TBT: FOX Theatre's 1985 marquee
The FOX Theatre in 1985. Image courtesy: Detroit Historical Society.
If you were downtown any time this summer or fall, you may have noticed something was different at one of Detroit's historic landmarks. The FOX Theatre's marquee was the latest part of downtown's redevelopment when it underwent a facelift .
Crews removed the stacked FOX from the top of the marquee as well as the 14-foot tall griffins to make way for a new, LED-lit marquee. Don't worry, they're replacing the stacked FOX with some a LED version.
Though some people may object to the change, it's not the first time it's happened.
In 1985, as we know from the above photo, the FOX Theatre marquee featured hand placed letters on the marquee. Why 1985? That was the same year the theater was registered as a national historic landmark.
The color photo is of the marquee and entrance of the Fox Theatre taken from across Woodward Avenue. The bill posted for May 11th consists of the R&B group New Edition, funk act Jesse Johnson’s Revue, and hip hop group UTFO. ”America’s Most Beautiful Theatre” is posted on the front part of the marquee. A man in a purple shirt walks north along the sidewalk while another looks at shoes in a store window to the right of the theater.
FOX 2 thanks the Detroit Historical Society for this and all of our Throwback Thursday photos.