About the tours
Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org. Tours take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturdays. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for military and seniors and free for children 10 and under.
Even if you visit the Fox Theatre regularly, it’s not uncommon to have the occasional awestruck moment.
It’s a stunning theater, a 1920s-era former movie palace with walls that have witnessed everything from landmark concerts (Elvis Presley to Lady Gaga) to award shows (Soul Train, the Dove Awards). Even the parade celebrating the premiere of “Gone With the Wind” in 1939 began in front of the ornate building that looks as if it were teleported in from the Mideast.
Those who might be yearning to learn more about the hallowed venue — such as the number of stars dotting the ceiling that mimics a night desert sky (96) and how many of them twinkle (84) or the history of the grand men’s and women’s lounges on the mezzanine level — can sign up for a Fox tour.
Earlier this month, the venue began offering guided tours, now presented by an in-house team of seven guides (the Atlanta Preservation Center previously provided the tours). The 60-minute strolls through the building take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturdays.
“When people step through that door, we want them to feel like it’s 1929,” said Molly Fortune, director of restoration for the Fox who is also in charge of the tours program.
As proof of the building’s status, she pointed out that people tend to reference the venue rather than the show they’re going to see.
“You usually hear people say, ‘I’m going to the Fox.’ Not, ‘I’m going to see Rodney Carrington,’” Fortune said.
While the tours — which might include a little popcorn for you toward the end — are certainly valuable for visitors, there is plenty for Atlantans to learn, too.
The Egyptian Ballroom could warrant its own outing given its extensive history (it’s been used for everything from boxing matches to funerals). And even if theatergoers or concertgoers have already glimpsed “Mighty Mo,” the second-largest Möller theater organ in the U.S. (New York’s Radio City claims the biggest), the chance to spend a few moments up close with the behemoth is a worthwhile experience.
If virtual tours are more your thing, the Fox also just launched a high-definition Google street view of the venue, which provides a 360-degree tour on smartphones, tablets or computers.
A convenient option for sure, but not quite the step back in time provided by a real visit.
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