The historic Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta’s premiere venues for live entertainment. The Fox’s 4,678 seat theatre is booked more than 300 performances a year ranging from Broadway to rock to comedy to movies.

Reposting content published here is permissible under the conditions citing the source material, hyperlinking to the original post, and published with credit to the photographers.

18th February 2011

Photoset with 1 note

The first on-stage performance at the Fox Theatre took place on December 23rd, 1929.  It was only available to the Atlanta Shriners and their wives.

The official grand opening performance began at 1:15 on December 25th. The theme was “Beach Nights” and tickets cost 20 cents for children and 60 cents for adults.  Don Wilkins served as the master of ceremonies for the evening and the audience experienced performances from the 30-piece Fox Grand Orchestra under the direction of Enrico Leide, organist Iris Vining Wilkins, Ray Bradley, Evian, Kitaros, Maxine Doyle, Art Hadley, dancers Jean and Jeanette, and Franchon and Marco’s Sunkist Beauties.

Movies shown that night were Steamboat Willie, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon with sound, and Salute.

Franchon and Marco’s Sunkist Beauties made dozens of appearances at the Fox.  When performing in Atlanta, the 36 all-female Beauties were joined by Peaches, 12 local dancers.

The Fox Theatre was under the leadership of Mr. William Fox until the summer of 1932.  It was under his direction that the audience would enjoy a short live performance prior to every movie.  These unique “ideas,” as they were called, ranged from musical numbers, dance routines, or stage plays.  Franchon and Marco and their Sunkist Beauties rotated through Fox Theatres across the nation and played a large role in the development and production of the ideas.   

The team of Don and Iris Wilkins hosted the ideas and movies at the Fox.  Don served as the master of ceremonies while Iris performed on the Fox organ, Mighty Mo.  The performed in these roles until June 13th, 1930.  The new MC was Mel Ruick and the new organist was Dwight Brown.

Below is a list of every performance and movie and its idea from opening day until the Fox Theatre closed in the summer of 1932. 

Name of the idea followed by movie title in italics. Other Notable events are in bold.

1929

Dec. 30: Contrasts & They Had to See Paris

1930
Jan. 1: Parade and Dedication of the Fox Theatre’s Mosque
Jan. 6: Thru the Gates & The Cock-Eyed World
Jan. 13: Speed & Romance of Rio Grande
Jan. 20:Jazz Buccaneers & Flight
Jan. 27: Sweet Cookies & Sunny Side Up
Feb. 3: Watermelon Blues & Hot for Paris
Feb. 10: Femme Follies & Rio Rita
Feb. 17: Miniatures of 1930 &The Sky Hawk
Feb. 24: Jazz Cinderella & Hit the Deck
March 3: Gardens & The Vagabond Lover
March 10: Drapes & The Lone Star Ranger
March 17: Screenland Melodies & Happy Days
March 24: The Hollywood Studio Girls & Such Men are Dangerous
March 31: Columns & The Big Party
April 7: Baby Songs & High Society Blues
April 14: Kisses & Blaze O’ Glory
April 21: Types & Ladies of Leisure
spApril 28: Accordion & Her Golden Calf
May 5: Far East & Mamba
May 12: Art in Taps & The Arizona Kid
May 19: Idea in Green & The Case of Sergeant Grischa
May 26: Jazz Temple & The Cuckoos
June 2: Black and Gold & Ingagi
June 9: Let’s Pretend & Follies of 1930
June 14: Carnival Russe & So this is London
June16: Biography of Woodrow Wilson (live performance)
June 21: Uniforms & Born Reckless
June 28: Hot Dominoes & Rough Romance
July 5: Ivory & Not Damaged
July 12: International & On the Level
July 19: Desert & Wild Company
July 26: Overtures & Good Intentions
Aug. 2: Manila Bound & Hell’s Island
Aug. 9: Peasant & Man Trouble
Aug. 16: Coral & Common Clay
Aug. 23: Eyes & Romance
Aug. 31: Trees & Song O’ My Heart
Sept. 6: Sunshine & The Call of the Flesh
Sept. 13: Marble & The Sea Wolf
Sept. 20: Skirts & Madame Satan
Oct. 4: Liliom. There was no Idea for this movie
Oct. 11: Gyp-Gyp-Gypsies &Those Three French Girls
Oct. 18: Brunettes & Up the River
Oct. 25: Milky Way & Scotland Yard
Nov. 1: Goodfellows & Billy the Kid
Nov. 8: Box O’ Candy & Renegades
Nov. 15: City Service & Remote Control
Nov. 22: Busy-Bee & Min & Bill
Nov. 29: Broadway Venuses & The Big Tail
Dec. 6: Rose Garden & Just Imagine
Dec. 13: Romance & Way for a Sailor
Dec. 20: Seeing Double & The Princess and the Plumber
Dec. 27: Country Club & Lightin’

