Fox Tucson Theatre Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Fox Tucson Theatre
Construction
Fox Theatre in 2019
Address	17 W. Congress St. Tucson, Arizona United States
Public transit	Tucson Sun Link at Congress & Stone and Broadway & Stone
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
Opened	April 11, 1930 (1930-04-11)
Reopened	2005
Website


Fox Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Area	0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Built	1929
Architect	M. Eugene Durfee
Architectural style	Art Deco
MPS	Downtown Tucson, Arizona MPS
NRHP reference No.	03000905
Added to NRHP	September 12, 2003

The Fox Tucson Theatre is a famous building in downtown Tucson, Arizona, United States. It first opened its doors on April 11, 1930. Back then, it was a place for all kinds of shows. Today, it still hosts many exciting events. You can see ballets, jazz concerts, pop music, and rock bands there.

History of the Fox Theatre
- Original Design and Opening Day
- Challenges and Closure
Restoring the Fox Theatre
Gallery
See also

History of the Fox Theatre

The Fox Theatre was built in 1929. It was first planned by the Diamos Family. They owned many theaters in Southern Arizona. The theater was going to be called "The Tower."

Before it was finished, the Fox company wanted to buy it. They said they would build a bigger theater if the Diamos family did not sell. They also said they would only show their movies there. So, the Diamos family sold the theater. But they got to manage it.

The Fox Tucson Theatre is in the middle of downtown Tucson. It has 1,200 seats. This building is special because it is the only known example of a Southwestern Art Deco movie palace. Art Deco is a cool style of building design.

Original Design and Opening Day

The Fox Theatre was meant for two types of shows. It would host both vaudeville acts and movies. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment. It had many different acts like singers, dancers, and comedians.

The theater had a stage and dressing rooms. But the Great Depression happened. This was a time when money was very hard to find. Also, "talkies" (movies with sound) became popular. So, there were not many live plays. The dressing rooms were never fully built.

The theater cost more than expected. It went from $200,000 to $300,000. This included all the furniture.

The Fox Theatre opened on April 11, 1930. It closed on June 18, 1974. When it first opened, it showed movies. It also had community events. There were vaudeville shows. Even the Tucson Mickey Mouse Club met there!

The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is important because of its unique look. It also has special sound material called 'Acoustone'. This was made for the new "Talkie" movies. It is the only known place where this material still exists.

Opening night was a huge party for Tucson. Congress Street was closed for dancing. There were four live bands. A radio station broadcasted live. Free trolley rides took people downtown. About 3,000 people bought tickets. They watched the film Chasing Rainbows. A Movietone short and a Mickey Mouse cartoon were also shown. The Fox Theatre was the center of fun in Tucson for 40 years.

Challenges and Closure

Over time, other fun places opened. Drive-in theaters became popular. Television also came along. These things made the Fox Theatre less popular.

Some parts of the theater were changed. But most of its original details stayed. However, fewer shops and homes were downtown. This led to the theater closing in 1974. People tried to save it, but it stayed empty. Luckily, it was not torn down.

Restoring the Fox Theatre

The theater was empty for 25 years. It became home to over 40 homeless people. It was in very bad shape. Water damage, vandalism, and neglect made it almost impossible to fix.

The owners wanted to tear it down. They planned to build an office building. They did not want to sell it. But after two years of talking, a group bought it. This group was called the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation. They bought it in 1999 for $250,000.

They started fixing it right away. A new roof was put on to stop more water damage. Small projects like fixing chandeliers kept people interested. They held open houses and fundraisers. After six years and $13 million, the theater reopened. This was on December 31, 2005.

What Was Restored

Many parts of the theater were brought back to life:

The fancy plaster and wall paintings were fixed.
The special 'Acoustone' sound material was repaired.
New seat fabric, carpet patterns, and lights were made. They looked just like the originals.
New systems for lights, sound, and movies were added. This helps with live shows and touring acts.

The theater is important for the community. It has a good number of seats for shows. Local and national performers were excited for it to reopen. Now, the theater hosts dance, music, and film events. It also has activities for children and community gatherings.

How the Project Was Funded

The Fox Tucson Theatre restoration got money from many places. Both public and private groups helped. It was one of the first historic theaters to use special tax credits.

The City of Tucson also gave money. So did the United States Government and the State of Arizona. Many private people and groups also donated money. This special way of getting money can help other old buildings. Without this funding, the Fox Theatre would still be dark today.

Community Support for the Fox

The community helped a lot. Over 200 volunteers worked on the project. The Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation had an all-volunteer Board of Directors. They worked very hard. They had a small paid staff of three people.

It was hard to raise money. Many other charities needed help. But the project raised almost $1 million each year for five years. Building costs went up by about $500,000 each year. The City of Tucson helped finish the project in 2005. The Mayor and Council voted 6-0 to approve the final funding.

Impact on Tucson

The reopened Fox Tucson Theatre has made a big difference. It helps downtown Tucson and all of Southern Arizona. The Fox plans to host over 100 events every year. More than 100,000 people will visit it each year.

This brings more sales tax money. It also helps restaurants and shops downtown. Parking lots also make more money. This project has had a bigger impact than any other building restoration so far.

The Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation (FTTF) started in July 1999. Its main goal was to bring the theater back to the community. It grew from a group of citizens who wanted to save the theater in 1997. This group wanted to see the theater fixed and reopened. The Foundation's goal is to buy, fix, update, and run the historic Fox Tucson Theatre. It has a professional staff and a volunteer Board of Directors.