 |
| Printed by Conger of Atlanta, preserved by R.L. "Trot" Foreman and donated to Atlanta Landmarks |
 |
| Foreman collection |
The Fox played four shows a day, seven days a week, except for Sundays when movies were prohibited (until that blue law was repealed in 1933). Well-known Atlanta orchestra leader Enrico Leide presided over the thirty-one piece house band.
 |
| Foreman collection |
Sometimes the orchestra would perform from the stage as a jazz band, as in the "Speed Idea," which played in January, 1930.
The shows ran forty minutes with four changes of sets and costumes and featured "35 to 50 people," including elephants, midgets, or dogs. These two unidentified shots were photographed during rehearsal.
 |
| Courtesy Theatre Historical Society of America http://historictheatres.org/ |
With the orchestra in on-stage position, the pit elevators were utilized as a thrust stage for the Grand Finale.
 |
| Foreman collection |
A rundown for a typical Fox show from May, 1932.
Fanchon & Marco had an encounter with another Shrine Temple when they won a song competition for the San Francisco Islam chapter in 1922:
 |
| Getty Images |
From Ben Hall's The Best Remaining Seats, brother and sister Marco and Fanchon Wolff:
The team had begun producing their Ideas in Los Angeles, but by 1928 they commenced an eastward expansion.
 |
| Motion Picture News March 24, 1928 |
By April 1929 William Fox had engaged (purchased) Fanchon and Marco to provide corporate vaudeville for his ever-expanding film house chain.
 |
| Exhibitor's Herald World, April 13, 1929 |
By July 1929, the circuit boasted thirty-three weeks of "time."
 |
| Variety, July 3, 1929 |
For a while, the stock crash of October 1929 seemed not to affect the picture and vaudeville business.
In September 1931, Fanchon and Marco peaked with sixty-two playing weeks:
 |
| Variety, September 8, 1931 |
By June 1933, the bottom had fallen out and the Atlanta Fox adopted a picture only policy, spelling the end of regular stage attractions for the next forty years. A total of one hundred and thirty-six Fanchon and Marco shows had played the Fox over one hundred and eighty-five weeks.
WEEK
|
OPENS
|
IDEA
|
PICTURE
|
1
|
December
25, 1929
|
BEACH
NIGHTS
|
SALUTE
|
2
|
December
29, 1929
|
CONTRASTS
|
THEY HAD
TO SEE PARIS
|
3
|
January 5,
1930
|
THRU THE
GATES
|
COCKEYED
WORLD
|
4
|
January
12, 1930
|
SPEED
|
ROMANCE OF
RIO GRANDE
|
5
|
January
19, 1930
|
JAZZ
BUCCANEERS
|
FLIGHT
|
6
|
January
26, 1930
|
SWEET
COOKIES
|
SUNNY SIDE
UP
|
7
|
February
