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Throughout the years, the Fabulous Fox, combining stage and screen shows, has been a showcase for movie premieres, great stage attractions, special events, and many of the famous personalities of show business.
In 1959, the world premiere of the movie St. Louis Blues was held at the Fox with Nat "King" Cole, Pearl Bailey, and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra performing on the stage. Pat O'Brien appeared in person to promote his movie Fighting Father Dunn (1948) and before he became a superstar, John Wayne played the Fox in conjunction with one of his early movies. The Spirit of St. Louis had its world premiere at the Fox (1957) and during the 1950s Marjorie Main and Percy Killbride, as Ma and Pa Kettle, came to entertain St. Louis audiences. For the world premiere of The Trouble With Angels (1966) both Rosaline Russell and Haley Mills appeared in person, and Liberace, with brother George, came to the Fox in 1955 to promote his one and only movie Sincerely Yours. In 1953, the Fox provided St. Louis with two thrills: its first 3D movie, House of Wax, and an 80-foot tall cut of Jane Russell on the marquee announcing The French Line. Twenty-four hours later Archbishop Ritter called the Fox "a place of sin", the Catholic Legion of Decency condemned the picture, and The French Line became a box office bonanza.
In the early 1930s Eddie Peabody, the world's greatest banjo wizard, played the Fox for several weeks and was a smash hit. Ruth Etting, the famous star of the Ziegfeld Follies, appeared in person (1932) and Eddie Cantor and George Jessel in "A Sensational Vaudeville Review" packed the house (1933). Paul Whiteman provided a night to be remembered. He placed 21 pianos throughout the auditorium, balconies and side aisles to play "Rhapsody in Blue." Bob Hope, "St. Louis's enemy of depression" brought Jerry Colonna and his whole radio troupe to the Fox (1940) and sold 80,000 tickets in one week. The Big Bands of Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Glen Miller drew record crowds in the 1940s. Both Mae West and Sally Rand "did their thing" at the Fox.
The Fox has provided St. Louis with numerous special events. Don McNeill and His Breakfast Club sold out one week at the Fox. Dr. I.Q., the mental banker, bedazzled thousands with his super brain trickery. When Tom Breneman appeared at the Fox with his "Breakfast in Hollywood" 4000 stood in line at 5 A.M., waiting to get in. Toscanini has conducted and the Moiseyev Ballet has danced. The Washington University Students' Theatrical Club presented "25 gorgeous co-eds" in their original campus musical One Small Cheer (1933). The American Legion staged an Armistice Day Americanism Rally for 3500 school children (1951) and a model of the Battleship Missouri was dedicated and launched from the Fox stage. During the Depression there were dance marathons and dance contests. Famous comic strip characters from "Gasoline Alley" came to life at the Fox (1951) and Miss Missouri was chosen for the Miss America Pageant from the Fox stage (1954). The Fox was the setting for the Variety Club's Harvest Moon Festival (1954), the Saint Louis University Convocation (1968), and a Shriners Convention.
Musical groups as diverse as the Spike Jones Band, the Grateful Dead, and Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention have played on the Fox stage. The Fox has definitely provided St. Louis with entertainment from A to Z.
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