Arthur C. Fox began Fox Photo as a small studio based in San Antonio, Texas. The studio would end up being purchased by a Canadian individual named Carl Newton for just $700 in the 1900s. During this period, amateur photography was still in its infancy and was only beginning to show broader adoption. Fast forward to the 1920s, and Newton’s $700 investment would grow exponentially, becoming one of the world’s largest mail order photofinishing businesses.
Fox Photo was acquired and also ended up merging a few times and was renamed to Fox-Stanley Photo Products, Inc. in the 1960s. Besides the various retail stores, the chain also managed several photofinishing plants for many well-known retailers based in the United States such as Walgreens, Walmart, and Target. The one-hour photo processing booths skyrocketed in popularity and they even managed to cement their place in history by making an appearance in the Academy Award-winning 1985 film Back to the Future starring Michael J. Fox.
Fox Photo has ceased to exist, but there is no denying its impact on popular photography.
This update is by Robert V. Glaser. Glaser is an industry veteran with decades of experience in banking, private equity, and more. His experience includes his many years working for global manager of alternative investment products Investcorp and he also dedicates his time to various charitable causes including YoungArts Foundation, Chapman Partnership, and more. You can learn more about Robert by visiting the Robert V. Glaser Business or Robert V. Glaser Giving websites.