Standing proud on East 1st Street in Hutchinson, Kansas, since 1931 is the Fox Theatre, with its art deco architectural beauty.
Residents have a lot to be proud of: It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was named the “State Movie Palace of Kansas” by the State Legislature in 1994, and the Fox marquee was the first flashing display of neon in Kansas and is one of only a few original marquees in the country.
“We have a lot to be proud of,” says Josh Davies, Executive and Technical Director, as he escorts me into the cavernous theatre, which seats 1,221.
“We also had two films premiere here,” he said. “’Wait till the Sun Shines, Nellie’ and ‘Picnic.’ Both movies were filmed in the area.”
“Wait till the Sun Shines, Nellie” is a 1952 American historical drama directed by Henry King and starring Jean Peters, David Wayne and Hugh Marlowe. The film chronicles the life of an Illinois family from the 1890s to the 1920s.
“Picnic” is a 1955 American romantic dramedy adapted from William Inge’s 1953 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. The film stars William Holden, Kim Novak, and Rosalind Russell, with Susan Strasberg and Cliff Robertson in supporting roles. Picnic was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two. According to IMDb, “Emotions are ignited among the complacent townsfolk when a handsome drifter arrives in a small Kansas community on the morning of the Labor Day picnic.”
The theatre closed in 1985. Hutchinson’s Historic Theatre, Inc., a non-profit corporation, purchased it in 1990, Davies explained. After undergoing a $4.5 million restoration, the Fox reopened in 1999.
Overhead are glorious Art Deco light fixtures, and other decorative features filling the theatre.
I stood on the stage, looking out and wondering how many movie stars and performers have stood here and greeted residents of Hutchinson and Reno County since June 8, 1931.
Today, the Fox is a thriving entertainment center, featuring live performances, special events, and films.
For more information about the theatre and scheduled entertainment, click here. For information about the other attractions in Hutchinson, click here.
