Aug. 24, 1929
Ground broken for the theater, slated to be Lyric Amusement Co.'s Tower Theatre; original construction budget is $150,000. Fox Theatres chain takes over before construction is completed.
April 11, 1930
Grand opening of the Fox Tucson Theatre (#501 in their chain); world premiere of MGM musical "Chasing Rainbows." Final cost to construct and outfit the theater: $300,000.
May 30, 1930
Mickey Mouse Club holds first meeting, "Dog Day" parade down Congress Street with 1,000 dogs.
Oct. 20, 1930
The Fox hosts the world premiere of "Billy the Kid," starring Johnnie Mack Brown.
May 8, 1931
Will Rogers performs a benefit for the University of Arizona polo team on Fox stage.
People are also reading…
Aug. 11, 1934
World premiere of "Treasure Island" is canceled because of outbreak of polio. Mickey Mouse Club is suspended during summer for same reason.
Nov. 16, 1940
Kate Smith leads Mickey Mouse Club in singing "God Bless America" from stage of the Fox.
August 1941
Lobby remodeled and new marquee installed; theater officially becomes the "Tucson Fox" as a result of a naming contest.
1942-1945
Fox Theatre serves as the center of Tucson WWII War Bond campaign with $3 million sold at the theater.
Feb. 12, 1949
World premiere of the film "Chicken Every Sunday," based on novel by Tucson author Rosemary Drachman Taylor.
March 17-April 27, 1965
"It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" is the first of a number of long film runs. More than 35,000 Tucsonans attended the film during its six-week run.
July 1, 1973
Fox and Buena Vista theatres are purchased by the Mann theater chain. Fox becomes a discount movie house (60 cents), running double- and triple-features, often as rereleases of popular films.
June 18, 1974
Fox closes its doors; "Badge 373," "The Godfather Part II" and "Lady Sings the Blues" are the final films to be screened.
1980
First attempt by private citizens to reopen the theater is launched with little success.
1984
Fox property sold to developer Venture West, which plans a high-rise on the site.
February 1985
Citizens to Save the Fox Theatre Inc. begins meeting to try to save the theater from demolition.
Feb. 15, 1985
Original "Fox" flag sign and 1941 marquee removed after city of Tucson says they do not meet code.
June 1988
13,842 signatures on petitions to save the theater are delivered to Tucson Mayor Tom Volgy.
1991-1994
Fox becomes "home" for 42-plus homeless people.
1997
Fox Theatre Revival committee is formed and begins discussions with then-owner Reliance Centro Limited. City of Tucson commissions feasibility study of building renovation and operation.
Oct. 11, 1999
Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation announces purchase of building from owners for $250,000 and plans to reopen following renovations.
2000
Fox listed on National Register of Historic Places. Volunteers begin clean-up and building stabilization —remove several hundred Dumpsters of materials.
2001
Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation receives $1 million federal grant for the project.
April 27, 2002
Fox's restored main chandelier is relit by former manager Roy Drachman.
June 29, 2002
Re-created Fox flag sign and 1930 marquee relit for crowd of 2,500 people.
2003
Fox receives $3.5 million commitment from Rio Nuevo to assist with renovations.
December 2004
Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation begins construction work on a portion of the theater.
January 2005
Fox Tucson Theatre hosts the History Channel's "Back to the Blueprint" show, which is broadcast nationally in March
March 2005
Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation secures $2.8 million in Historic Tax Credits and New Markets Tax Credits for project, only the second theater in the country to do so. City Council votes 6-0 to loan the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation $5.6 million from sale of bonds to complete the renovation by the end of the year
April 2005
Fox celebrates 75th anniversary with block party attended by several thousand Tucsonans.
October 2005
Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation announces a gift of $500,000 from First Magnus Financial Corp., the largest single gift in project history. Theater auditorium to be named after First Magnus. The restored theater entryway is unveiled to the public.
Dec. 31, 2005
Fox reopens after $13 million expenditure — and six years of work by Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation.
● Source: Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation
