Little Foxes Fine Gifts   

2211 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48201
313-983-6202
www.littlefoxes.com

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Driving past the Fox Theatre, with its Lion-emblazoned marquee, you see a regal structure typical of a major metropolis. It's hard to believe that this facade, now a Woodward Avenue landmark, was once at risk. Fashioned in the vaudeville aesthetics of the 1920s, the Fox Theatre was commissioned by movie mogul William Fox to house live theatrical performances and the best the moving picture had to offer. (That's right -- "moving" picture.) The theater was the first of Fox's "Temples of Amusement." With an ornate and sumptuous interior hearkening back to the era of gangster flicks and Clara Bow, the Fox was the venue in which to see and be seen in. From big bands to vaudeville performances, if there was entertainment in Detroit, chances are it was happening here. Unfortunately, the '60s was an era that cared little for the flair of this bygone time and by the 1980s, the Fox narrowly escaped demolition. However, Michael Illitch, Chairman and President of Little Caesars International and lover of Detroit, came to its rescue. It now stands as a piece of Detroit history and a testament to the benefits of restoration. What's more, the neighborhood surrounding the theater has enjoyed a subsequent revitalization as well. As a venue for everything from live music to dramatic productions to ballet, the Fox has received a second life both physically and culturally. -- Shannon O'Neill