2, 1930
|
WATERMELON
BLUES
|
HOT FOR
PARIS
|
8
|
February
9, 1930
|
FEMME
FOLLIES
|
RIO RITA
|
9
|
February
16, 1930
|
SINGER
MIDGETS
|
THE SKY
HAWK
|
10
|
February
23, 1930
|
JAZZ
CINDERELLA
|
HIT THE
DECK
|
11
|
March 2,
1930
|
GARDENS
|
THE
VAGABOND LOVER
|
12
|
March 9,
1930
|
DRAPES
|
LONE STAR
RANGER
|
13
|
March 16,
1930
|
SCREENLAND
MELODIES
|
HAPPY DAYS
|
14
|
March 23,
1930
|
HOLLYWOOD
STUDIO GIRLS
|
SUCH MEN
ARE DANGEROUS
|
15
|
March 30,
1930
|
COLUMNS
|
BIG PARTY
|
16
|
April 6,
1930
|
BABY SONGS
|
HIGH
SOCIETY BLUES
|
17
|
April 13,
1930
|
KISSES
|
BLAZE O'
GLORY
|
18
|
April 20,
1930
|
TYPES
|
LADIES OF
LEISURE
|
19
|
April 27,
1930
|
ACCORDION
|
HER GOLDEN
CALF
|
20
|
May 4,
1930
|
FAR EAST
|
MAMBA
|
21
|
May 11,
1930
|
ART IN
TAPS
|
THE
ARIZONA KID
|
22
|
May 18,
1930
|
IDEA IN
GREEN
|
THE CASE
OF SGT. GRISHCA
|
23
|
May 25,
1930
|
JAZZ
TEMPLE
|
THE
CUCKOOS
|
24
|
June 1,
1930
|
BLACK AND
GOLD
|
INGAGI
|
25
|
June 8,
1930
|
LET'S
PRETEND
|
MOVIETONE
FOLLIES OF 1930
|
26
|
June 15,
1930
|
CARNIVAL
RUSSE
|
SO THIS IS
LONDON
|
27
|
June 22,
1930
|
UNIFORMS
|
BORN
RECKLESS
|
28
|
June 29,
1930
|
HOT
DOMINOES
|
ROUGH
ROMANCE
|
28
|
July 6,
1930
|
IVORY
|
NOT
DAMAGED
|
30
|
July 13,
1930
|
INTERNATIONAL
|
ON THE
LEVEL
|
31
|
July 20,
1930
|
DESERT
|
WILD
COMPANY
|
32
|
July 27,
1930
|
OVERTURES
|
GOOD
INTENTIONS
|
33
|
August 3,
1930
|
MANILA
BOUND
|
HELL'S
ISLAND
|
34
|
August 10,
1930
|
PEASANT
|
MAN
TROUBLE
|
35
|
August 17,
1930
|
CORAL
|
COMMON
CLAY
|
36
|
August 24,
1930
|
EYES
|
ROMANCE
|
37
|
August 31,
1930
|
TREES
|
SONG O' MY
HEART
|
38
|
September
7, 1930
|
SUNSHINE
|
THE CALL
OF THE FLESH
|
39
|
September
14, 1930
|
MARBLE
|
THE SEA
WOLF
|
40
|
September
21, 1930
|
SKIRTS
|
MADAME
SATAN
|
41
|
September
28, 1930
|
[NO STAGE
SHOW]
|
GOOD NEWS
|
42
|
October 5,
1930
|
[NO STAGE
SHOW]
|
LILLIOM
|
43
|
October
12, 1930
|
GYP-GYP-GYPSY
|
THOSE
THREE FRENCH GIRLS
|
44
|
October
19, 1930
|
BRUNETTES
|
UP THE
RIVER
|
45
|
October
26, 1930
|
MILKY WAY
|
SCOTLAND
YARD
|
46
|
November
2, 1930
|
GOOD
FELLOWS
|
BILLY THE
KID
|
47
|
November
9, 1930
|
BOX O'
CANDY
|
RENEGADES
|
48
|
November
16, 1930
|
CITY
SERVICE
|
REMOTE
CONTROL
|
49
|
November
23, 1930
|
BUSY BEE
|
MIN &
BILL
|
50
|
November
30, 1930
|
BROADWAY
VENUSES
|
BIG TRAIL
|
51
|
December
7, 1930
|
ROSE
GARDEN
|
JUST
IMAGINE
|
52
|
December
14, 1930
|
ROMANCE
|
WAY FOR A
SAILOR
|
53
|
December
21, 1930
|
SEEING
DOUBLE
|
PRINCESS
& THE PLUMBER
|
54
|
December
28, 1930
|
COUNTRY
CLUB
|
LIGHTNING
|
55
|
January 4,
