Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree Street NE,
Atlanta,
GA
30365
660 Peachtree Street NE,
Atlanta,
GA
30365
48 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 126 comments
lostmemory: Great b/w!
The acoustics of the Fox Theatre were even more wonderful if you had heard the Philadephia Orchestra perform there! For years, the Metropolitan Opera performed at the Fox for its spring tour. Supposedly, the singers really liked the accoustics of the Fox.
Of course, a good part of the auditorium is essentially a plaster shell. What appears to be an Arab tent at the back of the balcony is actually an accoustic foil. It literally deflects soundwaves and sends them back into the house! If you look at the top of the “Arab tent”, you’ll see what appears to be grease stains from cooking on the tent canvas. It’s all an illusion! It’s painted on plaster hung on a wire or steel frame.
Yes, the stairs in the balcony can seem a bit steep. They certainly seemed that way to me when I was a child. However, the sight lines for watching movies in the balcony were great! Some people preferred them to the sight lines in the orchestra.
With an optimum seating capacity of aproximately 4400 seats for movies, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house! Apparently it can be fitted with more seats for music concerts.
Interesting enough, the New York’s Radio City Music Hall is surviving with a policy of booking live events similar to what it’s creator, Roxy Rothafel, envisioned. The Fox seems to be surviving and prospering with a similar policy.
Long may they reign!
I saw Kansas in concert here in 1977 (76?) and Grateful Dead in 1978. Really amazing place to see live bands like those. The acoustics were phenominal, much better than the usual stadium or pavillion, although probably not designed that way like most symphony auditoriums.
I remember walking the stairs to our seats, thinking you could literally fall off the stairs and end up on the floor near the stage, it was so steep. But that could have been partly due to my altered state.
lostmemory: Nice slide show of a VERY nice theatre that was SAVED!
Old wartime photos:
View link
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Charles: GREAT photo!
Don K: What a beautiful story about the Fox and about your dying father and your last conversation with him. A very uplifting and bright post that was so nice of you to share with all of us.
The word “fabulous” is an understatement when applied to the Fox. My personal connection to the Fox is intense since I grew up in Atlanta in the 1950’s and 1960’s. As a small boy, my father took me to the Fox a number of times. Among my most memorable experiences was seeing John Ford’s THE SEARCHERS (1956), starring John Wayne, at the Fox. Over the years, I saw a lot of movies there, as well as live events.
After the demolition of Atlanta’s Paramount, Roxy, and Loew’s Grand, I am doubly thankful that the Fox was saved. On the my most recent visits to Atlanta, I took the tour of the Fox. It was very gratifying to say the least.
When my father was dying in 1996, I visited him in the hospital immediately after taking the tour of the Fox. In spite of his suffering, he brightened up when I told him how wonderful the theater looked. Our shared memories of the movies that we saw there turned what might have been a grim visit into a a very happy experience for both of us. It was the last conversation that I had with him before he died.
In a way, I owe that wonderful last experience with my father to the Fox Theater.
Charles: Fabulous photo of the fabulous Fox!
Henry: A friend of mine in Charlotte NC knew Mr. VanCamp and I recently met the current organist during the 75th anniversary celebration on December 26th, 2004.
Does the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra ever use this theatre for concerts or opera’s?? I know they have their own symphony hall but I was wondering if they accompany ballet’s or opera’s here at this theatre?
My wife and I lived in Atlanta between l966 and l968, and we went regularly to the Fox to hear Bob VanCamp play the beautiful Moller pipe organ between film screenings. What a magnificent sound.
Henry Aldridge
TC: THANKS!
This person has a nice photo album of the Fox Theatre at this link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/fiftythree
Larry: I, for one, so much appreciate you taking the time to include your Fox thoughts on this cinema site. My husband and I truly enjoyed meeting you and Mighty Mo! I recently attended a MTOS dinner/meeting. Our longtime Atlanta friends sent me the Fox 2 hour video during the holidays so we showed that wonderful tape to the Metrolina Theatre Organ Society group and they fell in love with the Fox all over again. In fact, one of the members, Charlie Clayton who is originally from Atlanta and has known Joe Patten and the organist prior to you, Mr. VanCamp for many years so he truly enjoyed the video! So whenever we find ourselves back in Atlanta we’ll come by to share a glass of wine. BTW, we would love to meet the “phantom”, too! God Bless you and God Bless the Fabulous Fox! Happy New Year!
