  Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3324 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
According to the Theater Historical Society of America, Ilitch Holdings, owners of The Fox since 1987, are spending $2 on exterior repairs to sign and terra cotta repair. The new sign will spell out F-O-X on four sides, in letters 18 feet high. A 12 pointed star will crown the sign and be 106 ft. above the roof. Such a star denotes the stars that have played there. All this will be computer controlled, using light emitting diodes as light sources. Mike and Marian Ilitch were named THS Honorary Members of the Year, 1990. The article also says that Ilitches are hiring an architect to evaulate the re-do of the Adams Theater. Here jjaba invokes Skipper's Rules. (Believe it when you see it.) jjaba. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 932 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.136.147.100 |
haven't been down on the dexter bus lately huh? the sign was done before the superbowl | ||
Matt_the_deuce Member Username: Matt_the_deuce Post Number: 563 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.248.252 |
Have you been at Trader Vic's all afternoon Jjaba? Are you Irish/Jewish? Can I see into the future? | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3327 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
jjaba needs to get out more. Thanks. jjaba, apologizes for Old News. Does The Forum like the new sign? | ||
Matt_the_deuce Member Username: Matt_the_deuce Post Number: 564 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.248.252 |
I think it looks pretty darn good. I mentioned this before but my one knock would be that I think all the different colors can be a bit much at times. But... The structure itself looks great. I fantastic beacon that you can see all the way from Hart Plaza. It really puts a nice exclamation point on the whole Woodward strip and signals the edge of downtown. | ||
Ddaydave Member Username: Ddaydave Post Number: 341 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 67.149.185.244 |
it looks great but then you go a few blocks and see buildings he lets rot ...Damn mike at least put a new roof on them to stop water damage or is it a new parking lots he wants after all | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 447 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.2.191.57 |
Well, I learned something. I didn't know until now they'd used that new LED technology. That must be truly brilliant! | ||
Blessyouboys Member Username: Blessyouboys Post Number: 321 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 69.209.141.248 |
 my apologies to whoever I stole that from | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 5395 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.48.208.18 |
I agree with Matt. I looks good heading south on Woodward too.  | ||
Ddmoore54 Member Username: Ddmoore54 Post Number: 287 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.242.220.249 |
I think it looks tacky as hell. Turns a beautiful building into what looks like a carnival. | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 5396 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.48.208.18 |
Dmoore, I belive it is a replica of an original sign. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1274 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 141.213.173.94 |
I'm not the biggest fan either. Spotlights on the roof: good thing. Another vertical sign which doesn't match the other sign: bad. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3329 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Can AIW see The new FOX signs from the top of his roof or from his other Windsor perches? jjaba. | ||
Jasoncw Member Username: Jasoncw Post Number: 129 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 148.61.248.170 |
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is a replica too. I think the State needs a better lighting scheme (if it even has any lights at all) | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 5397 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.48.208.18 |
jjaba, no. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 299 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
"According to the Theater Historical Society of America, Ilitch Holdings, owners of The Fox since 1987, are spending $2 on exterior repairs to sign and terra cotta repair." Just $2? That's less than one ticket sale! Ilitch can surely spot a deal. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3332 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Livernoisyard, correction. That's $2 million. Sorry for the confustion caused by jjaba, typing too fast on empty stomach. jjaba, no excuses. | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 370 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 35.11.210.161 |
It can be visual overkill if they light the entire facade as in the pic above. Without the rest of the facade lit it looks much better IMO. I agree about the State needing more lighting during SBXL it was washed in red and blue light and looked just amazing. A sizable, vertical marquee wouldn't be bad either (Message edited by eric on March 16, 2006) | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3340 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
This was information was released when the Ilitch's did their PR stunt just before the Superbowl that also included their announcement to renovate the Detroit Building, and seek redevelopment for the UA Building and Fine Arts Building/Adams Theater. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1889 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.119 |
