Carib Theatre

I just passed by this place yesterday—always wondered what it was… I thought that it was a former theatre—Miami Beach and the beach cities are littered with former theatres—all mostly converted into shopping of some sort—so I googled it. And found some information, including the “shopping mall” floor plan. It matches the current facade; very 70’s. I’ve lived in Miami Beach for 22y. And it was always covered and noted as “American Trade Center”. Now even that is boarded-over! (The current owner is still noted as “American Trade Center” and not for sale! But they’re paying the $90k in annual taxes. And it closed nearly 30y ago!)

Sad that the wonderful ‘underwater’ architecture was totally demolished. (supposing by the latest floorplan). Maybe someday I can sneak into that very-well boarded-up building!

I doubt it, Luis. It was a mini-mall for years.

Grand opening ad (for this theatre and the West Hollywood Drive-In) is at View link

Here are new links to old Carib photos;

View link
View link

Does anybody have a clue as to the condition of the hulk?This is clearly the largest theater space sitting in Miami Beach.

Following is some descriptive copy from Theatre Catalog: “Easily one of the finest theatres erected in 1950, the 2,200-seat Carib was opened December 22, in one of the city’s most fashionable shopping districts. As such, it commands an excellent admission scale…In keeping with its name and location, a Caribbean theme prevails throughout the theatre. The front bears a huge map of the area done in raised porcelain, the open-air patio-foyer has a tropical atmosphere, and the auditorium is designed with a distinct under-sea motif…From the large main foyer, where a wide candy bar is situated, an escalator moves upward toward the mezzanine. This is enclosed with glass in the front to afford a full view of the patio-foyer entrance, wherein are found flagstone walls and floors, a huge antique mirror, and flying birds made of plexiglas…There is a television lounge on the second floor and another set in the foyer…In the auditorium, the cartouche design on either side of the proscenium arch signifies a floating sheet with mystic designs of undersea life and is made of plexiglas and ornamental plaster with indirect lighting. The proscenium arch has bases of Octopus-design which, when indirectly lighted, make the proscenium appear to float in mid-air.”…The Carib apparently did not have full stage facilities. The area behind the screen is simply described as “platform”…The orchestra floor has three wide sections of seats, but curiously, only the center section continues to the rear. About two-thirds of the way back, the left and right sections suddenly divide into two sections with a center aisle. The seats in those four rear sections also appear to be different from the reset of the orchestra seats.

There is an entire chapter devoted to the Carib theater in the book Miami Beach: Blueprint of an Eden, published by Feierabend Unique Books, Nov-Dec, 2005. Available on Amazon.

An photo of the front of the Carib Theatre was printed in the New York Sunday Times Magazine of October 9th. The 1959 film The Best of Everything, with Joan Crawford and Hope Lange, appears on the marquee.

The marquees of the Carib, Miami, and Miracle Theatres can be seen in a “bonus” DVD packaged with the recent RCA Bluebird CD, “Glenn Miller: The Centennial Collection.” The B&W film clip is taken from a Universal newsreel covering the 1954 premiere of “The Glenn Miller Story,” which was attended by James Stewart, star of the movie.

Growing up in Miami,I often attended this beautiful theatre as a child. I remember the lush tropical lobby garden complete with running streams and parrots. The auditorium was spectacular with rocking chair seats and lighted maps of the Caribbean on the walls. It had a giant screen to show CinemaScope films (mostly 20th FOX films). You can catch a glimpse of this beautiful theatre’s marquee in a featurette that is included on one of the DVD’s in the first Marilyn Monroe box set. I believe its at the premiere of THE GLENN MILLER STORY. I think the Carib (I believe it was built in 1950) was the most beautiful theatre on Lincoln Road.

Bob

Bob