1931
|
HOLLYWOOD
COLLEGIANS
|
WAR NURSE
|
56
|
January
11, 1931
|
CADETS
|
PAID
|
57
|
January
18, 1931
|
IDEA IN
BLUE
|
THE MAN
WHO CAME BACK
|
58
|
January
25, 1931
|
GREEN
DEVIL
|
REDUCING
|
59
|
February
1, 1931
|
VICTOR
HERBERT
|
PART TIME
WIFE
|
60
|
February
8, 1931
|
GEMS &
JAMS
|
INSPIRATION
|
61
|
February
15, 1931
|
WILD AND
WOOLLY
|
NEW MOON
|
62
|
February
22, 1931
|
MODES OF
HOLLYWOOD
|
BODY &
SOUL
|
63
|
March 1,
1931
|
GOBS OF
JOY
|
THE
EASIEST WAY
|
64
|
March 8,
1931
|
SOUTHERN
|
EAST LYNNE
|
65
|
March 15,
1931
|
NEW YORKER
|
DANCE
FOOLS DANCE
|
66
|
March 22,
1931
|
FOUNTAIN
OF YOUTH
|
DON’T BET
ON WOMEN
|
67
|
March 29,
1931
|
INDIAN
|
PARLOR,
BEDROOM & BATH
|
68
|
April 5,
1931
|
WAY BACK
WHEN
|
A
CONNECTICUT YANKEE
|
69
|
April 12,
1931
|
DOLL
FOLLIES
|
STRANGERS
MAY KISS
|
70
|
April 19,
1931
|
ENCHANTMENT
|
DOCTORS'
WIVES
|
71
|
April 26,
1931
|
SEASONS
|
TRADER
HORN
|
72
|
May 3,
1931
|
GONDOLIERS
|
THE SECRET
6
|
73
|
May 10,
1931
|
ESPANOLA
|
SHIPMATES
|
74
|
May 17,
1931
|
MOONLIGHT
REVELS
|
DAYBREAK
|
75
|
May 24,
1931
|
SOCIETY
CIRCUS
|
YOUNG
SINNERS
|
76
|
May 31,
1931
|
DANCE
|
WOMEN OF
ALL NATIONS
|
77
|
June 7,
1931
|
TOPICAL
TUNES
|
DADDY LONG
LEGS
|
78
|
June 14,
1931
|
ICY HOT
|
ALWAYS
GOODBYE
|
79
|
June 21,
1931
|
VAUDEVILLE
ECHOES
|
FIVE &
TEN
|
80
|
June 28,
1931
|
PROSPERITY
|
ANNABELLE'S
AFFAIR
|
81
|
July 5,
1931
|
TOP O' THE
WORLD
|
A FREE
SOUL
|
82
|
July 12,
1931
|
HEADLINERS
|
BLACK
CAMEL
|
83
|
July 19,
1931
|
AFRICAN
|
THE MAN IN
POSSESSION
|
84
|
July 26,
1931
|
LOVE
LETTERS
|
HUSH MONEY
|
85
|
August 2,
1931
|
GOLDEN
WEST
|
POLITICS
|
86
|
August 9,
1931
|
MOROCCAN
|
SON OF
INDIA
|
87
|
August 16,
1931
|
TALENT
|
YOUNG AS
YOU FEEL
|
88
|
August 23,
1931
|
SUBMARINE
|
LAUGHING
SINNERS
|
89
|
August 30,
1931
|
PEP
|
TRANSATLANTIC
|
90
|
September
5, 1931
|
MICKEY
MOUSE
|
PARDON US
|
91
|
September
13, 1931
|
OLYMPIC
GAMES
|
MERELY
MARY ANN
|
92
|
September
20, 1931
|
RUSSIAN
ART
|
SPORTING
BLOOD
|
93
|
September
27, 1931
|
VARIETIES
|
BAD GIRL
|
93
|
October 4,
1931
|
CARNIVAL
|
THE SPIDER
|
95
|
October
11, 1931
|
THE GREAT
RAYMOND
|
SUSAN
LENOX
|
96
|
October
18, 1931
|
ONCE UPON
A TIME
|
SKYLINE
|
97
|
October
25, 1931
|
BROKEN
DOLLS
|
THIS
MODERN AGE
|
98
|
November
1, 1931
|
NORTH-SOUTH-EAST-WEST
|
THE SIN OF
MADELON CLAUDET
|
99
|
November
8, 1931
|
CARMEN-ESQUE
|
THE CISCO
KID
|
100
|
November
15, 1931
|
AROUND THE
WORLD
|
HEARTBREAK
|
101
|
November
22, 1931
|
EXOTIQUE
|
AMBASSADOR
BILL
|
102
|
November
29, 1931
|
