'Phantom of the Fox Theatre' Dies

ATLANTA, GA -- Joe Patten, 89, who lived inside the Fox Theatre in Midtown Atlanta for more than 30 years, died on Thursday.

Patten died two weeks after suffering a stroke. His family took him off life support at Emory University Hospital, according to the AJC.

Patten was a longtime caretaker and advocate for the Fox. Called the "Phantom of the Fox" by supporters, Patten, in 2011, was threatened with eviction last year by Atlanta Landmarks Inc., which owns and operates the Fox. Patten responded with a lawsuit.

The lawsuit was later settled, and Patten was allowed to remain at the Fox.

Patten lived at the Fox for more than 30 years and has twice saved the theatre from destruction.

From the Facebook page dedicated to Patten:

Joe Patten first came to Fox Theatre in the 1960s as a volunteer, working long hours at his own expense to restore the theatre's incredible Mighty Mo organ (the second largest theatre organ in the U.S.).

When the theatre was threatened with destruction in the early '70s, Joe led the campaign to Save the Fox; a massive citywide effort to keep the historic theatre operational for the enjoyment of all of Atlanta and beyond.

Joe has been restoring the Fox as its technical director and caretaker ever since. To reward him for his hard work and to have someone on hand to protect the building who knew its every nook and cranny, Joe was asked to move in! He built his apartment, at his own expense, in an unused part of the building that had once been office and storage space and given a lifetime lease to live there.

In 1996, Joe saved the Fox once again, this time from an early morning fire that threatened to ravage the building.

Patten lived in a renovated office space inside the Fox for more than 35 years.

He spent his childhood in Lakeland, Fla., where he became fascinated with organs — something that proved useful to the Fox. In 1963, he talked the theater’s management into letting him recondition the pipe organ for free if they provided the materials.

Eleven years later, he was on staff as the Fox’s technical director. He formed Atlanta Landmarks as a nonprofit in 1974 to oversee the Fox, which was in line to be demolished to make way for the former Southern Bell.

Image: Patch file photo