15 Vintage Photos of the Fabulous Fox Theatre

By Riverfront Times Staff on Thu, Jan 21, 2016 at 11:14 pm

You've laughed through through the musical comedies, teared up watching Broadway dramas, cheered at the concerts and ogled that massive chandelier. But while the Fabulous Fox is home to much of our present-day theatrical entertainment, it also has a story of its own that stretches more than 80 years.

Take a step back in history and see these amazing photos of the theater you know and love.

Photos and information courtesy of the Fabulous Fox and fabulousfox.com.

Scroll down to view images

The Fox Theatre originally opened as part of William Fox's movie palace empire in 1929. The architect, C. Howard Crane, built both the Fox in St. Louis and its twin theater in Detroit in Siamese Byzantine style.
Photo courtesy of MO Historical Society.

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The Fox chain celebrated its Jubilee Anniversay in 1930.
Photo courtesy of MO Historical Society.

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The Fox Theatre lobby, circa 1930. The Fox struggled after the stock market crash in 1929, and William Fox eventually went bankrupt in 1936.
Photo by Sievers Photograph.

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Then, in 1934, Fanchon and Marco took a 25-year lease on the building. Harry Arthur became the general manager of the entire Fanchon and Marco St. Louis operation.
Photo by Richard Rapfogel.

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The Fox in 1945. Over time, the Arthurs gradually gained more control in Fox St. Louis properties, which eventually became Arthur Enterprises in 1959. They had to resort to Kung Fu movies and occasional rock concerts to keep the Fox in business.
Photo by George Dorrill Photographer.

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1970. The Fox ended up closing in 1978.
Photo by John Wm. Nagel Photography.

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A space this gorgeous, though, couldn't stay shuttered for long.
Photo by John Wm. Nagel Photography.

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Indeed, it took less than a decade for the Fox to find new life.
Photo courtesy of the Fabulous Fox.

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Here's the exterior of the Fox Theatre prior to the 1982 restoration by Leon and Mary Strauss. It took $2 million to restore the original grandeur.
Photo courtesy of the Fabulous Fox.

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The theater as you know and love it.
Photo courtesy of the Fabulous Fox.

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Now if only our own curtains were as blinged out as this one....
Photo courtesy of the Fabulous Fox.

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Today, theater-goers can make a stop at the newly renovated "Peacock Alley," which commemorates over 25 years of Broadway shows and musical acts that have played at the Fox since its 1982 renovation.
Photo courtesy of the Fabulous Fox.

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The interior of the Fox Theatre, shown on March 20, 2007. Fun fact: that chandelier weighs 2,000 pounds.
Photo by Dan Donovan.

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Can you say stunning? Yet another fun fact: 7,300 yards of elephant carpet were especially designed and woven for the Fox during the restoration. It's a duplicate of the 1929 original.
Photo courtesy of the Fabulous Fox.

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You'll never look at the Fabulous Fox the same way again.
Photo by Dan Donovan.

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15 Vintage Photos of the Fabulous Fox Theatre

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