Starting with the readily available p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene 2, tert-butyl groups are removed by $AlCl_3$-catalyzed de-alkylation reaction, and the calix[4]arene 3 formed is converted to the tetraacetate 4. This compound undergoes Fries rearrangement to yield p-acetylcalix[4]arene 6, which seems to be an attractive starting material for the introduction of functional groups. As a preliminary experiment p-(1-hydroxyethyl)calix[4]arene 7 is prepared by LiAlH$_4$ reduction of 6.