Fox Theatre

MarkA on September 22, 2004 at 12:50 pm

The Mighty Wurlitzer organ at the Saint Louis Fox was not really designed by organist Jesse Crawford per se, although he had specified some ranks (sets) of pipes for the New York Paramount Theater organ, which was the first of five identical models to be known as “Fox Special” WurliTzer organs. See the article at the American Theater Organ Society’s website: www.atos.org/Pages/Journal/CrawfordSpecial/CrawfordSpecial.html It gives a fascinating story of the real Crawford Special. It’s fortunate that four of the five Fox Special WurliTzers still survive. Here are/were all the locations:

• Saint Louis Fox Theatre (still original)
• Detroit Fox Theatre (identical theater and still original)
• New York Paramount Theatre (now at the Wichita KS Century II Convention Center, new duplicate console)
• Brooklyn Fox (sold for parts)
• San Francisco Fox (now totally restored at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles

The other Fox flagship theatre was the Atlanta Fox. It is graced by a 42-rank M.P. Moller organ which has been lovingly cared for by Joe Patten since 1963. It known to be in better than originally installed condition.

Saint Louis is fortunate to have Stan Kann back at the Fox. I met him a few years ago and he invited me to visit him at the Fabulous Fox. Something on my “to do” list, to be sure.

melders on June 14, 2004 at 2:14 am

The wurlitzer in the lobby was supposidly originally in the Majestic theater in East St. Louis.

JimRankin on March 25, 2004 at 11:14 am

“THE FABULOUS FOX” is the title of the ANNUAL of the Theatre Historical Soc. of 1985 and it is one of their most elaborate publications with varnished color covers and many other color pages within the 62-page booklet. Except for some differences between the facade and lobby, this movie palace is a twin to the other FOX in Detroit, though that one has had a fabulous new marquee and vertical sign added to it, as was profiled in color in “Signs Of The Times” magazine. This ANNUAL is different in being a co-production with Fox Theatre Associates, 527 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103 through which one might be able to purchase a copy if THSA is out of stock. As one commenter mentioned above, this is NOT an ‘atmospheric’ theatre, since that term denotes a ‘stars-and-clouds’ decor quite unlike the awe-inspiring 100-foot-diameter mock tent ceiling here, with the huge, 20-foot-diameter sphere of colored glass jewels which constituted the chandelier. Do not confuse the name of the ANNUAL with the designation of the “Fabulous and Foolish Fox” as the San Francisco FOX was once described, with this theatre, for while both were built by the William Fox Corporation, neither were foolish in that they did, indeed, satisfy the desires of their builders and the public alike, and it is only owing to the foolishness of mankind that we have lost the very fabulous San Francisco house, but is also owing to the farsightedness of some of mankind that we still have, restored, the St. Louis FOX.

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 the sidebar of 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:
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)

LARRYEVANS on January 30, 2002 at 10:14 pm

WHEN ARE YOU TO HAVE “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA”? DO YOU HAVE SEATING CHARTS AND PRICES. I REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS AND APPRECIATE ANY QUICK RESPONSE YOU CAN GIVE ME.

THANK YOU.