember that painting? If so it would help to verify that it was indeed in the Fox in Brooklyn and not my memory playing tricks on me.


Thanks,

Jerry L.

Les, I am aware of the story about the creation of the "Crawford Special". I posted this because organized had been arguing with people on other theater boards over the name. I have never seen the name "Fox Special" applied to these organs. I believe that your telling of how the organ got the name "Crawford Special" is the correct story. I think that the name later fooled people into thinking Crawford designed the organ.

Melders - Organ-ized is, in fact, correct. According to David L. Junchen on page 157 of what was to be the third volume of his massive Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, just published by the American Theatre Organ Society as "The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ - An Illustrated History": "[The New York Paramount] organ was the first four-manual, thirty-six rank organ, the largest of all Wurlitzer models, later called Fox Specials by the factory since the four subsequent examples built in 1928 all went to Fox theatres." He goes on to quote Crawford himself as saying he did not design the Paramount organ but only specified that certain ranks be included: "Someone at the Wurlitzer factory made up the specifications. Contrary to common belief, I did not specify that the organ was to have such ranks as the Musette, the French Horn, the Dulciana and some of the other ranks that were included. These ranks, the entire stoplist as a matter of fact, would have been hard to improve upon. The final result was very satisfying to me."

I had the dubious honour of being part of the volunteer crew that removed the Brooklyn Fox organ in the winter and spring of 1971. The slave console was still there, too. Organ-ized was almost correct about those - the pistons between the manuals all worked, too, through the same setterboards as the main console. But all the stop tabs were dummies, just for show. It was a huge undertaking to lower all that pipework and over-scale percussions from the proscenium chambers, and not much easier to get it all out of the side chambers, either!

I missed out on thos days as well. Being born in 1956. I do remember the building before Con Ed built it's office on the site. I do however recall Mays, EJ Korvettes (eight Jewish Korean veterans), McCrorys as well as A&S. I used to love A&S's elevators. They were all manualy operated and the operators were never more then and inch off on landing. I still order cheese cakes from Jr's now and then. One of the few places standing. To add to that the Dime Savings bank building at Fulton and Dekalb.

Fascinating information about the Brooklyn Fox Theatre. The Brooklyn Fox Theatre Organ is at our home in Washington State. It continues to be a wonderful instrument -- www.wurlitzermanor.com

RE the Fox Wurlitzer: it was neither a "Crawford" nor "Fox" Special. The factory designated these instruments only as "Special". The Style would not have been named "Fox", as the first one was designed for Paramount, and Crawford himself publicly stated that the *only* organ he designed was the Publix #1. Additionally, I believe it is accurate to state that the Brooklyn instrument was of 37 ranks, one additional Celeste being added and, therefore, the largest. The organ was broken up for parts (I know the people who took it out) and the only portion in the residence in Washington is the console (there could be a few stray parts). The rest is scattered about the country.

Unfortunately I only went to the Fox maybe twice that I recall. Once to see the Eddy Duchin Story I was nine. And then in 1959 I think to see It Happened To Jane. The trouble with the Fox was that it was off the beaten trail. The Albee, Met & Paramount were practically in a straight line.

I'm putting up nice movie material that relate to movie theatres including souvenir programs. check it out

http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/

you can also visit my own website
www.cinemagebooks.com
to view more material.

"ij" is "irajoel" who is a spamer advertising his wares on other theatre pages here. Unfortunately, he is not interested in enriching our knowledge of this theatre or any other; merely getting our money into his pocket. There may be a place for yet more advertising, but this isn't it. Pity there isn't a 'Spam Deleter' on this site! And, NO, just because something makes money for someone doesn't mean its 'holy and just.' Please go and foul the waters somewhere else.

The Theatre Historical Society of America is offering a neat Brooklyn Fox anniversary booklet on Ebay through 9/17. Starting bid is only $8. The link is long. Hope it takes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BROOKLYN-FOX-THEATRE-illustrated-movie-palace-booklet_W0QQitemZ300026728998QQihZ020QQCategoryZ29223QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If that URL fails for any reason, just search "Brooklyn Fox Theatre" on their internal engine.

Dear Brooklyn Jim Hi Anniegirl here my e-mail address is anniegirl1945@optonline.net Give me a holla and I will write you back. I jst taped North to Alaska with John Wayne and Stewart Granger and of coarse Fabian and others such as Ernie Kovaks and Cappucine. Anniegirl

Many of the photos in the THS booklet about the Brooklyn Fox Theatre can be viewed on the Internet at the Library of Congress website in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) collection.

Sad that by 1966 the Fox was playing a second run double bill that was also playing all over town.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/WhenBoysMeetGirls.jpg

All of the super-deluxe theatres in the NYC area suffered the same fate as the Fox once saturation releases became the norm. In the past, those big theatres were protected by a distribution system that gave them an exclusive first-run on product. People traveled from all over Brooklyn to see movies at the Fox, but many stopped when they could see the same programs closer to home. Another factor in their closings was the Federal anti-trust action against the major film companies. When those companies owned theatres, they had a vested interest in protecting them. But now they were only interested in getting maximum revenues from their product and booked it as widely as possible, with no concern for the well-being of the theatres involved.

What does NYC mean fella? Could it be an abbreviation for New York City? When you write 'all' do I understand that to mean every single theatre without exception? Is this a factual statement or perhaps it is conjecture on your part? We need to differentiate between the two so no misunderstandings will arise from your comment. If your stating an opinion that should be indicated in your comment. We should be concise and clear in our comments to avoid confusion. Don't you agree fella?

Name even one of the large deluxe theatres of the Brooklyn Fox's era in the NYC area that is still operating as a full-time cinema and I will send you a hand-crocheted weenie warmer.

Make me an xtra large weenie warmer fella and keep the dinky one for yourself. Perhaps making weenie warmers should be your new vocation.

"mikemovies," you win nothing! As I thought, you couldn't name even one theatre! You are proving yourself even more of a dunderhead than I originally thought, and an especially rude one at that.

Are we going to resort to name calling now fella? Perhaps it is time to invoke the new rules and give you a leave of absence from this website. As for being rude isn't this more a case of the pot calling the kettle black? You are the most rude and obnoxious member of this great community called Cinema Treasures. Perhaps with time I can rise to the occasion and be as rude as you. For now I consider myself an amateur at rudeness compared to you.

CAUTION, fellas; some other members have recently been restricted after their personal attacks got out of hand. Read: http://cinematreasures.org/news/A15133_0_1_0_C/ Patrick Crowley is now watching many posts more closely for violations of the Terms Of Use. And why should cat calls continue, when both of you have genuine content to enrich this site for all?!

I can understand why some folks would find Warren's comments abrasive, but he is one of the best contributors to this site. He manages to find and post more photographs than anyone else on this site that I'm aware of. Speaking of which, Warren some of the links to the photos you've posted of this theatre no longer work. Would you please re-post the photos so that we can enjoy them again?

Jim Rankin, I would like to respectfully disagree with your post of October 10, 2002. I don't think the Fox in Brooklyn is Gothic at all. It looks like a mixture of Spanish Baroque, Byzantine, a few touches of Art Deco and a few Near Eastern items all thrown together. I honestly don't see anything Gothic in it. All in all, it must have been a very beautiful theatre. Too bad I never got to visit it.

I have limited space in my scrapbook and must delete things from time to time to make room for new additions. If you find that something is no longer displayed, please contact me at Warrengwhiz@nyc.rr.com and I'll send you a copy.

I do not wish to start a debate ziggy but I would like to be clear on your position. Do I understand you to say that the abrasive comments and condescending attitude of Warren is acceptable so long as he provides photos? If that is the case I must disagree with you. Viewing a theatre photo is not worth being insulted or demeaned. This is a statement made by Warren 'This is the last time that I will answer questions posed by members hiding behind pseudonyms. Until they come forward and identify themselves, they do not exist.' Since your name on Cinema Treasures is a pseudonym ziggy you do not exist according to Warren. Should Warren reply to your comment he would then be contradicting himself and speaking out of both sides of his mouth. Interesting situation; don't you agree.

All this nonsense for a theater thats been torn down for some forty years now............

Jim is right, guys.

If you can't stay on-topic and be friendly with each other, we may be forced to take action. So please keep things civil, ok?

Last August 30th at the listing for Manhattan's Roxy Theatre, "BoxOfficeBill" mentioned that when the Roxy suspended stage shows for the Grandeur wide-screen engagement of "The Big Trail," the dancing Roxyettes performed at the Fox in downtown Brooklyn, which was then under the same ownership as the Roxy. Here is an ad for that engagement, which is entirely different from the ad that "BoxOfficeBill" displayed from The New York Times. This one is from the Brooklyn newspaper, The Chat:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/foxy.jpg

End of the road, 1970:
http://tinyurl.com/ut7lp

A 1928 postcard view of the Fox Theatre Building, which came to a virtual point at the junction of Flatbush Avenue & Nevins Street:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/foxbw.jpg
An opening day ad from August 21, 1928. Note the emphasis on Movietone "novelties," including a now famous one with George Bernard Shaw: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/foxopener.jpg

From December, 1928, here's an ad for the Fox's very first Christmas extravaganza, which included contributions from Leon Leonidoff, future stager at yet-to-be-built Radio City Music Hall:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/fox1stxmas.jpg

I was just asked about this theatre by a friend of mine who grew up in NYC and as a teenager went to the Murray the K shows. After viewing the many photos (some of which can't be viewed though) I am sick that NYC allowed this theatre to be demolished for Consolidated Edison. Shame shame, NYC.

Patsy, there are MANY interior views of the Brooklyn Fox on permanent display in the photography collection at the Library of Congress website.

Thanks for at least this fabulous theatre has been preserved via photos though just not the same as having it with us today.

