Biscayne Plaza Theatre

206 South Pointe Drive,
Miami Beach, FL 33139

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Wometco Theatres

Architects: George E.T. Wells

Styles: Spanish Baroque

Previous Names: Plaza Theatre

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Article

The 1,500-seat Plaza Theatre opened November 25, 1926 with Jean Hersholt in “The Old Soak”. During construction a Kimball organ was being installed but it was water damaged during a September hurricane, and had to be returned to the Kimball factory. A new Kimball 14-unit organ was on order, but had not arrived for the opening night. Organist Blanche Keil Rogers (originally from Atlanta, GA) played piano with the theatre orchestra on opening night and until the new organ was installed several weeks later. The Biscayne Plaza Theatre was second theatre to be built in Miami Beach. The theatre was designed by architect George E.T. Wells of Miami. It was located on Biscayne Street (now known as South Pointe Drive) between Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.

My family moved to Miami Beach in 1953 and I remember seeing this theatre from the outside only. The Biscayne Plaza Theatre had closed its doors by then, for that part of South Beach had deteriorated. It was demolished in 1959.

Contributed by Bob Berg

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

bbin3d
bbin3d on September 21, 2004 at 2:28 pm

The address for this theatre should be 206 Biscayne Street.

miamiguy
miamiguy on July 4, 2007 at 2:12 pm

A note for anyone trying to find this location on a map —“Biscayne Street” in Miami Beach has been renamed “South Point Drive.”

I assume they renamed it so it wouldn’t conflict with “Biscayne Blvd” over in Miami.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on March 30, 2009 at 4:32 pm

The Biscayne Plaza closed in 1951. It was renamed Plaza when Wometco took it over in 1935.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on April 3, 2009 at 11:03 am

Article on Biscayne Plaza opening in 1926.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on October 14, 2009 at 8:12 am

According to Boxoffice Magazine, this location was demolished in 1959.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on January 16, 2010 at 11:12 am

Mike, that paper has two other interesting finds.

The First is the re-opening of the Fotosho which had been torn down and rebuilt that year on the same spot. The second is the ad for the Cameo in Allapattah which I had never heard of.

The Riviera mentioned in the copy was in Homestead.

aeterna
aeterna on December 28, 2015 at 9:35 am

A very good shot of the Biscayne from the “Images of America” series (p.41) By the marquee, this was taken September/Fall of ‘27.

https://books.google.com/books?id=rn8eemVio40C

rivest266
rivest266 on January 23, 2020 at 3:36 pm

1926 was a very big year for theatre openings in Miami with 10!.

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