Fox Theater turns 75, 'thanks' community for support
with
time capsule ride back to 1929
by Daniel Hines
Publisher
TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com
The big news of January 31, 1929 was that Leon Trostky, a founder of
the Communist party in the USSR had been exiled to Turkey. The
stock market hadn't crashed yet. Movies were still silent. It was a time of bobbed hair,
flappers, Charleston dancing, prohibition, and Herbert Hoover was
president, his name not yet synonymous with the Great Depression.
And, in St. Louis, MO, The Fabulous Fox opened its doors.
Today, most are relegated to the pages
of history, only memories. But sitting proudly
and more beautifully than ever before, The Fabulous Fox Theater still
stands, not as a quiet monument, but as the vital part of of the
community that it was when it flung open its doors on January 31, 1929.
Now, in a way that only The Fabulous Fox and Mary Strauss can
provide, the restored--not rehabiliatated, as Mary likes to point out--
Fox is kicking up its heels in a unique 'thank you' birthday party for
the grand old theater. It's a gift from Mary and Fox Associates to all
those people from throughout the country who have supported the Fox'
reemergence as the premier theater of its type.
This won't be just any anniversary
celebration--leave that to tired, impersonal buildings that are
collections of the past. Instead, Mary has planned a party fitting
for an old friend, the Fox itself.
And why not? Ever since the
Strauss' and Fox Associates with Bob
Baudendistel, Harvey Harris, Mary Strauss and Mary's husband, the late
Leon Strauss, entered the old forgotten lady and decided to completely
restore her, this has been the story of an ongoing friendship, but also,
especially for this night, a reflection or Mary's deep love for theater
history and tradition.
That's why she decided that the most
appropriate tribute to The Fabulous Fox would be a visit to let everyone
know just what the theater was like when everything was sparkling
new on January 31,1929 by recreating the entire evening.
And, we mean everything: The ticket
prices are only 75 cents--Mary jokes that some of her friends are buying
30 or more tickets to give to family and their friends, hoping that no
one will notice that the cost is only six bits. The program is the
exact same program that was followed that night, including the showing
of the silent movie 'Street Angel'.
There will be one bonus, however. Stan
Kann, in his own right as much of a St. Louis legend as The Fabulous
Fox, will return with an original score for the movie, playing it on the
original giant Wurlitzer organ that is so much a part of The Fabulous
Fox.
This night is, as much as anything
else, a reflection of the tremendous drive and energy of Mary. She
is a short, highly attractive lady who exudes energy and charm.
And, she loves theater.
An avid collector of sheet music and
just about anything else associated with theater, Mary allows herself a
quiet boast when she tells how she was able to find the original sheet
music for "Street Angel." And, her ability to get a host
of city luminaries to do such things as Kim Tucci to portray King St.
Louis and ride a real horse onto the stage--as it was done opening
night--illustrates just how hard it is to say no to her and how much
respect she has in the community.
Add to this, a drawing for a diamond
necklace from Tiffany, other great door prizes including free season
tickets to the Broadway series, period cars outside the theater, ushers
in costumes of the era, even some slightly (by today's standards) corny
renditions of vaudeville (again, all performed on opening night), and
you realize that you've been drawn back into time.
It's fun and a bit crazy
perhaps. But, when one talks with Mary and Stan privately at the
foot of the huge stage, and listens to their deep respect for The
Fabulous Fox, theater, the performing arts --well, then it is
transformed into a continuation of 75 year old relationship between The
Fabulous Fox and St. Louis.
As Mary explains, as she looks around
the now empty theater, restored to its original glamour, you can almost
sense the presence of all the wonderful performers who have played at
The Fabulous Fox over the years, and who, now thanks to Mary and Fox
Associates, will always have a home befitting a special era.
Fabulous Fox' 75th
Birthday Celebration (taken from original opening night program)
IN
DEDICATION
A—THE SCROLL-- Patrick
Murphy, KETC/Channel
9 B—
TABLEAU ST.
LOUIS . Narrated byJulius
Hunter--A Tribute to Its Civic
Pride and Progressive Enterprise
KING ST. LOUIS-- J. Kim
Tucci, co-founder, Pasta House Company
NEW
ST. LOUIS-- Carol Daniel, KMOX
RadioSPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS-- an
allegory of St. LouisC—AT YOUR SERVICE-- Fox
Theatre Usher Corp
D—STAR SPANGLED BANNER
Unit
2 ADDRESS
OF WELCOME--His Excellency, BOB
HOLDEN, Governor, State of Missouri
Unit
3
EXPRESSION
OF GREETING--Honorable
FRANCIS SLAY, Mayor, City of St. Louis
Unit
4 LAUGH,
CLOWN, LAUGH--Marjorie
Faloni and Greg Sabo
Unit
5 CHARMANT
OISEAU from PEARL OF BRAZIL--Mary Wilson, Eminent
Coloratura Soprano Accompanist
Unit 6
Irving
Berlin’s Entrancing Ballad
ROSES
OF YESTERDAY-- Fox
Tellerettes--A Spectacular Portrait Interpretative of
the Refrain
Unit 7
To the Evening Star from
TANNHAUSER-- Tom
Barrett, Internationally Renown
Baritone--An Inspiring Classic by Richard Wagner of the Operatic Work
Unit
8 SHAKIN’ THE BLUES AWAY--
Fox Tellerettes
Unit 9 WALTZ OF THE BLUE DANUBE BLUES--
Stan Kann on the Mighty Wurlitzer--A Jazz Arrangement of the Ever-Popular
Johann Strauss Melody
Unit
10 NEAPOLITAN
FESTIVAL-- A Mood
Picture of Gay, Old
Naples--Fox Tellerettes and Ensemble--
Dance
numbers choreographed by Gerri Stretz and Yvonne Meyer
~ Intermission ~Unit
11
FOX ASSOCIATES WELCOME--Bob Baudendistel, Harvey Harris, Mary Strauss Door
Prizes Awarded
Unit 12 WILLIAM FOX Presents FRANK BORZAGE’S
MASTERPIECE
“STREET ANGEL”
with
JANET GAYNOR and CHARLES FARRELL
T H EC A S T
AngelaJANET
GAYNOR
Gino................................. CHARLES
FARRELL
PLAYING
HIS ORIGINAL SCORE AT THE CONSOLE OF THE MIGHTY WURLITZER
Entire
production recreated by Mary Strauss, Producer and Director
The
Fox Theatre Wishes to Thank:
Gerri
Stretz-Meyer, Yvonne Meyer, Opera Theatre St. Louis, Tiffany
& Co., Robert Schmitt
Costumes
, Ralphie & the
St. Louis
Mounted Police, Ted Drewes,
McArthur Bakery, Steve Straub, St.
Louis Classic Car Club
AN EMPIRE OF AMUSEMENT
The
distinguished throng, vast as it is, which is gathered here for the
dedicatory performance of this magnificent Temple of the Motion Picture,
represents but an infinitesimal fraction of the multitude which tonight
is patronizing the playhouses of the William Fox Circuit of Theatres.Beyond the walls of these, wherever on the five continents men
and women seek amusement, are others to a total of uncomputed millions
whose cares and worries will be forgotten as the masterpieces created in
the studios of Fox Film Corporation command their attention from motion
picture screens.Daily the
peoples of more nations pay homage to these enterprises than bent the
knee to Caesar.(1929
Quote)
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Fox Theater turns 75, 'thanks' community for support