LIMEHOUSE
NIGHTS
|
THE
CHAMP
|
103
|
December
6, 1931
|
MARCHES
MILITAIRES
|
POSSESSED
|
104
|
December
13, 1931
|
FIVE RACES
|
THE CUBAN
LOVE SONG
|
105
|
December
20, 1931
|
ART
GALLERY
|
THE YELLOW
TICKET
|
106
|
December
27, 1931
|
ROXY
THEATRE
|
PRIVATE
LIVES
|
107
|
January 3,
1932
|
SKETCHES
|
DELICIOUS
|
108
|
January
10, 1932
|
3 BIG
FIGURES
|
MATA HARI
|
109
|
January
17, 1932
|
TOMORROW'S
STARS
|
OVER THE
HILL
|
110
|
January
24, 1932
|
ON PARADE
|
EMMA
|
111
|
January
31, 1932
|
VACATION
DAYS
|
HELL
DIVERS
|
112
|
February
7, 1932
|
CIRCUS
DAYS
|
CHARLIE
CHAN'S CHANCE
|
113
|
February
14, 1932
|
DREAM
HOUSE
|
LOVERS
COURAGEOUS
|
114
|
February
20, 1932
|
HACIENDA
|
FREAKS
(PULLED AFT ONE DAY)
|
114
|
February
21, 1932
|
HACIENDA
|
POLLY GOES
TO THE CIRCUS
|
115
|
February
28, 1932
|
HOT JAVA
|
DANCE TEAM
|
116
|
March 6,
1932
|
ABOUT TOWN
|
BUSINESS
& PLEASURE
|
117
|
March 13,
1932
|
ALL AT SEA
|
ARSENE
LUPIN
|
118
|
March 20,
1932
|
MODERN
MINSTRELS
|
SHE WANTED
A MILLION
|
119
|
March 27,
1932
|
COZY
CORNER
|
TARZAN
|
120
|
April 3,
1932
|
MONTMARTRE
|
DEVIL'S
LOTTERY
|
121
|
April 10,
1932
|
BLACK AND
WHITE
|
ARE YOU
LISTENING?
|
122
|
April 17,
1932
|
GAY VIENNA
|
DISORDERLY
CONDUCT
|
123
|
April 24,
1932
|
NURSERY
RHYMES
|
WET PARADE
|
124
|
May 1,
1932
|
GREETINGS
|
LETTY
LYNTON
|
125
|
May 8,
1932
|
LA PLAZA
|
NIGHT
COURT
|
126
|
May 15,
1932
|
STAGE DOOR
|
WOMAN IN
ROOM 13
|
127
|
May 22,
1932
|
PARASOL
|
HUDDLE
|
128
|
May 29,
1932
|
TINYTPES
|
TRIAL OF
VIVIENNE WARE
|
129
|
June 5,
1932
|
STITCH IN
TIME
|
MAN ABOUT
TOWN
|
130
|
June 12,
1932
|
SLAVIQUE
|
WHEN A
FELLER NEEDS A FRIEND
|
131
|
June 19,
1932
|
ARTHUR
LAKE
|
SOCIETY
GIRL
|
132
|
June 26,
1932
|
[THEATRE
CLOSES]
|
|
140
|
August 12,
1932
|
[NO STAGE
SHOW]
|
BRING EM
BACK ALIVE
|
177
|
April 30,
1933
|
BOB HALL
|
SWEEPINGS
|
178
|
May 7,
1933
|
F&M
STAGE SHOW
|
THE BIG
CAGE
|
179
|
May 14,
1933
|
KING
COTTON
|
CHRISTOPHER
STRONG
|
180
|
May 21,
1933
|
F&M
STAGE SHOW
|
THE KISS
BEFORE THE MIRROR
|
181
|
May 28,
1933
|
F&M
STAGE SHOW
|
THE SILVER
CORD
|
182
|
June 4,
1933
|
F&M
STAGE SHOW
|
HELL'S
HOUSE
|
184
|
June 11,
1933
|
F&M
STAGE SHOW
|
DIPLOMANIACS
|
185
|
June 18,
1933
|
F&M
STAGE SHOW
|
PROFESSIONAL
SWEETHEARTS
|
December 25, 1929 Opening (split week)
December 29, 1929
January 5, 1930
January 12, 1930
January 19, 1930
January 26, 1930
January 27,1930
February 2, 1930
February 9, 1930
February 16, 1930
February 23, 1930
March 2, 1930
March 9, 1930
March 16, 1930
March 23, 1930
March 30, 1930
