If you were to ask Molly Fortune what her favorite part of The Fabulous Fox Theatre is, she’d answer, “The second dress circle.” She calls it the soul of the building. Every time she enters and takes in the deep, intimate space, she wonders what would have happened if no one had cared to save this now National Landmark. Luckily, it’s not a thought she has to seriously contemplate.
The Fox Theatre is the only theater in the United States that has a full-time Restoration Department. It was established by Atlanta Landmarks Inc., a non-profit organization that is credited with saving the building from demolition in 1974 and has managed operations of the Fox since.
“[They] believed in this building … It’s [because of] this dedication and expectation of the citizens of Atlanta that the restoration department exists … and why a patron is guaranteed to be transported to 1929 every time he/she walks in,” says Fortune, who’s been the department head for the last eight and a half years.
Fortune’s efficient staff of eight includes decorative painters, who have their own in-house paint shop, and an archivist — all of whom work very closely with the Operations Department. Their job is a delicate balance, making sure the building is maintained according to national historic preservation standards and that it can operate as a competitive entertainment venue for the enjoyment of nearly 750,000 patrons annually.
After taking ownership, Atlanta Landmarks Inc. leadership agreed they needed a strategy to ensure they would never go into debt trying to restore the building. Typically, organizations launch capital campaigns when repairs are necessary and make structural improvements all at one time. Instead, Atlanta Landmarks developed a pay-as-you-go model. This model ensured no need for fundraisers, cash reserves, nor long-term closures for catch-up renovations, which venues waiting to do a major fix every 10 years were forced to do.
“They thought, ‘Maybe, one day, we’ll have a capital campaign,’” Fortune says. “But, they never did.” The unique model allows for pragmatic prioritizing and continuous effort, which costs far less money. She adds, “I like the model. A lot.”
Between $1 million to $1.5 million a year is spent on restoration projects. The money is not supplied by private donations nor public grants. It is raised from a $2 surcharge the Fox places on every ticket and “damn good investing by the board,” Fortune says with a proud smile.
So far, $34 million dollars worth of work has been done. Beyond the improvements audiences can see, like the furniture conservation in the lobbies and lounges, handrails or painting of the sky, there are many improvements Fortune’s department has made behind the scenes. For example, her staff maintains a state-of-the-art archive, which includes the histories of state and local theaters, and they oversee the ongoing maintenance of the original air conditioning unit, original boilers (that have been retrofitted for gas) and original electric panels.
Fortune feels a responsibility to Atlanta, to preserve this exquisite structure. As audiences come to the Fox to enjoy a play, a tour, a wedding or a special night out, she hopes they feel a sense of ownership and pride.
“We don’t have a sense of place,” Fortune says. “People in our generation, we move around. We move around a lot. In a society where we’re on our Blackberries and our e-mails, sitting in front of our Wii all day, something like the Fox connects us.”
Suehyla El-Attar is an actor/writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Please visit her site: www.suehyla.com.
