Fox Theatre

The Fox Theatre is a performing arts venue in downtown Detroit with a lobby spanning six stories, red marble columns and hand-painted murals. The auditorium seats more than 5,000 people and displays elaborate plasterwork across the ceiling and balconies.

William Fox commissioned architect Charles Howard Crane to design this movie palace in 1928, making it the largest surviving theatre from that decade. The venue introduced the Movietone system, becoming the first location worldwide with built-in equipment for talking pictures.

The building carries influences from Far Eastern temples and Indian palaces, visible in the ceiling paintings and carved ornaments along the walls. Visitors see sphinx figures, dragon motifs and gilded details everywhere, creating the impression of an oriental dream.

The box office opens at 11 in the morning on event days, and all visitors must pass through security screening before entering the performance space. The interior is air-conditioned, and the downtown area is best reached by public transport or taxi.

The original cinema lobby contains a large Wurlitzer organ with more than 30 ranks, still played during special events today. The air-conditioning from the construction period is considered one of the first large installations in an American theatre.

Location: Detroit

Inception: 1928

Architects: C. Howard Crane

Official opening: 1928

Architectural style: Art Deco

Capacity: 5174

Operator: 313 Presents

Address: 2211 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201

Website: https://313presents.com/concerts-events/venues/fox-theatre

GPS coordinates: 42.33858,-83.05225

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:30