Foxs Jail House restaurant, Indianapolis, Indiana, circa 1935

Description: Frank Fox and family opened their new Foxs Jail House restaurant and bar in 1933. The jail-themed business was located just east of downtown on the southeast corner of East Washington Street and Highland Avenue. This view of the interior looking in from the entrance shows a faux cinder block decoration onthe walls and booths inside cages to mimic jail cells.One can only speculate if Foxs sold a little alcohol during Prohibition (1919-33), but shortly around the time it ended, the family unveiled their new cinder-block building that housed Foxs Jail House at 1205-13 E. Washington Street. The jail theme aimed to appeal to a 1930s public fascinated with gangsters and John Dillinger on the loose. Signs advertise soda, candy, beer, steaks & chops, and Lunch Banquet Ice Cream (made one block south). Neon signs in the windows promote Falls City Beer, Falls City On Tap, Sterling Beer, Kamms Beer, and Anheuser-Busch On Draught.The jail house theme lasted about ten years, but by the 1940s the family redecorated in a much more upscale manner and was known as Foxs Steak House. (See Object ID # ia-0021-0697 for a later view).
Origin: 1935, circa
Source: http://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/EB440A6B-CE3F-49AB-BC69-741484289810
Collection: Indiana Album
Rights: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Geography: 1205-13 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States
Subjects: Evan Finch Collection
Restaurants
Indianapolis (Ind.)
Marion County (Ind.)

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