HERB STRATFORD: THE HOUND BEHIND THE FOX

Doing It For The Love

(continuing our series honoring exceptional supporters of Tucson’s arts community)

HERB STRATFORD: THE HOUND BEHIND THE FOX

In the Tucson arts community, no two names are more closely associated than the Fox Theatre and Herb Stratford. From the beginning, back in 1996, it was Stratford who had organized the volunteer group to start cleaning up the theater’s trashed interior; to get the volunteers recognized as a non-profit fund-raising organization; to buy the downtown property outright for $250,000 in 1999 and start the restoration. And boost the search for private donations.

“From 2000 to 2004 we raised $4 million in four years,” Stratford said, adding there was also a grant from the Rio Nuevo Project of $3.5 million and a loan of $5.6 million. The entire restoration project was budgeted at $14 million. All the remaining funds came from contributions by ordinary folks.

Stratford became known for his 17-hour days of passionate leadership and focused intention. He liked to tell how his love affair with the Fox started in 1986 when he was an especially curious photography student at the University of Arizona who snuck in through the theater’s roof one dark night to have a look around.

“It was fascinating and terrifying,” he remembered. In pitch black rooms that had been sealed up for 12 years, he started taking pictures. Back outside, Stratford became convinced he could make her beautiful again.

After carrying a torch for that lovely lady for 10 years, he was invited by the Downtown Alliance to have another look inside. He was horrified at the destruction and deterioration. The roof was leaking, graffiti was everywhere. So were two decades of pigeon droppings. An estimated 40 homeless people were living inside.

He knew if someone didn’t act soon, the Fox was doomed for destruction.

“I went home, told my wife I’m going to quit my job and SAVE THE FOX,” Stratford remembered, still surprised that his wife, Kerry, said OK. Not only did she say OK, Kerry pitched in her own time and talent.

“My wife did all of our marketing and design work,” Stratford said. “She is a graphic designer who made us look like a million dollars. You know, to raise a million you have to look like a million.”

 Then on New Year’s Eve, 2005, the freshly painted and up-to-code Fox Theatre officially opened to begin its new life as a historical showplace.

But the road became more bumpy as the Fox shifted from being a fund-raising project to being a place looking for money-making programs. Once the doors opened, those private donations dried up, too. Tensions mounted as money-making productions became more elusive.

On May 1, 2008, Stratford resigned as the theater’s general manager.

“After 10 years of 17-hour days I felt it was time to leave,” Stratford remembered. “I never thought this would be my career. I just figured I’d run it for awhile.”

Stratford’s absence left a vacuum that wasn’t filled. No effective leadership was discovered. The elegant Fox began looking like a white elephant.

Last spring in an idle moment Stratford realized the Fox had nothing scheduled for the entire summer.

“When I saw the theater would be dark for three months, I said ‘That can’t happen!’’

Working with a note pad and his equally dedicated pal Tom Skinner, two summer film programs were put together, a series of 1930s adventure serials for kids and another series of classic films for adults. The summer film program was the most successful yet at the Fox.

Now a fall and winter series of classic films has been announced to begin Sept. 5. See the schedule on our Future Shows page.

But back last spring, when it seemed like all those years of Stratford’s torque-jawed hard work were fading, he returned as a volunteer staffer, going back to the theater’s familiar 17 W. Congress St. address (the theater’s original address when it opened in 1930).

With his typical addiction to historical accuracy, Stratford remembered about how the city’s street numbering system had changed since 1930. The city said the Fox couldn’t re-open at number 17. All the odd-numbered buildings were on the opposite side of the street.

Much paper-shuffling and conversation followed. The theater’s address remained 17 W. Congress St.

“I’d even get the original phone number back if I could,” Stratford declared.

Such dedicated attention to detail is ingrained in his personality. The new volunteer had no sooner returned to the building than he began counting the burned out light bulbs.

“I finally convinced the city that $56 worth of light bulbs was worthwhile.” You could hear the satisfaction in his voice, knowing all the bad ones had been replaced.

But greater battles for recognition loom ahead. Stratford believes Tucson’s very own Fox Theatre is worthy of national historical status. The Southwest Deco style and the theater auditorium’s unique wall finish for better acoustics make the building’s architecture significant.

“Originally, the décor was called Spanish Modernistic,” Stratford explained, always insisting on accuracy. “That ‘art deco’ name hadn’t been invented yet.”

When a shiny brass plaque declaring the Fox Theatre a national treasure is finally bolted to the wall at 17 W. Congress  St. the whole city will be richer. Stratford carried the torch, and did it all for the love, but his love affair with the building continues to enrich the Old Pueblo’s own treasured heritage.