For Thanksgiving Week in November, 1954, the Fox opened at 8:30 in the morning to accommodate expected crowds for this "Gala 2 Hit Holiday Show." The first two days were also graced by a personal appearance (in the lobby) by one of Hollywood's most revered actors:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/fox1154.jpg

Bo Diddley and fans pose outside the Fox during a Labor Day holiday booking in September 1959: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/bfox959.jpg
The engagement marked the fifth anniversary of Alan Freed's stage presentations in downtown Brooklyn, some of them at the rival Paramount, which can be seen in the right background of the photo.

Given that a rival downtown theatre is listed here as the Brooklyn Paramount, I think that this should be listed as the Brooklyn Fox. Unless one actually lived in Brooklyn, it was always known as the Brooklyn Fox in advertising and publicity. If that change is not possible, then Brooklyn Fox should be listed above as an alternate name, along with Fabian's Fox and/or Fabian's Brooklyn Fox. The Fabian circuit operated the Fox for most of its cinematic life, taking over in the early 1930s in the wake of the bankruptcy of Fox Theatres. Due to the change in ownership, the Brooklyn Fox lost its franchise for Fox (and subsequently 20th Century Fox) films. Instead, its main supplier was Warner Brothers, which owned the Fabian circuit. Fox releases shifted in downtown Brooklyn to the RKO Albee.

The Brooklyn Paramount had the name Brooklyn on its marquee. Brooklyn Paramount photo. So, there is nothing wrong with listing it as the Brooklyn Paramount.

I never said that it was "wrong" to list it as just the Fox, but the theatre is world-renowned as the Brooklyn Fox, especially due to the rock-and-roll shows that were presented there during the 1950s. People seeking information about it are more likely to start with Brooklyn Fox rather than Fox.

Warren....My previous comment was about the Paramount Theater only. This might surprise you, but I totally agree with you. I have always referred to this theater as the Brooklyn Fox. Most people from NYC also refer to it by that name. I don't know if Brooklyn Fox was ever its "official" name, but I would have no problem with this theater being listed as the Brooklyn Fox Theater.

I was surprised to find that Brooklyn's very own Mae West played a week's engagment here in March, 1939, which was about four years after the Fox dropped stage shows. West's "Hollywood Revue" also included Borrah Minevitch's Harmonica Rascals and other vaudeville acts, but she occupied most of the show, singing many of her trademark numbers with the assistance of six chorus boys, and performing a comedy sketch with actor Milton Watson. In a rave review in the Brooklyn Eagle, critic Herbert Cohn said that people started lining up 90 minutes before the Fox's doors opened, and that the SRO audience at the first show cheered West throughout. The star had a foot-long orchid corsage pinned to the bosom of her tight-fitting spangled gown. Her wrists dripped with diamond braclets, and she wore a feathered tiara in her platinum-blond hair. "None could deny that Mae was royally welcomed back to Brooklyn and that the customers in her home town like what she has to sell," Cohn wrote. "They hung on her every word, noted each tiny gesture, and had a noisy good time."...West's revue was supported by the "B" gangster movie, "Persons in Hiding." Weekday matinees were 25 cents until 1PM and 35 cents to 5PM. The admission price at night and for all of Saturday and Sunday was 55 cents. Advertising stressed how easy the Brooklyn Fox was to reach from Times Square, which took only 12 minutes via the BMT Brighton express.

Mae West's one-week engagement at the Brooklyn Fox proved "distinctly disappointing," according to a story in Variety's issue of March 29, 1939. The final boxoffice tabulation was "under $22,000," Variety reported. West received a guarantee of $10,000 for the engagement, and was also entitled to receive 50% of the weekly gross above $25,000. Out of West's $10,000, she had to pay for all the performers in her revue. The orchestra and its musicians were hired by the Fabian circuit, which ran the Fox...Variety also reported that during the same week in downtown Brooklyn, the RKO Albee grossed an estimated $13,000 with "Wife, Husband and Friend" & "Boy Slaves"; Loew's Metroplitan, $16,000 with "Made For Each Other" & "Crowded Hours"; Brooklyn Paramount, $19,000 with "Yes, My Darling Daughter" & "The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt." For West's engagement, the Fox charged from 5 to 10 cents more per ticket than its rivals.

I don't believe that this one has been posted yet:

http://www.brooklynpix.com/photoframex1.php?photo=/photo1/D/downtown02.jpg&key=DOWNTOWN 02

I remember the rock and roll shows hosted by Murray the K. If only we could go back to those times.

Did the Fox have a tall clock tower? I have seen different photos of the Brooklyn skyline with a tower identified as (1) the Fox Theater tower and as (2) the Fulton and Flatbush Storage Company tower.

I noticed a note from Jerry L. (11-9-05) saying he attended Pratt from 1952 to 1956 and was an artist. I also attended Pratt, but from 1953 to 1957. I was in the advertising dept. of the art school and I'm curious as to what you studied. I even have a yearbook from that class as I was friends with the art director, Shelley Streisand whose sister Barbra has since become fairly famous.

