Fox Theatre - Definition and Overview

The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia is one of the grand movie palaces built in the United States in the 1920s. The theatre's unique origin sets it apart from others of the era. Originally intended as the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque, a headquarters for the Shriners, the $2.75 million project was completed only with funding and a twenty-one year lease by movie mogul William Fox, who was building theatres around the country at the time. The 4000-seat theatre opened on December 25, 1929, just two months after the stock market crash. Built in the era of silent films, the Fox features a 42-rank pipe organ nicknamed the Mighty Mo. It was custom built for the Fox by M. P. Möller, Inc. and is the second largest theatre organ in the world.

In 1974, Southern Bell, the regional arm of AT&T, approached the owners of the theatre with an offer to buy and with the intent of tearing it down and building a new headquarters on the site. A group was formed to save the theatre and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in May 1974. The resulting public outcry and massive campaign resulted in the city refusing to issue a demolition permit and ultimately, a complicated deal that prevented the Fox's demolition and the building of the Southern Bell headquarters on land adjacent to the theatre. The United States Department of the Interior subsequently named the Fox a National Historic Landmark on May 26, 1976.

The theatre currently hosts a multitude of cultural and artistic events including the Atlanta Ballet, a summer film series, and performances for various national touring companies of Broadway shows. Because of its origins as a movie house, the Fox has a relatively shallow stage by theatrical standards and is unable to accomodate some of the set pieces required by modern large scale shows such as The Lion King and Miss Saigon.

External link

• Fox Theatre website (http://www.foxtheatre.org)