Fox Theatre Concludes 40th Anniversary of Save the Fox

On September 23, 2014, Atlanta's Fox Theatre announced a yearlong celebration, dubbed The Legend Lives On, to thank its hometown in honor of the 40th anniversary of "Save the Fox," a city-wide effort rescuing the landmark from demolition.

The celebration kicked off with a press conference featuring comedian and Georgia native Jeff Foxworthy, Mayor Kasim Reed, Valerie Jackson, philanthropist and widow of the late Mayor Maynard Jackson, Board of Trustees Chairman Woody White, Board of Trustees member Jay Myers, and Fox Theatre President and Chief Executive Officer Allan Vella.

"The Legend Lives On was our way of saying thank you to city," said Vella. "On behalf of the Fox Theatre, the Board of Trustees, and our staff, we've been truly humbled this past year by the stories shared, the special shows, the events attended, and 25,000 Atlantans showing up for our block party!"

Here are a few highlights of "The Legend Lives On - 40th Anniversary of Save the Fox":

The Legend Lives On - 40th Anniversary of the Save the Fox:

· The Fox named Sharon Frank, lifelong Georgia resident and frequent visitor of the theater for more than 50 years, as its "Biggest Fan."

o Sharon Frank received a prize package including Delta Airlines vouchers, tickets to numerous shows at the Fox, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have her name on the Fox Theatre's famous marquee.

· In November, the Fox hosted an extraordinary collection of music artists who came together for "One More For The Fans! - Celebrating The Songs & Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd," a special concert event taping honoring one of the most influential bands of our time.

o The band was instrumental in the original "Save the Fox" campaign, performing a 1976 benefit concert, which turned into the classic live album "One More From The Road."

· The Fox's community engagement arm, Fox Theatre Institute (FTI), awarded a $10,000 grant to the Holly Theater in Dahlonega, Ga. to allow for restoration, preservation and future planning of the community theater.

o FTI hosted the 3rd annual Theatre Revival Tour in June to showcase the theater's restoration. The free event included a musical performance by legendary rock artists, Randall Bramblett and Tommy Talton.

· The city of Atlanta got a sneak peek into the iconic theater with some quirky Fox Facts.

o Did you know the Fox serves 47,500 pounds of popcorn per year? Or that the Fox Theatre marquee has 3,442 light bulbs?

· FTI created "Fox in a Box," an interactive school exhibit focused on how important events in the theater's timeline intersect with key classroom learnings, from American history and the Civil Rights Movement to economics and the importance of communities.

o Savannah College of Art and Design developed the concept for the transportable exhibit which was designed by local design firm, Station16 Creative.

· The Fox gave fans the opportunity to be "Friends of the Fox," a chance to support the arts in Atlanta and communities throughout Georgia, and help ensure the legacy of Georgia's historic theatres will live on for generations.

· On March 14, the Fox hosted A Legendary Encore: An All - Access Celebration of the Fox. The fundraising gala, presented with The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, recognized and honored founding board members of Atlanta Landmarks for saving the Fox 40 years ago.

· The Fox offered throwback pricing from 1985 for the Back to the Future screening during the annual Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival.

· Atlanta-native and Fox Theatre fan, Jeff Foxworthy performed for one night only to commemorate the 40th anniversary.

· The Fox closed down the streets of Atlanta to host a free Block Party in June, providing guests the opportunity to experience the magic of the Fox through live entertainment, special tours, food and drinks, activities and prizes, while also raising awareness about the Fox story and celebrating 40 years of continued community support.

o An estimated 25,000 people filled the streets to celebrate.

The Fox Theatre's agency of record, Marketing Inspirations (MI), partnered with Fox's team to execute PR, marketing, media buying, and social media for the Legend Lives On. To date, seven awards have been garnered for the outstanding achievements of this campaign.

These include Platinum and Gold Awards for the Hermes Creative Awards as well as finalist nods for PR Campaign of the Year from the Event and Arena Marketing Conference Awards, AMA Atlanta: Atlanta Marketer of the Year (AMY) Awards, and three categories for the upcoming Public Relations Society of America's Phoenix Awards.

For more information on "The Legend Lives On" and history of the Fox Theatre, please visit www.foxtheatre.org/thelegend.