I recently came across a photo dated October 20, 1941 showing "...the old Fox Theatre building being razed. The new Fox is on the left." The tower (shown in the photo) was obviously part of the old building, across Nevins Street from the new building. Part of the tower is still standing and can be seen in air views of the area on Local.live.com. This tower predates the existence of even the old Fox and can be seen in photos as far back as 1905 where it is identified as part of the Fulton and Flatbush Storage Company. Does anyone know anything about this "old" Fox Theatre?

There was no theatre in downtown Brooklyn called the Fox until this one opened in 1928. If I saw the 1941 photo, I might be able to say what theatre is shown being demolished.

This theatre was world-famous as the Brooklyn Fox, but if one does a CT search using that name, there are ZERO results. Couldn't the listing be changed? The equally famous Paramount Theatre in downtown Brooklyn is listed here as the Brooklyn Paramount, so why not the Brooklyn Fox? When a certain baseball team made its home in Brooklyn, it was always referred to as the Brooklyn Dodgers, not just the Dodgers.

Warren, the photo of the Fox being demolished is dated 1941 and the building is across Nevins from the Fox Theatre of more recent fame. If you go to the NYPL Digital Gallery and search for image 704179F you can see the photo in question.

I'm sorry, but I don't see any theatre in the process of demolition in those photos. Where is it supposed to be in relation to the tall tower? If you look at this map from 1928, there was no theatre at that location. The Fox is the one marked as #6: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/bkts28a.jpg

Link to image here (Sorry so big...don't know/remember how to shrink it)
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=384976&imageID=704179F&word=704179F&s=1¬word=&d=&c=&f=&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&total=1&num=0&imgs=12&pNum=&pos=1#

I have no problem with the link, but I still don't see any theatre in the process of demolition. The Fox Theatre is at the left. The next block to the right starts with a tall tower surrounded by other buildings, but I don't see a theatre among them.

I only see the Fox theatre on the left too. Its the angle of the picture.

I don't see the above-quoted caption, either "...the old Fox Theatre building being razed. The new Fox is on the left."

Click on the photo once to enlarge it and then click on "view verso" (at top) to read the caption. You can return to the photo by clicking on "view front". You can also also blow the picture way up, a little at a time, by clicking on "pan and zoom". The building being demolished is at the base of the tower and they appear to have been structurally the same building. Part of the tower remains and can be seen on views of the area on Local.live.com.

Walking around downtown Bklyn over the weekend, I took this photo of the horrendously bland Con Edison Building that replaced the majestic Fox Theatre.

Speaking of rock 'n roll shows, the Fox Theatre in St. Louis was the site of the Chuck Berry 60th birthday concert (October 1986) as documented in the 1987 film, "Chuck Berry : Hail Hail Rock 'N Roll !"

In his posting of Jul 7, 2005 RobertR posted a link to a newspaper page with an ad for The Beatles on cctv at the Fox. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/BeatlesatFox.jpg . Immediately above this ad is another for the TOHO Cinema, 45th St. W. of Bway. Does anyone know anything about that theatre? This is the first I've heard of it, and it isn't listed here on CT, at least not under that name.

Dave....The TOHO Cinema is listed here as the Bijou Theater.

The Toho was a short-lived name for the Bijou as a showcase for Japanese films. Over the decades, the Bijou had numerous "legit" or movie policies, but usually under the Bijou name.

In October, 1949, the Fox presented the entire baseball World Series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers on its "Giant Motion Picture Screen" using the RCA projection system. The Yankees won the series in five games, all of which were played in daytime. Fox patrons could remain for the two movies, both first-run for Brooklyn: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/foxseries.jpg

Here is a 1938 photo of the Fox marquee as viewed from the Fulton Street "L"
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2935066300053581592MnUcUi

The "L" passing in front of the Flatbush Avenue Fox marquee is of the 5th Avenue BMT Line.

Photo from Frank Pfuhler Webshot collection.

I was going to post about the "Crawford Special" notation, but others have already done so, and excellently too. Yes, just the console resides here in Washington. As much as I can't imagine it in blue-and-gold, a theatre in Texas (Aztec, San Antonio?) has a Modernistic or "Waterfall" console painted red, orange and green, and the Organ Loft in Salt Lake City has a strange hybrid five-manual of the same style painted gold and sparkly metallic purple. All the (Fox) Specials had the same basic scalloped-lid console with scrolled corbels, but the Publix 1 organs saw all manner of cases: French, Moorish, Roman, Grecian, Modernistic, etc.

Back on-topic, can anyone point me to large (functional) images of the Brooklyn Fox interior, be they color or b/w?

There's one of the Fox on the Bushwick Buddies website, "Theatres Of The Area", but you have to log in as a member to view it.

www.bushwickbuddies.com

Probably the one at the top of this page.

I went to the Brooklyn Fox once when I was a preteen to the best of my memory autumn, 1964. I grew up in New Jersey and begged my mother to take me as I was and still am a huge Dusty Springfield fan. From what I can recall it was about a 60 minute ride by subway to get there after crossing the Hudson River by bus. It certainly was not a neighborhood that I was permitted to go to alone. It was a wonderful concert, the first one I ever attended. It was hosted by 1010 WINS NY Radio DJ Murray the "K" (Kaufman). The acts included nearly all the Motown Acts. The Supremes only had their first hit of Baby Love at that time. This also took place in the middle of the British Invasion with Dusty Springfield and The Searchers appearing, also Millie Small from Jamaica. An unbelievable concert with an unbelievable amount of talent and singers one stage. Lovely memories. It's an awful shame that such a Grande old theater had to be torn down.

