Strand Theatre
3033 NW Seventh Avenue,
Miami,
FL
33127
3033 NW Seventh Avenue,
Miami,
FL
33127
3 people
favorited this theater
The orginal name of this theatre was the Strand Theatre when it opened in 1918. In 1926 it became the 7th Avenue Theatre, then in 1938, reverted back to the Strand Theatre name.
In later years it became the Strand Art, an adult theatre, and then it was called the Sun-Sun Cinema, which I believe showed martial arts movies. For a short period prior to closing, it reverted back to the Stand Theatre name. The theatre is now used a church.
This theatre was the typical theatre seen in Miami throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. The entrance of the Strand Theatre looked a lot like the old Town Theatre in downtown Miami. On the outside neon lights decorated the theater marquee, and dead center were the words “Always 2 Features”.
Contributed by
Louis Jimenez
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 61 comments)
According to Boxoffice magazine, The Carver Theatre was also somewhere on NW 7th Avenue, had 1000 seats and plans were being made in 1976 to covert it to a live performance venue. It may have been a former “negro” house still operating in 1966-68. Does anyone have any more information?
Hi Everyone:
What a joy to read about the Strand Theater. I went to school at Buena Vista Elementary from 1954-58 and lived in the same neighborhood, within walking distance of the Stand, until 1964 when my family moved to California. Going to the Strand Theater on Saturday afternoons was a ritual and among my fondest childhood memories. As Russ stated in his comments above, it was wonderful: double feature, one hour cartoons, the serial, and all for 25 cents, including popcorn and a drink!
I saw so many films over those years and often wonder what year or month it was that I saw a specific movie. I know I can go to the Miami Herald and go through their archives but does anyone know of a better way of getting the weekly films that showed at the Strand in the 50s?
Over the years on my return trips to the Miami area I frequently drive around the neighborhood and drive by the Strand Theater.
I am grateful to George, Louis from Pompano, AAlvarez and others who have posted their comments here. I hope I can contribute my own comments in future postings.
Fermin from California
Fermin,
Great to hear from you. I had not been on the site for quite some time. The information you posted is fabulous. Do you remember if there was a stage at The Strand? Are you familiar with Dexter’s Roller rink that was next door? If so, what side of the Strand was it on as you face the theatre? Was the 5&10 across the street open at the time you were living there?
I have been scanning these old Miami News pages Mike Rivest has been posting on CT and found very little information on the Strand.
View link
What does seem apparent from the ads is that there were three Strands in the Miami market.
The first opened at the turn of the century at North Miami Avenue and First Street (then Avenue D and Eleventh)and operated until 1924 showing movies, fights and legitimate theatre.
The second was an open air theatre on Ocean Drive and tenth in Miami Beach that mostly showed movies in 1926-1927. This the year the Seventh Avenue Theatre, listed here, opened. It then became the Strand in 1938 when Wometco took over.
Al,
Funny you mention that. I got the reply on the Miami Theater thread yesterday and saw the Google newspaper archive search. First thing I did was look up the Strand, and like you did not find too much on it. I did see the open air theatre, and the North Miami Avenue address as well. Amazing 3 Strand Theaters in Miami.
I will try doing some searches with the name 7th Avenue theater and see what I come up with. I was hoping to find a picture. I have been searching for a picture of the Strand for quite some time, but haven’t had any luck.
Could this have been the open-air Miami Beach Strand?
View link
Dear BMC and others: What a shame, I have not been on the site for a while but I was in Miami on a recent business trip and as is my custom I drove by the Strand Theater and the old neighborhood. I walked up to the entrance and wished I could go in to see it once more. I am going to call the Mission office in a couple of weeks when I return to Miami and they will allow me to go inside. I will take a photo and post it, assuming it is not too heartbreaking. Also, does anyone know of a way to obtain a listing of the movies played at the Strand, say during the 50s, week by week? If that does not exist, I am going to put that list together somehow and post it here for anyone interested. certain films and
Glad you posted!
I think you may find the movie list through the Miami Herald newspaper. I know that the Strand when it was part of Wometco advertised in the newspaper, I would suspect that this wouldn’t be too difficult to obtain. During the 50s it was named Strand, during the earlier years it was once known as the 7th Ave Theater.
Like you, I was tempted to contact the church that is there now to try to get some pictures of the inside. The problem is their hours are somewhat difficult for me. I live in Pompano Beach, which is about an hour north. When I am in the Miami area, this church is never open. I imagine you saw the gate and the church doors they added to the entrance. I was elated to find that the movie poster cases are still where they always were.
Given the way the building is laid out from the outside. I have to assume that the theater seats either faced north or south, the building’s larger diameter is north south, where the east west is not as big. When you enter the theater through the doors you are heading in an easterly direction, so once in, I assume the patron had to either turn right or left to get into the area where the movies played.
Well after several years of research I finally was able to locate some pictures of the inside of the Strand Theater. The theater is now a church, however pictures were taken during the renovation process. The good news is, the old theater floor plan has remained unchanged, for the most part. The lobby appears to be the section that had more extensive renovations.
I am hoping to someday find a picture of the original facade of the theater. I have posted on many “old Miami” websites asking for pictures. Hopefully someone has one somewhere. It would be nice to have an original exterior picture of the theater so it will be available for all to enjoy.
Almost forgot. The theater was at one time called the Strand Stag Theater. In 1970 the company that owned the theater, Little Beaver Inc. was taken to court on obscenity charges. Back then a XXX rating got you in court. Apparently some films were confiscated and the owners went to court to get them back. A google search will reveal some of the case synopsis for those who are interested.