About The Fox Theatre Institute

About The Fox Theatre

The Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque, was designed in the late 1920′s as headquarters for the 5,000-member Shriners organization. Surviving the economy has been a way of life for the building. Cost overruns threatened the Yaarab Temple mosque from the outset. To generate additional funding, the Shriners worked out a deal with movie mogul William Fox, who at that time was building movie “palaces” nationwide.

After surviving the depression, The Fox faced competition with television, suburban flight and a changing movie industry as patrons looked elsewhere for entertainment. The Fox was reduced to showing second-run movies to dwindling audiences. The Fox faced yet another threat-the relentless growth of metropolitan Atlanta.

The building was sold to Southern Bell with plans to demolish it to make way for their headquarters. After a tremendous community effort to save the building, The Fox was rescued with the help of Atlanta Landmarks, Inc., a non-profit organization of interested, energetic and committed Atlantans. Their four-year “Save The Fox” fundraising campaign opened the hearts and purse strings of individuals and corporate donors. Under Atlanta Landmarks, Inc.’s ownership, The Fox was once again on sound financial footing, serving as a multi-purpose performing arts center.

In 1976, documents were submitted qualifying The Fox to be designated a National Historic Landmark. The restoration program began with an army of volunteers cleaning the interiors for the first benefit concert.

As time passed, the restoration work required expert artisans to make the building attractive enough to draw large audiences and quality shows. An in-house restoration staff of highly skilled artisans was hired to maintain the theatre as well as restore and preserve the significant architectural features of The Fox in an authentic manner. To date, more than $25 million has been spent in restoration efforts.

At present, the theatre is booked 325 nights a year and has generated millions of dollars for the Atlanta economy. Different events at The Fox attract nearly three-quarters of a million visitors a year, from Atlanta area residents to tourists and international dignitaries. The Fox is a fiercely protected National Historic Landmark, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a Georgia Museum Building.

This nationally acclaimed theater has survived the depression, mortgage foreclosure, bankruptcy, competition, television, real estate development, and age to exist today as a cultural icon.