Fox Theatre

Fox Theatre is a historic entertainment venue at 2211 Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It opened on September 21, 1928, as the flagship Detroit location of the Fox Theatres chain established by film pioneer William Fox. Conceived during the era of the great American movie palaces, the building combined a very large cinema auditorium with retail and office space, making it both a cultural destination and a prominent commercial property on Woodward Avenue. Designed by theatre architect C. Howard Crane, the Detroit Fox uses an eclectic interior influenced by Burmese, Chinese, Indian, and Persian decorative traditions. Its exterior is integrated with a ten-story office building whose terracotta façade extends along Woodward Avenue. The auditorium originally accommodated more than 5,000 patrons and remains the largest surviving movie palace from the 1920s and the largest of the five original Fox Theatres. Depending on the use of removable orchestra-pit seating, the venue is generally described as having 5,048 or up to 5,174 seats. The opening program combined the silent film Street Angel, starring Janet Gaynor, with a live historical pageant about Detroit, performances by the Fox Theatre Grand Orchestra, a large choir, and the Tillerettes chorus line. During its movie-palace years, the venue presented feature films, short subjects, newsreels, stage entertainment, and musical accompaniment. It became an important part of Detroit's popular culture, hosting appearances connected with Shirley Temple films, Motown performers, and Elvis Presley's 1956 engagements. In 1953 it became the first theatre in Michigan equipped for CinemaScope and presented The Robe in the new format. The Fox remained open while many downtown Detroit theatres declined. By the 1960s and 1970s, however, deferred maintenance had damaged the building and portions of the mezzanine and balcony were closed. The theatre survived partly by showing blaxploitation and martial-arts films, programming that helped distinguish it from several neighboring venues. It closed in the early 1980s as restoration planning developed. After an earlier proposal by theatre owner Chuck Forbes was not completed, Mike and Marian Ilitch acquired the property in 1988 and oversaw a full restoration costing approximately $12 million. The restored theatre reopened to live performance with Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra on November 19, 1988. Since restoration, Fox Theatre has operated primarily as a concert, touring-show, family-entertainment, broadcast, and special-event venue. Its calendar has included artists such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Alice Cooper, Jack White, and Greta Van Fleet, as well as theatrical and family productions including Riverdance, Sesame Street Live, Blue's Clues Live!, and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. It has also hosted nationally visible events, including the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2007, a film premiere, a two-night Democratic presidential primary debate in 2019, and numerous concerts and televised performances. The theatre is a major anchor of Foxtown, the entertainment district named after it. It is located within the broader Grand Circus Park and downtown Detroit performance corridor. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Olympia Entertainment and related Ilitch businesses have maintained offices in the attached Fox Theatre Office Building. The venue's identity rests on the combination of historic architecture, large-scale live entertainment, and its continuing role in Detroit's cultural and downtown redevelopment.

The Detroit Fox Theatre was built during the late-1920s expansion of the Fox Theatres chain. Film entrepreneur William Fox commissioned five major theatres in Detroit, Brooklyn, Atlanta, St. Louis, and San Francisco. C. Howard Crane designed the Detroit building, which opened in 1928 and became the chain's flagship. Its auditorium and attached office building were designed as one urban complex: the office tower formed the principal Woodward Avenue frontage, while the auditorium extended behind it. The theatre's design departed from the restrained classical style found in many earlier cinemas. Its interior drew on a broad and highly theatrical interpretation of Burmese, Chinese, Indian, and Persian motifs. The six-story lobby contains terrazzo and brass flooring, elaborate plasterwork, scagliola columns, decorative balconies, animal and bird imagery, and a grand staircase. The auditorium includes a large proscenium, multiple seating levels, ornamental arches, a tent-like ceiling, and a colored-glass chandelier. The building also retains a four-manual, 36-rank Wurlitzer theatre organ installed for the original venue, with thousands of pipes concealed in the auditorium walls. The gala opening on September 21, 1928, presented the silent film Street Angel and a live Detroit historical pageant. Film programming was supplemented by orchestral music, choral performances, newsreels, short subjects, and stage presentations. During the Second World War the theatre operated around the clock to serve defence-plant workers on different shifts. In the postwar period it continued to function as a leading film destination. It was the first theatre in Michigan equipped for CinemaScope and premiered The Robe in 1953. The venue also hosted prominent entertainers, including three Elvis Presley performances in May 1956 and appearances by Motown artists during the 1960s. The building deteriorated as downtown cinema patterns changed. By the 1970s the theatre's mezzanine and balcony were partly closed, although the Fox remained open by showing blaxploitation and martial-arts films. A renovation proposal associated with Chuck Forbes in 1984 did not reach completion. The property was subsequently acquired in 1988 by Mike and Marian Ilitch, whose organization undertook a comprehensive restoration. The restored theatre reopened for live entertainment in November 1988. After reopening, the Fox shifted from a primarily film-based business to a broad performing-arts and event model. Its programs have included rock, pop, soul, jazz, comedy, touring musicals, dance, children's shows, holiday productions, film events, and nationally televised or recorded appearances. Among the documented performers and productions are Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Victor Borge, Riverdance, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Wiggles, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Kid Rock, Jack White, and Greta Van Fleet. Chris Cornell's final show took place at the theatre on May 17, 2017. The venue has also contributed to Detroit's urban identity. The surrounding district is known as Foxtown, and the Fox sits within the Woodward Avenue corridor linking several of the city's major sports and entertainment facilities. The attached office building has housed Olympia Entertainment and related Ilitch operations. The theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Its continuing operation combines heritage preservation with commercial live entertainment, making it both a functioning venue and one of Detroit's best-known historic interiors.