April 6, 1930
April 13, 1930
April 20, 1930
April 27, 1930
May 4, 1930
May 11, 1930
May 18, 1930 First mention of Shriner's use of Fox.
May 25, 1930
June 1, 1930
June 8, 1930 Last mention of Don & Iris Wilkins
June 15, 1930 New MC: Mel Ruick. Ruick was father to musical film actress, Barbara.
June 22, 1930 New Organist: Dwight Brown "Things you miss at the Fox: Stage shows in front of plain scenery with inadequate stage settings."
June 29, 1930
July 6, 1930
July 13, 1930 "$75,000 Pipe Organ; 31-piece Orchestra"
July 20, 1930
July 27, 1930
August 3, 1930
August 10, 1930
August 17, 1930
"Fox Changes Management: MGM pictures to be shown along with Fox Studio pictures."
August 24, 1930 First MGM Picture
Vendors congratulate Fox on change of policy.
August 31, 1930
September 7, 1930
September 14, 1930
September 21, 1930
September 28, 1930 Fox announces "All Sound Policy," No stage show, no orchestra, no organ.
Article explains that "Stage shows and Musical Presentations were cancelled by the New York Office."
October 5, 1930 Second week of no stage show.
October 12, 1930 Article explains that "All Sound Policy" was actually the result of a dispute with the American Federation of Musicians.
October 12, 1930 Stage shows resume, but conductor Enrico Leide and organist Dwight Brown do not.
October 19, 1930 New organist: Smilin' Al Evans.
October 26, 1930
November 2, 1930
November 9, 1930 Second mention of Shriner's use of Fox.
November 16, 1930
November 23, 1930
November 30, 1930
December 7, 1930 "$50,000 Stage show"
December 14, 1930
December 21, 1930
December 28, 1930 Conductor Enrido Leide Returns.
January 4, 1931
January 11, 1931
January 18, 1931
January 25, 1931
February 1, 1931
February 8, 1931
February 15, 1931
February 22, 1931
March 1, 1931
March 8, 1931
The Southern Idea got a nice picture.
March 15, 1931
March 22, 1931
March 29, 1931
April 5, 1931
April 12, 1931
April 19, 1931
April 26, 1931
May 3, 1931
May 10, 1931
May 17, 1931
May 24, 1931
May 31, 1931
June 7, 1931
June 14, 1931
June 21, 1931
The program included the Kiddie Revue starring kids from the Scottish Rite Hospital, sponsored by the Shriners.
June 28, 1931
July 5, 1931
July 12, 1931
July 19, 1931
July 26, 1931
August 2, 1931
August 9, 1931
August 16, 1931
August 23, 1931
August 30, 1931
September 6, 1931
September 13, 1931
September 20, 1921
September 27, 1931
October 4, 1931
October 11, 1931
October 18, 1931
October 25, 1931
November 1, 1931
November 8, 1931
November 15, 1931 Third mention of Shriner's use of Fox Theatre.