1931
Jan. 3: Hollywood Collegians &War Nurse
Jan. 10: Cadets & Paid
Jan. 17: Idea in Blue & The Man Who Came Back
Jan. 24: Green Devil & Reducing
Jan. 31: Victor Herbert & Part Time Wife
Feb. 7: Gems and Jams & Inspiration
Feb. 14: Wild and Woolly & New Moon
Feb. 21: Modes of Hollywood & Body and Soul
Feb. 28: Gobs of Joy & The Easiest Way
March 7: Southern & East Lynne
March 14: New Yorker & Dance, Fools, Dance
March 21: Fountains of Youth & Don’t Bet on Women
March 28: Indian Band & Parlor, Bedroom, & Bath
April 4: Way Back When & A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
April 11: Doll Follies & Strangers May Kiss
April 18: Enchantment & Doctor’s Wives
April 25: Seasons & Trader Horn
May 2: Gondoliers & The Secret 6
May 9: Espanola & Shipmates
May 16: Moonlight Revels & Daybreak
May 23: Society Circus &Young Sinners
May 30: Dance & Women of all Nations
June 6: Topical Tunes & Daddy Long Legs
June 13: Icy Hot & Always Goodbye
June 20: Vaudeville Echoes & Five and Ten
June 27: Prosperity & Annabelle’s Affairs
July 4: Top O’ the World & A Free Soul
July 11: Headliners & The Black Camel
July 18: African Idea & The Man in Possession
July 25: Love Letters & Hush Money
Aug. 1: Golden West & Politics
Aug. 8: Moroccan & Son of India
Aug. 15: Talent & Young as You Feel
Aug. 22: Submarine & Laughing Sinners
Aug. 29: Pep Idea & TransAtlantic
Sept. 5: Mickey Mouse Idea & Pardon Us
Sept. 12: Olympic Games & Merely Mary Anne
Sept. 19: Russian Art & Sporting Blood
Sept. 26: Varieties & Bad Girl
Oct. 3: Carnival & The Spider
Oct. 10: The Great Raymond (magician) & Susan Lenox
Oct. 17: Once Upon a Time & Skyline
Oct. 24: Broken Dolls & This Modern Age
Oct. 31: North, South, East, West & Sin of Madeline Claudet
Nov. 7: Carmen-esque & Cisco Kid
Nov. 14: Around the World & Heartbreak
Nov. 21: Exotic & Ambassador Bill
Nov. 28: Limehouse Nights & The Champ
Dec. 5: Marches Militaires & Possessed
Dec. 12: Five Races & The Cuban Love Son
Dec. 19: Art Gallery & The Yellow Ticket
Dec. 26: Roxy Theatre & Private Lives

1932
Jan. 2: Sketches & Delicious
Jan. 9: 3 Big Figures & Mata Hari
Jan. 16: Tomorrow’s Stars & Over the Hill
Jan. 23: On Parade & Emma
Jan. 30: Vacation Days & Hell Drivers
Feb. 6: Circus Days with 3 real elephants &Charlie Chan’s Chance
Feb. 20: Hacienda & Freaks/Polly the Circus
Feb. 27: Hot Java & Dance Team
March 5: About Town & Business & Pleasure
March 12: All at Sea & Arsene Lupin’
March 19: Modern Minstrels & She Wanted a Millionaire
March 26: Cozy Corner & Tarzan with Weissmuller
April 2: Montmartre & Devils’ Lottery
April 9: Black and White & Are You Listening?
April 16: Gay Vienna & Disorderly Conduct
April 23: Nursery Rhymes & Wet Parade
April 30: Greetings & Letty Lynton
May 7: La Plaza & Night Court
May 14: Stage Door & Woman in Room 13
May 21: Parasols & Huddle
May 22: Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt: Commencement Speech for Oglethorpe University
May 28: Tin Types & The Trial of Vivienne Ware
June 4: Stitch in Time & Man About Town
June 11: Slavique & When a Feller Needs a Friend
June 17: Meeting of Shriners (one of the last at the Fox)
June 18: Arthur Lake & Society Girl
June 24: FOX CLOSES (after 125 wks.)

Photographs by Edgar Orr and unknown
Copyright Fox Theatre Archives

  1. thefoxtheatre posted this