Hello All! and a Very Happy New Year too!
Joe Patten, my mentor and “Phantom of The Fox,” also restores vintage cars. His 1947 Cadillac, Rolls and Bentley were part of the Shriner “Auto” parade, and brought dignitaries to the Fox, so Joe was busy organizing that outside. The 75th was truly an event not soon forgotten. For my part, it was thrilling to show off “Mighty Mo,” in all “her” glory. Whenever you’re at the theatre, stop by and say hello and have a glass of wine with me.
Most Sincerely,
Larry Douglas Embury
Organist in Residence
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
Atlanta Georgia
Well, I have returned from the 75th anniversary open house at the Fox Theatre. For those of you who were there you know how much fun it was though the theatre was packed and for those who couldn’t make it you truly missed a “Fabulous Fox” event. I wore my cinematreasures.org nametag and since nobody came up to me I did mention it to Larry Douglas Embury, organist in residence. I rec’d his business card and have sent him a thank you. When we finally entered the lobby I knew I had finally arrived! The sights and sounds were all there to take in. We quickly proceeded to the auditorim and it was only then that a small tear appeared at the corner of my eye as I stood and ‘drank in’ what was before my very eyes. The thought that the Fox came so very close years ago to becoming only a memory was more than I could comprehend as I stood and looked around then up at the star filled ceiling! We attended the 4:30 show sitting in the FRONT ROW right behind the organ as it slowly rose from the orchestra pit with Larry sitting at the keyboard! The restorer of the organ as told on the Fox documentary video is now the “Phantom of the Fox” as he was given the theatre apartment in return for his work restoring the organ! He lived up to his name as he was never seen by me that day nor by anyone I asked! Before the “1929” show we all sang Let Me Call You Sweetheart. We then toured the 2 ballrooms where an orchestra was playing, anniversary cakes were cut and served, dance lessons were underway to anyone who wanted to learn in the Egyptian ballroom and in the other ballroom were displays of the theatre’s vast and rich history. Mayor Fergeson was the Mayor at the time the Fox was to be saved and he was directly responsible for one of the demolition permits to be halted! Unfortunately, Mayor Fergeson didn’t live to attend the 75th anniversary open house event yet I feel that he was smiling down on that special day in Atlanta GA. And in the concession area which was a large room off the lobby they were selling cokes at 1929 prices along with chili dogs from The Varsity!
LOL! Boy, that eggnog is good!
Yes, Patsy, I think you “miss” have had too much eggnog.
I miss have had too much eggnog as I meant CINEMA TREASURES.ORG
I plan to attend the Fox Theatre open house on December 26th! I plan to wear a nametag that says CINEMA THEATRES.ORG with my name beneath PATSY so look for me as I’d love to meet others who post on our cinema site! I will post my thoughts and experiences here on Monday or Tuesday!
FOX NOTICE! Anyone interested please go to www.foxtheatre.org and read about the upcoming open house on the 26th of December as the theatre is celebrating its 75th anniversary on that date! The open house will be from 1-7 with many things planned throughout the day! Also, on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper site (www.ajc.com) you can read the first of many articles this week concerning the theatre’s wonderful history! For your convenience, here is the article site to cut and paste into your browser! Enjoy as I did!
View link
I saw this lovely theatre in 1980. Art Linkletter was doing a free benefit — it was standing room only. Even though the Fox had definitely been “saved” by this time, there were still a surprising number of cars around sporting “Save The Fox” bumper stickers. This is a must see theatre so if you’re able, go celebrate the Fox’s 75th birthday with a visit.
In the days when New York’s Metropolitan Opera toured the country in a leased train, the Fox with its spacious orchestra pit, large stage and copious dressing room facilities was an annual stop. What a change from the grand, formal surroundings of the Met’s home! To have heard the Met perform AIDA in the “Arabian Nights” Fox would have been an experience to remember for a lifetime!
The Fox Theatre was part of the American Broadcasting-Paramount Theaters, Inc. chain. And was operated in the Wilby Kincey Service Corp. division of the company. And when it was a movie theatre it seated 4462 people.