November 22, 1931
November 29, 1931 First notable picture to play the Fox.
December 6, 1931
December 13, 1931
December 20, 1931
December 27, 1931 "Roxy Theatre" Idea Direct from the New York Roxy.
January 3, 1932 "Second Anniversary Facts."
January 10, 1932 Reduction from twenty-four to sixteen Sunkist Beauties.
January 17, 1932
January 24, 1932
January 31, 1932
February 7, 1932
February 14, 1932
February 20, 1932 The unspeakable Picture "Freaks" plays the Fox with the Hacienda Idea...
February 21, 1932 "Freaks" is pulled after its opening day and replaced by a very different circus picture.
February 28, 1932
March 6, 1932
March 13, 1932
The Sunkist Beauties and unnamed man outside Ponce de Leon exit doors located adjacent to the stage entrance.
March 20, 1932
March 27, 1932
April 3, 1932
April 10, 1932
April 17, 1932
April 24, 1932
May 1, 1932
May 8, 1932
May 15, 1932
May 22, 1932
May 29, 1932
June 5, 1932
June 12, 1932 Mention made of Shrine use of Fox.
The "Kiddie Revue" returns.
June 19, 1932 Arthur Lake went on to to play Dagwood in B-pictures.
June 26, 1932 The Fox ceases operation and shutters for two months.
Motion Picture Herald, July 2, 1932
Constitution film editor Jones bemoans the sad event, which probably resulted in about 150 people losing their jobs, 100 connected with the stage shows locally, including the orchestra, the Beauties, and the stagehands.
July 30, 1932
August 7, 1932 Fox will reopen, but without stage shows and with a new organist, Jimmy Beers.
August 12, 1932 No stage show.
For the next thirty-seven weeks, there were no stage shows. In November, the Shriners lost the Fox, and in December the $2.5 million building was auctioned on the court house steps for $75,000.
On December 27, 1932 Radio City Music Hall opened, besting the Fox not only in stage size, but size of pipe organ.
April 23, 1933 Fanchon & Marco to return after ten month hiatus.
April 23, 1933 Mel Ruick returns as MC, Leide appointed General Manager of Fox.
April 30, 1933 The orchestra and Sunkist Beauties (in diminished numbers) return.
May 7, 1933
May 14, 1933 The last "Idea" with a name, henceforth they were termed "stage shows."
May 21, 1933
May 28, 1933
June 4, 1933
June 11, 1933
Fifth annual "Kiddie Revue" (the third at the Fox).
June 18,1933 The last publicized Fanchon and Marco show. No display ad appeared this week, only this press notice.
From June 25th until July 23rd, 1933, neither display ads nor listings appeared in the papers. This could be the result of the Fox' owing money to the newspaper. Thus no information is known as to which week the final Fanchon & Marco show played the Atlanta Fox.
July 23, 1933 No stage show.
July 30, 1933 The Fox continues its rapid decline with a sort of double feature.
August 6, 1933 This ad appears to be a "trade," no charge in other words.
August 13, 1933 The Fox ad this week is smaller than the Buckhead, a neighborhood house.
August 19, 1933 The Fox hits rock bottom, and Manager Enrico Leide sues his own theatre, presumably for back wages.
August 20, 1933 Smallest ad ever, shown next to ad for the Georgia (later Roxy) Theatre.
August 27, 1933 Fox again goes dark, this time for a week.
September 3, 1933 Fox is now under the control of Wilby-Kincey, Lucas & Jenkins or Mosque, Inc., a holding company which was owned jointly by Paramount Pictures and Lucas & Jenkins.
The Fox again adopts an "All Sound Policy" which continued for forty-two years until 1975.
The Fox stage went dark.
###
To view the Master Index of all of Bob Foreman's posts, click here.
Originally posted in September, 2011, revised March, 2017.