Fox Tucson Theatre
The Fox Tucson Theatre, March 2007
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| Address | 17 W. Congress St. Tucson, Arizona United States |
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| Owner | Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation |
| Operator | Fox West Coast Theatres (1930-1970), National General Corporation (1970-1973), Mann Theatres (1973-1974), City Of Tucson (2005-present) |
| Type | Movie palace |
| Capacity | 1,197 |
| Screens | 1 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 11 April 1930 |
| Reopened | 2005 |
| Website | |
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Fox Theatre
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| Coordinates | 32°13′25″N 110°58′18″W / 32.22361°N 110.97167°WCoordinates: 32°13′25″N 110°58′18″W / 32.22361°N 110.97167°W |
| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | M. Eugene Durfee |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| MPS | Downtown Tucson, Arizona MPS |
| NRHP Reference # | |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 2003 |
The Fox Tucson Theatre is located in downtown Tucson, Arizona, United States. The theater opened on April 11, 1930 as a performance space in downtown Tucson. It hosts a wide spectrum of events and concerts featuring a variety of performing talent, ranging from ballets, to jazz, contemporary pop, world music and rock acts.
The Fox, originally to be called "The Tower", was built in 1929 by Nicholas Diamos for his Southern Arizona "Lyric Amusement" chain of theaters. Other theaters owned by the Diamos Family included the Plaza Theater in Tucson and the Grand Theatre in Douglas. The Diamos family story tells us this about the history:
"Before the Tower theater's completion, Fox offered to buy the theater. If Nicholas would not sell to Fox, Fox said they would build a larger theater across the street, and cut distribution of their films. It was an offer Nicholas could not refuse, and so he sold the theater to Fox. Fox agreed to have the Diamos brothers manage the theater".
Opening night, April 11, 1930, proved to be the biggest party the small community of Tucson had ever seen. With Congress Street closed and waxed for dancing, four live bands, a live radio broadcast and free trolley rides downtown, the party was one not to be missed. Those lucky enough to have bought tickets in advance—3,000 or so people—enjoyed the show inside as well as out. The film Chasing Rainbows, a Movietone short, and a Mickey Mouse cartoon were well received by both audiences that evening, and the Fox Theatre began its 40-year life as the center of Tucson’s entertainment world.
Competition from other venues, drive-ins and television conspired to end the run of popularity the Fox had enjoyed. Partial remodels of the theater left it with most of its original charm, but vanishing retail and housing downtown spelled the end in 1974. Various efforts to revive the theatre were unsuccessful, but luckily the property was spared the wrecking ball. Hidden from the view of the public for more than 26 years, the grand theater was never forgotten by its former patrons.
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Wikipedia