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The Fox Theater
The Fox Theater
1001, West Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA, United States
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The Fox Theater
1001, West Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA, United States
Award Entry3/15/2010 JBHistory The Fox Theater was originally completed in 1931, in the middle of the Great Depression, and the opening was declared an event of “supreme civic importance” by the local newspaper, The Spokesman- Review. The theater was originally designed by architect Robert Reamer, whose work also included Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park. The interior walls, painted by Anthony Heinsbergen, were a masterpiece of murals depicting an underwater scene that rose to hills and treetops leading ultimately to a sky filled with a magnificent sunburst and stars. Heinsbergen’s work was already famed in posh venues such as the Beverly -Wilshire Hotel and Park Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.Throughout its years, the theater was home to a variety of films and entertainment. From 1968 to 1974, the Spokane Symphony played in its elegant auditorium. In 1974, owners tried to re-invent the theater as a first-run movie house but saw limited success. In 1989, it was turned into a discount triplex theater, with the balcony becoming walled off to create additional screens.Decades of use by the Spokane community had taken its toll on the theater. Years of patrons smoking indoors, dust and grime from the out-dated ventilation system, attempts to make the interior more modern and flashy with red paint, and little exterior upkeep in a neighborhood that itself was falling into disrepair left the once glamorous building dilapidated. Finally, in 2000, the theater closed and was set for demolition; the property was slated to become a parking lot.Fortunately, the Spokane Symphony and other Spokane visionaries recognized the valuable leading role the Fox Theater could play in a newly developing downtown arts and entertainment district, and launched the “Save the Fox” campaign. Tireless fundraising during the following years and the use of New Market and Historic Tax Credits became a savior for the Fox Theater. RestorationThe primary design challenge was the transformation of a 1931 movie theater into a multi-use performing arts facility while preserving the original art deco architecture and murals that were featured on almost every wall and ceiling surface. Any changes that were made had to be invisible. Key elements of this transformation included expansion of the lobby and restroom spaces to accommodate the social aspects of a night at the symphony. The old street-level shops were removed to add more space to the lobby and restrooms on the main level. Seating under the balcony in the original auditorium was also removed to add even more space to the lobby, which was christened the “Founders Gallery.” Four floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the new wall, which separated the Founders Gallery from the rest of the auditorium, were designed to allow one to visualize the entire volume of the original auditorium. Modifications to the sightlines (sightline requirements for a symphony performance are substantially different than those necessary for a movie) were possible at the orchestra level due to the creation of the Founders Gallery. In the balcony, portions of the original concrete floor structure were removed and a lightweight steel and plywood structure added in order to re-configure the seating layout.These changes were interwoven with the building’s acoustics and a new mechanical system, which was completely hidden behind historic surfaces and elements. Great care was taken to assure that any modifications did not have an adverse effect on the original building’s outstanding acoustics. The Symphony has been thrilled with the results. Musicians say that the acoustics of the Fox are so clear that they must play flawlessly.All of the changes occurred while allowing the preservation and restoration of the Fox’s original murals, lighting, and other art deco details. In some cases this required the painstaking removal of non-original paint to expose the underlying murals, which were then repainted by hand. Historical light fixtures that still remained in the theater were cleaned and restored; missing fixtures were recreated similar to the originals. Both the glass sunburst in the auditorium and the lay light in the lobby ceiling were restored to their original condition. Missing, broken or non-original panes were recreated by local artists, and then all pieces were reinstalled. ResultAt a recent tour of the Fox, a woman asked, “Is everything the way it was originally?” The answer is no, of course, but this question is evidence the restoration was a triumph in the eyes the community. The impact in the neighborhood has been significant, and the Fox Theater represents one of the success stories in the revitalization of downtown Spokane.
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