Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse
300 Brevard Avenue,
Cocoa,
FL
32922
300 Brevard Avenue,
Cocoa,
FL
32922
1 person
favorited this theater
The Aladdin Theatre opened on August 18, 1924. Several owners and several decades later, the building was purchased by the City of Cocoa and renamed the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse. The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1991
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Large historic photo at this link:
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Listing should be updated to Italian Renaissance style. P. Thornton Marye, architect. 4 stories. Concrete slab foundation. Flat ceramic roof. Restored in the 1980s to its original appearance.
This theater may have also been called the State theater. I found the following:
Cocoa Village Playhouse
“Built in 1924, the Aladdin Theatre was constructed in the Italian Renaissance style popular during that era. In the 1940’s the theatre was a movie house known as the State Theatre. Today, the Cocoa Village Playhouse, restored to its original beauty, is host to many plays and musical productions”.
Seen in exterior shots in the film Matinee.
That is correct lostmemory;
Listed as the State Theatre in Film Daily Yearbooks that I have 1941-1950 editions.
Operated as the State Theatre during the 1940’s by Paramount Pictures Inc through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks.
Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1991
Aladdin Theater (added 1991 – Building – #91001541)
Also known as Cocoa Village Playhouse;8BR282
300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Bower,W.H., Marye,P. Thornton
Architectural Style: Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Other
Area of Significance: Architecture, Social History, Performing Arts, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: State
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
In 2002, InterAmerica Stage, Inc. was contracted to provide a new stage rigging system, including all required structural additions and reinforcements. TLC engineering was engaged by IAstage to provide the engineering services. A new operating gallery/loading bridge along with grid and head steel additions were required to install a counterweight fly system. IAstage also provided rigging for the FOH lighting trusses. The main drape is very attractive, it looks like a Contour or Austrian curtain but is actually flown in and out as a guillotine. The curtain was designed and manufactured at IAstage’s shop in Sanford.
http://iastage.com/historical_renovations
what an awesome theatre !!!! i was part of the “Village Players” in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s.
we did Jesus Christ Superstar in 1978/79 for 2 years in a row & it was a sell out on all its runs.
that show really got the ball rolling again for the playhouse.
the next thing we did was West Side Story in 1980.
i’d love to share memories with anyone about those shows etc…
An earlier comment said the theater was restored to its original appearance. I was in the theater this past weekend and the only decorative elements in the auditorium are the proscenium and then another arch further into the auditorium on the other side of what might have been organ screens. The rest of the theater was painted a light color and there were no other visible decorations. I would suspect that the original 1924 appearance would have included more decoration. I have not been able to find any pictures of the interior of the auditorium.
According to www.historiccocoavillage.com/history.php?mod=601 during the 60’s this theater was the Fine Arts.
The City of Cocoa sold the theater for $1 to Brevard Community College in 1984 for $1.
Is there any infromation on the organ that might have been in this theater?
Operated as the State Theatre from 1940 thru 1964.