Thanks, Brooklyn Fox. That must have been some concert. It reminds me of the rock and roll shows that used to take place at the nearby Brooklyn Paramount, which see on this fan site.

You are very welcome Peter K. I love to reminisce about it.

I'd like to make a few additional comments...

The only Grande theater I know that is left in New York City is Radio City Music Hall, unless you want to count some Broadway theaters such as The Winter Garden. Does anyone else know of any Grande old theater left?

I read on this site that where the Brooklyn Fox once stood, Con Ed (New York City's Electric Company) now stands. However, friends of mine in the past have told me it is a bank and parking lot? Can anyone clarify?

Thank you.

Brooklyn Fox, how about the Ziegfeld Theatre ?

Not sure what's there now instead of the Brooklyn Fox. I was last in that area Saturday July 15 2006 to see the original "Psycho" at the BAM (Brooklyn Academy Of Music) Rose Cinema.

What about the Beacon Theatre and the United Palace (aka: Loew's 175th. Street) and the Paradise Theatre in the Bronx.

Anything left in Manhattan?

Brooklyn Fox, how about the Ziegfeld Theatre ?

Brooklyn Fox, the Beacon and United Palace are both in Manhattan.

Brooklyn Fox....This link is posted somewhere else on this page. It should bring back some memories.

What a shot of the Fox marquee. Thanks for that. And it's the Con Ed building on that site with a bank on the ground floor; no parking lot.

Brooklyn Fox-thanks for the memories! I remember being at that same Murray the K show too. I'm also a big Dusty Springfield fan.Didn't she sing "Wishin & Hopin"? I would try and catch all Murrays holiday shows as I lived in Brooklyn at that time, maybe 20 minutes away by subway.It would only cost $2.50 for the live show and a movie. If you arrived before noon you would get a free Murray the K album. The WMCA Goodguys also put on shows at the NY Paramount around this time.

Thanks, BklynRob. I grew up listening to the WMCA Good Guys : Joe O'Brien, Jack Spector (your main man Jake, booby !) Scott Muni ...

Thanks to both. WMCA Good Guys do bring back some fond memories. Harry Harrison was the late night DJ. The loss of the Fox Theatre was tragic. It was another indication of downtown Brooklyn's decline. I find the many comments here to be both fascinating and very interesting.
George

You're welcome, George Tobor. For some reason I associate Harry Harrison with WABC 770 AM. I heard Scott Muni late at night on WMCA in about 1960 or 1961, then later at night on WNEW 102.7 FM in 1968.

Indeed Peter.K, Harry Harrison left WMCA and moved over to WABC as Scott Muni had done earlier. As multple screens theatres were causing the decline of many single screen theatres, FM radio was forcing AM stations such as WMCA and WABC to change their format. The world may move forward but all changes are not necessarily for the better. Those were fun and carefree times which are sorely missed.
George

Thanks, George, I know what you mean.

I agree,George,those times listening to AM radio,WMCA,WABC or WINS and Murray the K were fun times. It really broke my heart to hear the Brooklyn Fox closed down. Growing up in Brooklyn, I always viewed the downtown area as its Times Square with all the different theatres,restaurants & stores. One of my first jobs was working downtown in the old Mays department store. I would walk by the theatres to check out what was playing. Now all of them are gone.

Good thought, BklynRob, of downtown Brooklyn as Brooklyn's Times Square. I'd never thought of it that way. Thanks.

Some little known data about Murray Kaufman. He worked at WMCA in 1958 before moving over to WINS. In 1969 in an attempt to boost ratings, Murray Kaufman returned to WMCA. WINS had already begun a 24 hour news format by that time. The move did not work and eventually WMCA switched to talk radio in 1970. I am familiar with Mays department store. Spent many a saturday shopping on Fulton Street.
George

Thanks, George. I'm not sure I ever heard Murray The K on WMCA. I vaguely remember the change of WMCA to talk radio in the fall (?) of 1970.

Indeed it was Peter.K. September 1970 to be precise. I must say that you have a remarkable memory.
George

Thanks, George. Others have told me that, too. I remember WMCA 570 AM playing cuts off albums "in orbit" as recently as June 1970 : "McCartney" and "Morrison Hotel" (Doors).

I recall WMCA 570 AM as talk radio in September 1970, now that you mention it. The only music on air then was a "sting" or sound-byte of guitar heard as they proceeded to their next news item. I remember someone calling in to report that he / she had found a rat tail in a can of food. Someone on WMCA suggested mailing it to consumer advocate Bess Myerson Grant so the appropriate action could be taken.