1. 2019Presidential primary debates

   The venue hosted two nights of Democratic presidential primary debates.

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2. 2015Marquee modernization

   The marquee received a new support structure, digital video screens, and LED elements while retaining the appearance of the historic sign.

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3. 2007WWE Hall of Fame event

   The Fox hosted the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony before WrestleMania 23.

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4. 1997Radio City Christmas Spectacular residency begins

   The Radio City Christmas Spectacular became an annual Fox Theatre attraction from 1997 through 2005.

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5. 1989National Historic Landmark designation

   The Fox Theatre was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architectural importance.

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6. 1988Acquisition, restoration, and reopening

   Mike and Marian Ilitch acquired the theatre and completed a reported $12 million restoration. Live programming resumed in November.

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7. 1985National Register listing

   The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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8. 1956Elvis Presley performances

   Elvis Presley performed three shows at the Fox in May.

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9. 1953Michigan CinemaScope presentation

   The theatre became the first in Michigan equipped for CinemaScope and premiered The Robe in the format.

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10. 1928Grand opening

    The Fox Theatre opened on September 21 with Street Angel, a Detroit historical pageant, orchestral music, choral performances, and a chorus line.

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A landmark Detroit entertainment venue positioned around architectural grandeur, historic prestige, and large-capacity live programming.

• Concert programmingLive music1988

  The Fox's principal modern offering is large-scale concert presentation in a historic auditorium of roughly 5,000 seats. Its documented calendar has included major touring performers, Detroit and Michigan artists, rock, pop, soul, jazz, and contemporary music acts.

• Touring theatre and dancePerforming arts1988

  The venue presents touring theatrical, dance, musical, comedy, and variety productions. Documented examples include Riverdance, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, David Copperfield, Donny Osmond, and Victor Borge.

• Family entertainmentChildren's live entertainment1988

  Family programming has included Blue's Clues Live!, Dora the Explorer Live!, Go Diego Go! Live, Sesame Street Live, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live, and multiple tours by The Wiggles.

• Historic venue and event servicesVenue services1988

  The restored movie palace is also used for premieres, televised events, debates, ceremonies, advertising productions, and other special events that benefit from its landmark architecture and large audience capacity.

• 2011Chrysler 200 Super Bowl commercial

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  The Fox Theatre served as a prominent location in Chrysler's Chrysler 200 commercial featuring Eminem, broadcast during Super Bowl XLV.

  Outcome. The campaign gave the venue national advertising exposure by presenting its interior and exterior as part of a Detroit-centered brand narrative.

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• 1988Transition from endangered movie palace to restored live-event venueStrategy

  The theatre had aged substantially, with deferred maintenance and reduced access to upper seating areas, while many neighboring downtown cinemas had declined or closed.

  What changed. After acquiring the property, Mike and Marian Ilitch funded and completed a comprehensive restoration and repositioned the Fox around concerts, touring productions, family entertainment, and special events.

  Aftermath. The building reopened for live performance in November 1988 and became a continuing anchor of Detroit's Foxtown entertainment district.

  Reported restoration cost. $12 million (1988 restoration)

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• 1953CinemaScope installationProduct launch

  Widescreen film presentation was becoming an important way for theatres to distinguish cinema from television.

  What changed. The Fox installed CinemaScope equipment and premiered The Robe in the new format.

  Aftermath. It became the first theatre in Michigan documented as equipped for CinemaScope.

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• 2019Fox Theatre hosts Democratic presidential primary debates

  The venue hosted a two-night primary debate involving announced candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2020 United States presidential election.

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• 2011Chrysler 200 commercial uses the Fox Theatre

  The theatre's interior and exterior appeared in a Chrysler 200 advertisement featuring Eminem that aired during Super Bowl XLV.

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• 2007WWE Hall of Fame ceremony held at the Fox Theatre

  The venue hosted the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony on the eve of WrestleMania 23 in nearby Ford Field.

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• 1988Fox Theatre reopens after restoration with Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra

  The restored Detroit Fox returned to live programming with a concert by Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra.

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1. Fox Theatre (Detroit)
2. Olympia Entertainment Fox Theatre venue page