Fox Theatre

1800 E. Charleston Boulevard,
Las Vegas, NV 89104

Unfavorite 1 person favorited this theater

Showing 25 comments

richjr37
richjr37 on September 6, 2023 at 11:36 am

Whoman Jim: 1. I was born at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital(now University Hospital) 2. Check the first photo in the photo section and notice the date. 3. Eat Crow!

Whoman Jim
Whoman Jim on June 17, 2023 at 4:27 pm

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.

richjr37
richjr37 on September 22, 2019 at 11:19 pm

Scott,you’re correct. “Police Academy 5” was the last movie to play there when it closed on March 30,1988.

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on May 28, 2019 at 11:34 am

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.

pscisme
pscisme on January 3, 2011 at 4:55 pm

I remember Dick Goldsworthy;I worked under Gene Hendricks at the Boulevard Twin from January ‘79 til September '80, and had a lot of good times during those High School days.

Corey Miller
Corey Miller on November 6, 2010 at 9:10 pm

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

View link

robgw
robgw on February 9, 2010 at 4:48 am

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:)

MauriceM
MauriceM on November 17, 2009 at 1:07 am

The Charleston Plaza Shopping Center was located at 1800 E. Charleston Blvd. A July 1971 telephone directory lists the following stores within it:

Bank of Nevada, Charleston Plaza Barber Shop, Daviess Howard Union Oil Dlr, Fox Theater, Lingerie by Candlelight, Lullabye Shop, QualiCraft Shoe Store, Wendel’s Hobby Shop, Triftimart Inc., and Woolco Dept. Stores. It also contained Pizza Bar No.1. A 1971 phone book ad proclaims “famous for our square (eastern style) pizzas & Italian ices”. It was in operation from at least 1971 and the final listing for it is in a 1980 directory.

phantomhillbilly
phantomhillbilly on September 18, 2009 at 1:58 pm

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!

milomoviemaniac
milomoviemaniac on April 17, 2009 at 9:41 pm

Great memories of this place. I saw Santa Claus: The Movie, Gremlins, Predator and many others here. My brother was an instructor at the Martial Arts studio a previous post mentioned. The mall was always empty. My friend and I would ride our bikes through the entire place without hassle. Does anyone remember the little ceramics shop?

dogherder
dogherder on March 28, 2009 at 11:48 am

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!”.

tmgowens
tmgowens on June 5, 2008 at 9:58 pm

There was a small soup and sandwich shop in the mall next to American Furniture. Does anyone remember the name of it?

tmgowens
tmgowens on June 5, 2008 at 9:57 pm

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.

VegasVic
VegasVic on September 4, 2007 at 6:19 pm

Don’t forget what was at the opposite end of the mall from Woolco…. Thriftimart!

KimF
KimF on August 18, 2007 at 6:23 am

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

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 18, 2007 at 12:08 am

There is an abandoned marquee in this Vegas graveyard. Probably from the Fox. Scroll down about halfway to see it:
http://tinyurl.com/2ayyqe

KimF
KimF on July 19, 2007 at 2:18 pm

No nightmares tonight, slim! ;–)

henderson
henderson on July 19, 2007 at 1:58 pm

Your right! I forgot about the “Creepy” dark section of the mall that you had to walk through to get to the theatre. Thanks for jogging the old memory.

KimF
KimF on July 19, 2007 at 6:56 am

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.

henderson
henderson on July 18, 2007 at 4:40 pm

Great theatre. It was big and clean. last time I went there was in 1971. Saw a chick flick, “Friends”, with my date. Of course we didn’t call them “Chick Flicks” back then.
I seem to remember that the mall was a bit lame. One major store and a little bit of this and that.

MagicLantern
MagicLantern on April 21, 2007 at 4:50 pm

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

Rickjr34
Rickjr34 on March 14, 2007 at 5:48 pm

Opened as a National General/Mann theatre,taken over by Syufy Theatres.(Now Century Theatres)

Its sister theatre was the Boulevard Twin located on Maryland Parkway near the Boulevard Mall and its three screen Plitt Parkway 3.

johnnybatters
johnnybatters on August 25, 2005 at 2:39 pm

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.

KimF
KimF on February 3, 2005 at 8:00 pm

Of course, the Fox Charleston Theater was IN a shopping center, too… Charleston Plaza Mall… home of “American Furniture,” a dance studio, “Woolco,” Bernhardt and Williams Photographers and others. The entire mall was demolished and rebuilt as a new outdoor shopping center.