Drive-By
Exterior Viewing on Sprague Avenue
View the restored Art Deco facade and marquee from Sprague Avenue. The exterior is a contributing landmark in downtown Spokane and visible at any hour.
- Duration:
- 15 min
Theater / Performance Venue
Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox
Spokane's restored 1931 Art Deco movie palace, now the Spokane Symphony's home, with a restoration-era ghost the crews named Otis.
1001 W Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Ticketed performances; exterior viewable any time. Ticket prices vary by event.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Accessible main floor; balcony reached by stairs.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1931 · Art Deco movie palace designed by Robert C. Reamer, opened 1931 · Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 2001 · Restored 2007 in a $31 million Save the Fox campaign · Permanent home of the Spokane Symphony; renamed for Martin Woldson after Myrtle Woldson's gift
The Fox Theater opened on September 3, 1931, at the corner of Sprague Avenue and Monroe Street in downtown Spokane. Designed by architect Robert C. Reamer with associate architects Whitehouse & Price and interior designer Anthony Heinsbergen, it was an Art Deco movie palace built to handle both motion pictures and live stage acts, with a full proscenium stage, orchestra pit, and a Wurlitzer pipe organ.
For decades the Fox operated as a film house. By the late twentieth century it had declined into a second-run theater and faced demolition. A community campaign, Save the Fox, raised funds for a full restoration; the project cost roughly $31 million and was completed in November 2007. The Fox reopened as the permanent home of the Spokane Symphony and a regional performing-arts venue.
The theater was renamed the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in honor of railroad pioneer Martin Woldson, after his daughter, Spokane philanthropist Myrtle Woldson, contributed $3 million toward the renovation along with additional gifts and a matching challenge to the campaign. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 30, 2001.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Theater_(Spokane,_Washington)
- https://foxtheaterspokane.org/
- https://downtownspokane.org/places/martin-woldson-theater-at-the-fox/
Tools and equipment reported missing during restorationEquipment failures attributed to the resident ghostA presence nicknamed Otis reported by crews and tour groups
The Fox's ghost lore centers on a figure the restoration crews dubbed Otis. As the story circulates through Spokane ghost tours and the Spokane Public Library's haunted walking tour, construction workers during the early-2000s rebuild blamed Otis for vanishing tools, misplaced equipment, and gear that failed without explanation. Across the theater's lives as a live venue, second-run cinema, and symphony hall, the tale persists, usually framed as a man who died in a fall inside the building.
Like most theater hauntings, the Otis story is undocumented at its core. No death record, identity, or contemporary account has surfaced to confirm a fatal accident, and the name itself appears to have originated with the construction crew rather than any historical roster. The Fox's own histories and the National Register documentation make no mention of a ghost.
Visitors encounter the legend mainly through guided ghost tours rather than at the venue itself, which presents as a polished concert hall. The Otis story is best read as restoration-era crew folklore attached to a genuinely historic building.
Notable Entities
Otis, the restoration-era ghost of theater lore
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Guided Tour Booking Required
Spokane Symphony Performance
Attend a Spokane Symphony concert or other ticketed event to experience the restored 1931 auditorium, with its Art Deco detailing, balcony, and Anthony Heinsbergen interior.
- Duration:
- 2 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox family-friendly?
A family-friendly working concert hall. The Otis ghost story is light, restoration-era crew lore with no graphic content. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox?
Ticketed performances; exterior viewable any time. Ticket prices vary by event.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, reservations are required.
Is Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Accessible main floor; balcony reached by stairs..