Yes, consumer advocate Bess Myerson Grant was usually associated with Mayor Ed Koch. No relationship to the former mayor I presume. Murray Kaufman was the self appointed fifth Beatle. One can only wonder if the manager Brian Epstein embraced that title.
George

This meeting of the Swingin' Soiree is now in session.

As Warren mentioned in a previous comment, why not list this theater as the Brooklyn Fox. That is the name that it was known as to many people. Anyone want to comment on that suggestion?

That is a marvelous idea. I wish to thank Warren for the suggestion. The Fox theatre has always been known as the Brooklyn Fox to myself and others. Any entertainer that ever performed at the Fox theatre in Brooklyn would generally refer to it as the Brooklyn Fox. Perhaps Fox theatre could be an alternate name.
George

Not to be confused with the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, where Chuck Berry had his 60th birthday concert, going on 22 years ago ...

Yes, why not call it the Brooklyn Fox ? What's happened to Warren ? I haven't seen any posts by him for awhile.

No George, no relation to Ed Koch, although my then-fiancee, now wife, got so tired of being asked seventeen years ago, she started saying, "Oh yeah, Uncle Ed's coming to the wedding !"

My father met Ed Koch in the streets of Ridgewood 31 years ago when he was campaigning.

"This meeting of the Swingin' Soiree is now in session."

Lost Memory, I"m SO glad you said that ! You sent me the sound byte of it privately four years ago ! Thanks !

Murray The K vs. Brian Epstein as The Fifth Beatle ?

Fab listeners, we may never know !

What a Jewish question for Yom Kippur !

What a gorgeous theater.
The borough of Brooklyn tore this down?!
Well why am surprised?
Was this near BAM?
This should have been saved as a dance and opera theater not the Academy of Music which is nice and all but nothing like this.
And as I have mentioned before maybe the Brooklyn Paramount is the most beautiful theater interior I have ever seen according to the old photos. That is near BAM as well isn't it?
And they turned that into a gym. Well that exists in some form.
Is that now coming down as well?

Indeed LeonLeonidoff, the Brooklyn Paramount was one long block away from the Fox Theatre. Both theatres were magnificent although of the two, I preferred the Fox Theatre. Rock 'N' Roll shows were hosted at both theatres. A pity that the Fox Theatre was not saved.

Peter.K, a journey to the fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis is a worthwhile trip. It is a fine example of a former movie palace being given a second lease on life. I highly recommend it.
George

Leon, BAM is not far away at 30 Lafayette Avenue, between Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street. I was last there to see "Psycho" on Saturday July 15 2006.

George, I'll keep in mind your remark about the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. It looked like a beautiful theatre in the 1987 film "Chuck Berry : Hail ! Hail ! Rock And Roll !".

Peter.K, returning to Murray Kaufman for a moment, he did not pioneer rock at WINS. That honor belongs to Alan Freed who hosted the Big Beat show for four years at WINS prior to Murray Kaufman replacing Alan Freed. After leaving WINS, Alan Freed served a brief stint at WABC radio. Disc jockeys moving from one station to another station had been going on long before Murray Kaufman came on the scene.
George

Geroge Tobor ("Robot" deliberately spelled backwards, as in "Tobot The Eighth Man" ?) thanks for the explanation of Murray The K and Alan Freed.

Peter.K, indeed Tobor is robot spelt in reverse. As a child I received much kidding about the name. Truth be told, the name was shortened from Toborski when my grandparents immigrated from Warsaw.
George

Thanks, George, for the explanation of your last name. So it was shortened from Toborski ? Cool. I am Polish on my mother's side. Her maiden name was Rakowski.

I thought you might have gotten part of your posting "handle" from "Tobor The Eighth Man".

Incidentally, our English word "robot" comes from a Czech or Polish word meaning "worker" or "work". I remember my Polish grandmother saying "roboti" (sp ?) as the Polish for "work".

She emigrated from Poland to the USA after the Titanic (1912) but before the Lusitania (1915), but not on a luxury liner.

See also the famous play "R.U.R. : Rossum's Universal Robots".

Peter.K, I was once told that robot could mean 'automat' in Polish. Perhaps that person was mistaken. Klient is friend. Thank you for your wonderful conversation my klient. When may we expect the name of this theatre to be changed to Brooklyn Fox?
George

You're most welcome, my friend.

Change to Brooklyn Fox ? I recommend you contact the CT management.

Perhaps "robot" could mean "automaton" in Polish, rather than a Horn and Hardart "automat" restaurant. Is that what you meant ?

Kee-rist.

Wake me up when they re-open this theatre, or at least post some photos.

Zzzzzzzzzz.....If you want the name changed, send an email. I tried once before to have the name changed to Brooklyn Fox. I hope that you have better luck than I did.

Please don't take the Lord's name in vain, saps. Thanks.

I have no photos of the Fox theatre to share saps. My apologies to you for changing the subject matter. I was merely reminiscing with my friend Peter.K. I will do my best to refrain from reminiscing again. The Fox theatre brings back fond memories of a better time. My intentions were not to bore or alienate anyone. To the contrary, I had hoped to stimulate a conversation about the Fox theatre. Perhaps I chose the wrong method to accomplish that goal. Please forgive my clumsiness.
George

The introduction address lacks the postal zip code, which is 11217.