If you want overkill just go to Times Square in NYC or London's Picadilly Circus. The Fox looks tame by comparison. It only looks overdone because so much of the theatre district is still undeveloped and dark. Detroiters are not used to seeing their downtown lit up in neon and stud lights. We should pray for the day when more marquees and vertical signs are installed and lit up at night around a restored theatre district with the lights on in all the occupied buildings. Most of us were not around in the 20's and 30's when the Grand Circus Park area was ablaze in neon and stud lighting, along with the klieg (large spotlight) lighting.... Hornwrecker has shown us pictures of Grand Circus Park at night, where it was almost like daylight with all the theatres blazing 3 levels of theatre lights (marquee, vertical, and rooftop). Garish or not, and yes it may look like a carnival atmosphere, but that is the way it was in the golden days.... You want a restored downtown that looks like it did in its' heyday, then get used to it! (Message edited by Gistok on March 16, 2006) | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 18 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
you betcha ! | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1016 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.252.4.228 |
That pic was mine, blessyouboys. No problem, saved me from looking it up myself. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 458 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.2.191.57 |
A fine picture it is too, Dougw. Thanks! | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 22 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Agreed. Will be at the FOX tomorrow evening. | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8275 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.53.96.49 |
I sued to be able to see it out my front window and I would stare at it for 10 minutes. I like the way it changes colour and patterns. A gerat addition to the area. | ||
Gogo Member Username: Gogo Post Number: 1331 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 198.208.251.21 |
The Detroit Life Building looks like it has its own website: http://www.thedetroitbuilding. com/ | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3338 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Goat, how far do you live from the river? Are you up at any elevation above the Fox? Are you directly South of Downtown Detroit? Without traffic, how long would it take you to drive to the Fox? Glad to see Canadians enjoying their big city neighbor both at night and during the day. jjaba, checking his compass. | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8278 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.53.96.49 |
I used to live on the river (east of downtown in old Walkerville), no elevation, it would take me approx 5 minutes to drive to the Fox if I could go straight through customs with little traffic. Heavier traffic it usually took 10 minutes. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3342 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Goat must be driving a Triumph, Ford Cortina, MGB, Sunbeam or a Morris Minor to make it across that fast. Those were the days, eh. Thanks. jjaba, sitting on his English bone China at Customs. | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8279 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.53.97.231 |
Had an MGB and a Triumph (though the Triumph never ran). I always wanted a Morris Minor though. Great little cars, can't say much for the Lucas wiring. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3350 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Goat owns a Triumph they're the best. Drive a mile Walk the rest. Burma Shave, eh. jjaba, faithfully N. American. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 307 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
The middle 1960s were good to me car-wise. Picked up a 1953 Jaguar XK-120C roadster for parts at a salvage yard for $300 and a 1958 XK-140 roadster from a classified ad @ $850 for the road. Afterwards, a 1965 Cessna 150F in 1970 for $3000. However, its wingspan made it difficult to handle on the highway. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.106 |
Why do the english drink warm beer? because they have Lucas refrigerators What's the Lucas company motto? Home before dark Joseph Lucas is creditied with the invention of the first intermittent wipers--his company also pioneered the production of intermittent ingnition, lighting and accessory operation. The Packman started with an MGB-GT, before he was hip to Packard. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 117 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.106 |
One thing that happened to the Fox during the exterior restoration work is the re-creation and installation of the terra cotta "crownwork", replacing the bits that were chopped off the building in the 50's. Back then A piece of ornamental stone fell off of a unmaintained 19th century building, narrowly missing someone. The city over reacted and made the owners of any building downtown chop off any vertically oriented doo-dads for fear they would all rain on the public and kill someone. in the case of the Fox building, those pieces were cast with 1" re-rod inside, and not going anywhere in a hurry. But off they came, and now they are back again, just like '28 | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3353 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
This is the first time in a long time The Forum has been nice to Mike Ilitch. Glad he just plunked down $2 million on one Detroit bldg. That's a lotta pizza. jjaba. | ||
Mplsryan Member Username: Mplsryan Post Number: 134 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.26.164.215 |
Hmm, the detroit life site only lists one 'related restorations' - the fox. Imagine that, only one. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 118 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.106 |
Jjaba-the restoration work set Mike back 400,000 pizzas. (Message edited by 56packman on March 17, 2006) | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3357 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 192.220.139.6 |
Were those the special combos or just cheese and sausage? Does that figure include the red pepper seeds and a box for each? Did you factor in the foreign franchises with the Canadian money exchange? jjaba, LOL. | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 210 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 24.247.221.241 |
The FOX letters on the rooftop sign = looks good. The Durasig traffic signals replacing the aging but graceful Classic signals from the 1960s out front = aweful. |
