Fox Theatre Detroit

There is a National Historic Landmark in downtown Detroit, Michigan that is of interest to theatre goers and is still a thriving business. The Fox Theatre Detroit, part of the Fox chain of movie theatres, was built in 1928 and is the oldest and the largest of the theatres commissioned by William Fox, founder of the 20th Century Fox studios. With over 5,000 seats, it's the second largest theatre in the United States; only the Radio City Music Hall in New York City is bigger.

The architect, Charles Howard Crane designed the imposing building and the unusual interior was the brainchild of Eve Leo, who was married to William Fox. The furnishings and décor were sumptuous, inspired by fabrics and colors from the Far East. Marble columns and gold damask, silk and velvet all added to the atmosphere of unbridled luxury. This splendor was re-created in 1988 when the Fox Theatre Detroit was fully restored at great expense and with a new ten-story marquee at the front of the brightly lit façade. Crane designed a total of 250 movie theatres across the United States and Canada.

It was the first movie theatre to have live sound, an exciting development for movie fans. The original building cost was $12 million, a staggering amount of money in the 1920s. It had passenger elevators, another pioneering development in buildings. There are three seating levels, the Main Floor, the Mezzanine and the Balcony and it soon became the most popular venue in the city. The first night's presentation was a musical revue, followed by a Fox Movietone Newsreel and then a movie.

Today, Broadway shows on tour, come here and there are concerts and other events. The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is going to be held here in March 2007. The Fox Theatre Detroit has a proud tradition of presenting the biggest stars and produced some much needed glamour during the 1940s when artists appeared, such as Sarah Vaughn, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Jack Benny. Morale was lifted in World War II with movies and newsreels. The 1960s was another golden age for the theatre as it was in the hometown of Tamla Motown, the record label whose hits swept across the world. Berry Gordy's Motown Review was an annual Christmas production that showcased such performers as the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Temptations. The venue offers audiences the opportunity to see the best productions in truly fabulous surroundings and the future for the Fox Theatre Detroit looks secure.