I'm mildly surprised that the zip is not 11201.

George Tobor, please post your private e-mail address here if you wish to continue your conversation with me in private. Thanks.

The Brooklyn Masonic Temple is now available as a concert venue. As far as I know, it has no history as a cinema: http://www.masonicboom.com/images.php

Thanks, Warren.

Has anybody ever been given a good reason why this theatre can't be known as the Brooklyn Fox Theatre in the above listing? Because with all the above comments who remember this Wonderful theatre as that. Have posted good comments as that show it was known as the Brooklyn Fox from newspaper ads and those Murray the K Rock Shows. And looking at sites like the Theatre Historical Society of America which put out an annual #9 called The Brooklyn Fox. Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society which tells some of the history of the organ and the location of it at the Wurlitzer Manor in Gig Harbor, Washington. With both of those sites called that it came from the
Brooklyn Fox Theatre. Even ledgers from the Alan Freed Archives call it the Brooklyn Fox Theatre. One site showed Rosa Rio at the organ at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre. In an event I hope the name gets changed the the Brooklyn Fox Theatre, and more comments keep coming in on this Wonderful Theatre that we lost to much too early.

William, good points you've made. Thanks.

Thanks Peter.K, After reading many of those comments about the known name and the pictures that Lost Memory posted from the Library of Congress. Got me more interested in this lost treasure's history.

You're welcome, William, I'm glad to read that. It would be well if this theater could be listed as the Brooklyn Fox, to distinguish, it, say, from the Fox Theatre in St. Louis that I mentioned in my posts above.

Having the name of this theater changed isn't the same as asking that the address be corrected or changing the seat count. Patrick and Ross have to make the decision on changing the name of this theater. If your going to send an email requesting the change, those are the people to contact. If the primary name can't be changed, maybe an aka name of Brooklyn Fox can be added. That would make it easier for people to do a search for this theater. Right now, a search for Brooklyn Fox will return nothing. It really is a shame that this theater was demolished.

The official name of the theatre was Fox, and the listing should stay that way. It was the only Fox Theatre in New York's five boroughs, so everybody knew it was in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Paramount needed to have the location attached to its name to differentiate from the Paramount in Manhattan's Times Square.

It appears that you've changed your mind on this subject. See the comment posted on Mar 21, 2007 at 5:55am. I still think this theater should be listed as Brooklyn Fox or at keast have that as an aka name.

Isn't it a person's prerogative to change their mind? In the more than a year since I wrote that, I've done considerable research on the Fox, and I believe now that Fox, and not Brooklyn Fox, should be the name in the listing.

No argument here. You do have the right to change your mind. And other people have the right to request that this theater be listed as the Brooklyn Fox or at least have an aka name of Brooklyn Fox.

Indeed, the name should be Brooklyn Fox. Shows that were hosted by Murray Kaufman were advertised as being held at the Brooklyn Fox. I have in my possession a number of record albums from various shows. The album covers clearly state; Live at the Brooklyn Fox. One voice may not be heard but many voices can bring about change. Perhaps an email campaign will achieve the desired results.
George

Get over it. The theater's been gone over forty years now. Case Closed!!

Was that addressed to anyone in particular, or just a comment in general?

The theater may be gone for over forty years, but the page about it here on Cinema Treasures remains active and open.

Yes, my friend Peter.K. This is a forum for free speech and discussion. Have we not the right to discuss our desire to change the name of this theatre?
George

George....Here is a shot of a 1964 album cover. Your right, it does read Brooklyn Fox.

Indeed we do, George.

Thanks for the album cover shot, Lost Memory.

Thank you my friend Peter.K. Indeed Lost Memory, that is one of many record albums from the Brooklyn Fox that I have in my collection. May I also add that the album depicted in the photo is very enjoyable to listen to.
George

"Brooklyn" on the album cover was contributed by the art designer. Without it, the photo would have puzzled anyone not familiar with downtown Brooklyn. The theatre's signage says only Fox. Dumbies might have mistaken it for the Fox in Atlanta, the Fox in Detroit, the Fox in San Fransico, the Fox in St. Louis, or whatever.

Hi George, I also have that cd. It not only has the December 1964 show,which I attented, it also includes the 1963 show with The Chiffons,The Angels,Jan & Dean etc. I have both of those shows on individual albums which I got at the Brooklyn Fox. Remember at the 63 show the MC announces "The Brooklyn Fox theatre prouldly presents Murray the K's holiday revue!" I believe there is a third live album which I haven't been able to add to my collection. I have to check E Bay. Anyway,we all can agree on the great memories we share of this wonderful theatre!

