Property Record
302, 304, 308, 312, 314, 316, 318, 322, 324, 330, 334, 338 E SILVER SPRING DR
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Fox Bay Theater |
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| Other Name: | Fox Bay Cinema Grill |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 153261 |
| Location (Address): | 302, 304, 308, 312, 314, 316, 318, 322, 324, 330, 334, 338 E SILVER SPRING DR |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Whitefish Bay |
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| Year Built: | 1948 |
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| Additions: | 1955 |
| Survey Date: | 20112006 |
| Historic Use: | theater |
| Architectural Style: | Art/Streamline Moderne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Limestone |
| Architect: | Henry P. Plunkett of Ebling, Plunkett, and Keyman (1948); Mark Pfaller II (office entrance); Grassold-Johnson & Associates (1955) |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | 2006- The Fox Bay Theater Building was announced in 1948 as the second of two motion picture theaters that were proposed for East Silver Spring Drive in Whitefish Bay. (Excavation for the second theater, started by Ben Marcus, also started in 1948, but construction was later halted and never completed.) Henry P. Plunkett of the architectural firm of Ebling, Plunkett and Keyman, drew up the plans. It was to have an overall expansion of 182 x 125 feet with a theater that would seat 1,000 patrons, eight adjacent store fronts, and office space in the upper two floors not occupied by the theater. The design of the theater incorporated sculpted, stylized nautical theme projections from the upper walls, and a stadium-style balcony where one could enter it from the auditorium floor as well as the lobby. The entrance to the auditorium was through light traps with no doors, so sound control can be a problem. The lobby, however, is a gracious curving design with giant showcases to hold the posters, etc. The theater entrance has a widespread canopied marquee, which opens into a large lobby. The exterior of the building is faced with lannon stone and glass. The theater sign was manufactured by Milwaukee's Poblocki Sign Company, known for 'inside service' signs, which feature access into the sign from the interior of the theater which allowed employees to change the letters on the boards from behind. The original store spaces were occupied by Clarence Benz & Sons, who opened a Sprinting Good store; Bay Music store; Schwanke-Kasten Co., jewelers; John E. Platz, photographer; Louise Goodell, children's clothes; Heineman's Snack bar; Franz Beauty Salon; Knapp Dance studio, and Chester F. Hartung, Inc., carpets. The theater was closed in 1992 and sat vacant for five years. The space was renovated and became the Fox Bay Cinema Grill. 2011- In 1937, the Fox Amusement Corporation purchased land at the intersection of Silver Spring Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard for the purpose of building a movie theater. The Fox Bay Building was designed by architect Henry P. Plunkett of the firm Ebling, Plunkett & Keymar and constructed in 1948 by the Meredith Brothers. The Fox Bay Theater opened upon the building’s completion in 1951. A two-story structure of brick and stone, it originally consisted of the seven storefront bays, a movie theater, and second floor offices at 316, 318, 322, 324, 330, 334 & 338 E. Silver Spring Drive. The original retail tenants included Clarence Benz & Sons Sporting Goods, Bay Music, Schwanke-Kasten Company Jewelers, John E. Platz Photography, Louis Goodell’s children apparel, Heineman’s Snack Bar, Franz Beauty Salon, Knapp Dance Studio, and Chester F. Hartung’s carpets. A complimentary, two-story addition designed by the architectural firm Grassold-Johnson & Associates was constructed in 1955. It was comprised of five storefront bays and second floor office space at 302, 304, 308, 312 & 314 E. Silver Spring Drive. The property was originally managed by Ken Reed of The Trident Corporation. Throughout its history a wide variety of retail businesses were located in the building. Daniel Katz purchased the property from Reed in 1986. Katz continued to lease the theater to Reed until late in 1989 when he hired the Landmark Theater Corporation to continue its management. Landmark Theaters pulled out in 1991 due to declining ticket sales, a national trend for single-screen theaters such as the Fox Bay Theater. At that time, Katz converted it to a budget theater format in a last attempt to attract an increase in customers. However, this attempt was unsuccessful and the theater closed in September of 1992. Later that year, the national chain bookseller Barnes & Noble submitted a proposal to convert the theater space into a 17,000 square foot superstore. The proposal met heavy opposition from the community. A 3,000 signature petition was submitted to the village, leading to Barnes & Noble to drop its plans. The theater underwent a complete renovation in 2000 and reopened that year as the independently operated Fox Bay Cinema Grill, the first “dinner and a movie” style theater in the Milwaukee area. |
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| Bibliographic References: | "'The Bay' parries Bayshore juggernaut with inventive verve," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online edition, posted June 25, 2006, Whitney Gould "Fox-Bay Theater Building Prepares for Opening of 8 Stores Within the Next Two Months," Whitefish Bay Herald "Fox-Bay Theater Building Prepares for Opening of 8 Stores Within the Next Two Months," Whitefish Bay Herald, June 23, 1950. http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1995/ posted by Jim Rankin, February 2002 Building permit records on file at Whitefish Bay Village Hall. Herzog, Lewis W. Notes on Whitefish Bay. On file at the Whitefish Bay Public Library, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. Whitefish Bay Historical Research Project. Volume 12. Mimi Bird Collection, Whitefish Bay: Whitefish Bay Public Library Fox Bay Cinema Grill website. <http://www.foxbaycinemagrill.com> |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |