Fox Theatre presents Fox Classic Film Series

JUDD WEIL
Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Historic Fox Theatre recently announced the lineup for their Fox Classic Film Series.  

The Fox Film Series is presented in partnership with PrairieStar Health Center, and will feature twelve films.  

The first movie in the series will be on Jan. 5, and will feature 1967’s ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?’ with Sidney Poitier.

“We started the summer before last with the ‘Ninety Years of Film Classic’ Series, as a way to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Fox Theatre,” Josh Davies, Executive and Technical Director for Fox Theatre, said. “It was really popular, so we announced another lineup of 12 movies, and it has continued to grow in popularity, so we keep doing it. We have great support from PrairieStar Health Center to make it happen, as our lead sponsor.” 

Davies added, “we will continue to do it as long as people want to see these great movies.”  

Davies is also the Film Programmer for Fox Theatre, and described his process for how he selected the series films.  

“I look at movies that were award-winning, or stood out among different decades, since the Fox Theatre opened,” said Davies. “It’s kind of like putting a puzzle together because you have to find what’s available. We have license agreements with several of the major studios but not all of them, it just depends on what studio has the right to the movie now.”  

Ultimately, choosing what movie the Fox Theatre can screen is just subject to what is available to them based off of that process.  

The Fox Theatre is regarded as the ‘State Movie Theatre of Kansas.’  

“That was voted by the state legislature back during the restoration of the theatre,” Davies explained. “I want to say it was the mid-90s, when they voted to name Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre the ‘State Movie Palace of Kansas.’”  

According to Davies, the theatre’s impressive and vintage, original marquee is one of the oldest flashing displays of neon signage in Kansas.  

Proceeds from the Fox Classic Film Series will go towards general operating funds for the Fox Theatre.  

The 12 movies making up the Fox Classic Film Series are plentiful in variety and include films from 1939’s ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ to 1994’s ‘The Shawshank Redemption.’  

Other films include 1955’s ‘Picnic,’ which was shot mostly around Hutchinson, and in which Davies said, multiple Hutchinson natives appeared in.  

“It’s trying to find things that our audience will want to see and that would be exciting to see in a historic theatre,” Davies said.  

A list of the rest of the films in the Fox Classic Film Series, along with showtimes, runtimes, and ratings can be found at the Fox Theatre website.  

Admission is $5 per person for all ages. Tickets may be at the door beginning 45 minutes prior to showtime. 
 
Additionally, online and in person, people can purchase a Fox Film Series pass. 

Each pass includes 10 admissions for only $45 and comes with Popcorn Punch Card for five FREE small popcorns from the Fox Theatre concession stand.  

Fox Film Series Pass admissions can also be used for regular weekend Fox Film Series movies.  

Passes are not movie specific and do not expire, so people can redeem their punches for any of the Fox Film Series movies.  

The Hutchinson Historic Fox Theatre is located at 18 E. 1st Ave. in Hutchinson. 

For more information call, (620) 663-1981.

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