Fox theatre passes the torch

WALSENBURG — When George Birrer and John Luginbill bought the decrepit Fox Theatre together in 1991, they knew they were buying a fixer-upper. The roof had holes, the ceiling was caving in, water stood on the stage, and the seats were rotted out.

They and their supporters created the Spanish Peaks Alliance for Arts and Education (SPAAE) to fund and manage the theatre. That group led fundraising to purchase a $60,000 digital movie projector last year (2014), enabling the Fox to show new first-run movies again.

Over the years the auditorium hosted El Fandango folklórico for twelve years and became a major venue for the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival.

Now, twenty-four years later, Birrer and Luginbill were ready to pass the torch. They chose Huerfano County as the long-term steward. A formal signing transferred the building; a second signing would pass SPAAE assets to the county as well.

The vintage Wurlitzer pipe organ must remain in the building. The county, not being in the movie-theatre business, contracted with the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation to run and maintain the Fox.