Garden Theatre

160 W. Plant Street,
Winter Garden, FL 34787

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Related Websites

Garden Theatre - Winter Garden (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Floyd Theaters

Styles: Atmospheric, Mediterranean Revival

Previous Names: Winter Garden Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 407.877.4736

Nearby Theaters

News About This Theater

New Picture of Garden Theatre Interior

Located in Winter Garden, Florida, the Garden Theatre was built and opened in 1935 as a 300 seat movie house. By 1956 it was operated by Floyd Theaters. It was shuttered in 1963. After being gutted and utilized as a warehouse for almost 40 years, the city of Winter Garden acquired the building, and has donated it to the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation for renovation.

The theater reopened February 1, 2008 as a 299-seat performing arts venue which also screened classic movies. It was suddenly closed in early-October 2024 due to severe financial problems. It is hoped a new tenant can be found.

Contributed by Irv Lipscomb

Recent comments (view all 43 comments)

Patsy
Patsy on July 24, 2010 at 10:12 pm

I received 2 CT notices tonight…one was the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden FL and the other was the former Winter Garden Theatre in Jamestown NY.

irvl
irvl on August 24, 2010 at 12:37 pm

A 1949 picture of this theatre, when it was known as the Winter Garden Theatre, is at this link:
View link

irvl
irvl on October 5, 2010 at 10:27 am

Picture of film being projected on the Garden Theatre’s screen, October 2, 2010 View link

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 25, 2011 at 4:51 pm

Saw a picture of the Garden Theatre in a recent Retirement Magazine. It was included in an article full of accolades about Winter Garden as a premiere retirement city. It stated that the theater had been restored, which I first thought was a typo for remodeled. Since the exterior didn’t look too much like something from the 30's. But after seeing the various pictures posted, and the disaster it looked like in the late80’s, I’d say they did a fantastic job. The only detail I would have changed, was installing the two adjacent storefront doors at either end of their respective window treatments. Like the 1949 picture above seems to have them situated. Might have been overlooked, or not consistent with current codes.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on July 4, 2011 at 12:28 pm

Here is my picture from June 2011.

irvl
irvl on March 28, 2013 at 12:04 pm

Check out the new photo I just submitted showing a movie projected on the screen.

irvl
irvl on November 2, 2024 at 7:42 am

Very unfortunately, the Garden Theatre closed abruptly in early October, 2024. The management and board cited severe financial problems The building is owned by the City of Winter Garden, and the city manager has stated that the theatre will return. Stay tuned.

Patsy
Patsy on November 2, 2024 at 8:18 am

We shall all stay tuned. How did this beloved theatre end up with “severe financial problems”? Who was the CFO?

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