The Fox Theatre at 660 Peachtree St NE in Midtown Atlanta is one of the most intact examples of a Gilded Age movie palace in the United States, built in 1929 in a theatrical Moorish and Egyptian Revival style that remains essentially unchanged from its original construction. The building was originally commissioned as the headquarters of the Shriners fraternal organization before they ran out of funds, and was completed and opened as a movie house by William Fox. The exterior's keyhole arches, minarets, and ornamental brickwork face Peachtree Street, while the interior takes the architecture to an extreme — the main auditorium is designed to resemble an outdoor Moorish courtyard at night, with a tented ceiling painted and mechanically lit to simulate a sky of slowly moving clouds and stars.
The main auditorium seats approximately 4,600 people and retains its original Möller pipe organ, one of the largest theater organs in the world, with 3,622 pipes that still play before select performances. The original atmospheric lighting system generating the moving cloud effect has been preserved and restored. The Egyptian Ballroom, a secondary venue used for private events and smaller performances, is decorated with hieroglyphic murals and gilded surfaces.
The Fox operates primarily as a live performance venue hosting Broadway touring productions, concerts, comedy shows, and film screenings. Guided architectural tours of 45 minutes are offered Monday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings, departing from the main lobby and providing access to spaces not normally open to performance audiences, including the Möller organ chamber and backstage areas. Tour tickets are $15. Performance tickets are available at foxtheatre.org, ranging from $25 to over $150 depending on the production.
MARTA North Avenue Station on the Red and Gold lines is a five-minute walk south on Peachtree Street, making the Fox the most transit-accessible major performance venue in Midtown Atlanta.
Good to know
- Hours
- Box office: Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sat 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM; performance days until showtime
- Best time
- Building tours Monday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings; book tickets at foxtheatre.org
Location
660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
33.7710, -84.3842 View on map
Highlights
- Moorish atmospheric auditorium: 4,600-seat theater designed as an outdoor courtyard under a mechanically animated starlit sky
- Original Möller pipe organ with 3,622 pipes — one of the largest theater organs in the world, still operational
- Architectural tours (Mon, Thu, Sat mornings): backstage access, organ chamber, and Egyptian Ballroom
- Egyptian Ballroom: secondary venue with gilded hieroglyphic murals and ornate Revivalist décor
- Ongoing Broadway touring productions and major concerts in a landmark 1929 performance space
Tips for visiting
- Book architectural tours at foxtheatre.org — they run Monday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings and are limited in group size
- For performances, mezzanine balcony seats offer excellent sightlines and the best overhead views of the atmospheric ceiling
- MARTA North Avenue Station (Red/Gold) is a five-minute walk south on Peachtree — the easiest car-free approach
- Arrive 30 minutes before any performance to take in the lobby and exterior architectural detail at a less crowded moment
- The Fox hosts a free outdoor summer movie screening series — check foxtheatre.org for the seasonal schedule
When to visit
Architectural tours on weekday mornings (Monday and Thursday) are the quietest option. Performance evenings should be booked in advance at foxtheatre.org — Broadway productions and major concerts frequently sell out weeks ahead.
Accessibility
The Fox Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with accessible entrances on Peachtree St NE, elevator access to multiple seating levels, and designated wheelchair seating in the main auditorium. The architectural tour route includes some areas with stairs — contact the box office in advance for mobility accommodation.
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors tour the Fox Theatre without attending a performance?
Yes — guided architectural tours of 45 minutes are offered Monday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings for $15 per person. These include access to backstage areas, the organ chamber, and the Egyptian Ballroom.
What is the Fox Theatre's famous atmospheric ceiling?
The main auditorium was designed as an atmospheric theater with a tented Moorish ceiling painted to simulate an outdoor sky. A mechanical system creates slowly drifting clouds across the ceiling — the original system has been restored and remains operational.
Is the Fox Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes — the Fox Theatre has accessible entrances on Peachtree St NE, elevator access to multiple seating levels, and designated wheelchair seating areas in the main auditorium. Contact the box office at foxtheatre.org for specific accessible seating options.