Here's an ad for the Fox Theatre's very first Christmas show in 1928. Note the contributions to the stage portion by a future RCMH luminary:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/fox1stxmas.jpg

George....Anyone that attended one of those rock shows will refer to this theater as the Brooklyn Fox. Murray the "K" called it the Brooklyn Fox on his radio show. The NY Times even referred to this theater as the Brooklyn Fox in a 1962 story, "The 4,000-seat Brooklyn Fox Theatre and adjoining twelve story office building at Flatbush Avenue, Nevins and Livingston Streets in Brooklyn have been sold by the Brooklyn Fox Corporation.". I guess that there are alot of "dummies" in the wotld.

Yes, there certainly are, some hiding behind pesudonyms in vain attempts to conceal it.

Looking to start more trouble?

Warren appears to be a caustic fellow that enjoys insulting people. One must be cautious about writing a message because of his insulting habits. Nonetheless, this theatre will always be the Brooklyn Fox to many, many people. BklynRob, I own the original LP and have transferred it to tape so as to prevent damage to the LP. Several advertisements for Alan Freed shows advertise this theatre as Fabian's Brooklyn Fox. I do not see such a name placed above. It stands to reason that the Brooklyn Fox Corporation would own the Brooklyn Fox theatre. When Murray Kaufman took the stage, he uttered the famous words, this is Murrray the K: Live from the Brooklyn Fox!
George

Just post your comments George and don't worry about him.

Life Magazine photos of a 1949 closed-circuit TV presentation at the Fox Theatre can be found here: http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=a0ccb24ba7b6d88c&q=theatre+source:life&usg=__oBzwLgyPrq9v0KaFGad-oYi5Og8=&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtheatre%2Bsource:life%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Thanks "misterboo" for the Life Magazine photo link.

Good pix, Warren. Thanks !

Here's a separate link for a picture of the big TV screen inside the theater.

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?q=theatre+source:life&imgurl=cf4dc672d572f3d2

Thank you, saps ! That's a BIG TV screen !

WOW I only ever got to see the outside of the Fox before it was torn down. And here I thought closed circut TV was a big up and coming thing in the 70's. I had no idea they had it back then

Me neither. Not in 1949 !

Peter when we has a closed circuit event at the NY Acadey of Music they use the regular movie screen. From the picture inside the Fox it looked like they had to rig one up. They used to run a reciever unit with a dish and aim it at a transponder somewhere in the city. The projection unit was set up about 20 rows back in the orchestra section. One time I had a friend of min bring in his "PONG" game and it was so awesome seeing it up on the big screen. Ahhh the simple life back then.

Thanks for your comment, East Coast Rocker.

Those Fox photos were taken during the 1949 World Series. I believe that the telecasts were the same that people could see at home on their much smaller TV screens. Here's a new link to an ad that I posted above on 7/30/08: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/foxseries.jpg

The 1949 World Series would have been of interest to many New Yorkers since the Yankees were playing the Dodgers that year.

Wow Warren where did that picture? That was awesome. I wish I could have been around back in that time. WW II was over and things in the US were starting to roll.

It should be noted that in that World Series of 1949, all of the games were held during the daytime. Lighting technology for night games was still developing, and not considered powerful enough for an outdoor telecast.

As you should know or be aware that the major reason World Series games are now played at night is because of Television and "Greed". Does anyone recall the last time a World Series game was a day time game? I know they had day games in 1969. GO METS.

For at least the past two decades, probably even further back, all World Series games have been played at night. The network televising the games believe that they get a larger audience and therefore more money from sponsors. Your right East Coast Rocker, it is all about money and not the best interest of the fans. Considering the time of the year that the World Series is played, watching the game in a warm movie theater on a large screen might not be a bad idea.

Lost you got that right. I was fortunate enough to be present at game #6 of the 1986 World Series between the NY Mets and the Red Sox. It was a very very cold October evening and I had the worst migrain in history. I was also in section 46 in the upper nose bleed seats. It was a cold day to begin with and even colder at game time.
I wonder how the picture quality was back in 1949 as compared to today.

Farewell to the Fox-1970 photo

This is late 60s, most likely. Apologies if it has been posted already.
http://tinyurl.com/chp368

LM's photo from 1970 clearly shows the decay that was the hallmark of much of downtown Brooklyn and Times Square in Manhattan. It's very sad. But, New York has rebounded. Too late for the Brooklyn Fox, The Capitol, The Roxy, etc...., but not too late for the New Amsterdam, The Beacon, The Hollywood, the St. George and Loew's Paradise.

Indeed my friend Luis; a wonderful photograph. I believe that the decay had begun in the 1960's. The Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street area were in decline. The Brooklyn Fox Theatre holds fond memories. In particular the Murray Kaufman concerts. Both are gone and both are sorely missed.
George

http://www1.dailynewspix.com/sales/largeview.php?name=5rk00kia.jpg&id=12434&lbx=-1&return_page=searchResults.php&searchDisplay=A&numFields=1&Button=<SPAN>Search</SPAN>&start=-2713888800&end=16343999&dayFrom=1&monthFrom=1&yearFrom=1884&dayTo=8&monthTo=7&yearTo=1970&location_0=allmeta&bool_0=AND&Button=<SPAN>Search</SPAN>&page=0

Fox Photo in 1962, courtesy Warren