Fox Theatre

Dear folks, The last movie that ran at the Fox was “The Emerald Forest” with Powers Boothe in the summer of 1985. Sometime afterwards, the theater was TORN DOWN, so that the Charleston Plaza Mall could (did) do a remodeling job. As for richjr37’s comment that “‘Police Academy 5’ was the last movie to play there when it closed on March 30, 1988” - HIGHLY UNLIKELY! Then again, this is a guy who believed he saw “The Black Stallion” at another Vegas theater (the Parkway 3) in 70mm… So tell us Rich - HOW was that possible, ESPECIALLY since United Artists NEVER released that film in that format?

I’m sorry, folks, but my problem with this richjr37 is the fact that this person HAS NO IDEA was he’s talking about - let alone even commenting on Vegas movie theaters SINCE HE HAS NEVER LIVED HERE & IS BASED SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!!

To Scott Neff - As for that Century Theatres' document, remember - Century was originally known as Syufy Theatres, and because of what was known as “the ‘Annie’ fiasco” (a story in itself!), Syufy eventually took over the 2 Mann indoor theaters - the Fox & the Boulevard Twin, as well as Plitt’s only Vegas indoor theater, the Parkway 3. As pointed out above, the Fox closed during the summer of 1985 after its engagement of “The Emerald Forest”. Both the Boulevard Twin and the Parkway 3 were still in operation in 1988 - hence that document of yours. It’s my guess that “Police Academy 5” played at either one or the other - as well as the Red Rock 11.

Rich, do us a favor - unless you know your facts, do not - repeat - DO NOT comment on ANYTHING regarding Las Vegas movie theatres.

Jim Perry - a TRUE Vegas Native.

I recall seeing an document kept by the Century Theatres' marketing team that suggested they operated the theatre from 2/9/1983-3/31/1988. I cannot vouch for how accurate this information is, but it’s a start.

A photo of the original neon sign from 2009, found in the Las Vegas Neon Graveyard:

View link

This theatre had one of the best managers in the business, and he was also my dad. Richard Goldsworthy took the movie experience way beyond anything anyone else was doing at that time. From the “kid shows”, “Freaky Fridays” with my mom or me dressed up and lying in a casket, to the premiere of Annie, where the entire shopping center was tranformed with characters and propaganda that matched the show. My mom was the shopping center manager, Elsie Goldsworthy. I used to play all over the mall and theatre as a kid. Boy times have changed, my kids don’t have the freedom I did, and what a shame. I miss those old times, it is too bad that all that I have left is stories and photographs of the good times I had growing up. I am going to create a web page dedicated to my father with memories of the mall and theatre. Please email me if you have anything you would like posted when it is complete.

Robert Goldsworthy (email:)

I actually was taking Thai Kung Fu at the Martial Arts studio. There was also a video store that had both Beta and VHS. A pizza store towards the front. The Las Vegas Library was over on the side. The whole mall definitely had an odd “Dawn of the Dead” abandoned vibe and you felt like you had the place to yourself. Wasn’t there also a petting zoo there? It had a Gigantic parking lot in the back that was empty and crumbling, sprouting up weeds, back to back with Crestwood Elementary School.

My next door neighbor was the manager of that Woolco until it closed. And good old Thriftimart was of course owned by Vegas politico Jan Laverty (later married to Fletcher Jones Jr.).

The Fox Theater was one of the most classy theaters around. Red velvet curtains that opened and closed. Beautiful light fixtures on the wall. In the seventies around Halloween they would show classic horror movies at midnight!

My first job was at this theatre in 1975! I lasted one night. They made me change all five marquee signs to read, “WILD, WONDERFUL, WOOLY, SINFUL, EXPLOSIVE NASHVILLE!”. Even the one that was like 30 feet in the air. I remember thinking, “I’m 16 and they have UNIONS to do this!”.

My dad was the manager of that American Furniture for a few years. Liberace was a customer of his. I have pics of him with Johnny Carson, too. Anyway, I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark at the Fox the summer after I was in 1st grade. I went to work with my dad on a Saturday and found my friend there doing the same. His mom was the ticket lady at the Fox and we watched the movie 4 times straight for free. I have many fond memories of that day now especially since the new Indy is out.

What surprises me is that my dad trusted me enough to stay safe-no way I let my kids do that now.

Yep… That’s it! Great site, Ken… Thanks!

No nightmares tonight, slim! ;–)

Yep… Woolco was the anchor store. American Furniture was pretty big, but their product quality was on the same level as Woolco. LOL The mall always had kind of an ‘abandoned’ feel to it… creepy.

The sign for this theatre now rests at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas. Possibly there are other theatre marquees and signs, too.

Oh yeah I remember this theater. Before we would go stand in line there was a karate studio next door where we use to watch them practice karate. I think the last movie I was there was “Superman.”
Had to have been in ‘78 of course.