Lake Worth Playhouse
713 Lake Avenue,
Lake Worth,
FL
33460
713 Lake Avenue,
Lake Worth,
FL
33460
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing all 16 comments
Street view notes: This LWP marquee is fairly new, installed in recent years. To the left, a little bit of the Stonzek Studio Theatre (still in use as a digital minicinema and occasional live stage space) may be seen.
Scanning the Palm Beach Post/Google archives, I’ve seen frequent references to an art/adult cinema, the Capri, “in the heart of Lake Worth.” Does anyone know if LWP previously had this alias?
The Oakley Theater is listed in 1940 with 575 seats.
1981 Photo
This is a nice 2009 photo.
Films (albeit digitally projected) have returned to the Lake Worth Playhouse. Its adjoining Stonzek Studio Theatre (opened 1995, looks like converted retail space) joined the Emerging Cinemas network, presenting current arthouse fare daily. A black box space with 48 seats, reminiscent of cine clubs and college film programs past.
Occasional special event screenings are being scheduled for Lake Worth Playhouse’s mainstage. They’re filling a void left by the demises of the Carefree/The Theatre, once the Palm Beaches' alt fare mainstays.
One goal of their post-hurricane restoration has been accomplished: they have their beautiful new marquee completed.
Ed: I’m also a good internet friend with Karen Noonan, THSA (Theatre Historical Society of America) president.
Ed: If you go to my profile page, you’ll find my email address.
Ed: Thanks so much for replying to my organ inquiry. I’m not an organ society member, but do know several who are with MTOS (Metrolina Theatre Organ Society) in the Charlotte NC area. So sorry to hear about the Playhouse roof damage caused by hurricanes in FL as many theatres were destroyed or damaged along the MS coast and in N.O. If you go to the Sunrise Theatre CT link, you’ll learn about the restored 1923 theatre in Ft. Pierce FL. A good friend of mine sent me the 1/15/07 Palm Beach Post article as I didn’t realize this theatre ever existed. A member by the name of Paul Noble contributed the Sunrise to the CT list of theatres. Thank you Paul.
Hi Patsy,
I music directed a couple shows there recently. I’m the one trying to find out for the theatre because they don’t know. It was a Wurlizer Piano Console (someone in American Theatre Organ Society told me that)…they even know the Opus number of it (I have that info here somewhere). They’re trying to restore the theatre but they suffered damage from the hurricane this year and last so money had to be diverted to roof repairs, etc.
Website is www.lakeworthplayhouse.org
Ed
It was a Wurlitzer though….made in N. Tonawanda NY!
EdK: I will be sending an email to the General Manager of the Lake Worth Playhouse and hopefully this person can provide some organ information.
EdK: I don’t, but I hope someone can tell us!
Does anybody know what happened to the organ?
Thanks Ed
Interesting story about the Oakley brothers, Clarence and Lucian who once owned the Oakley which had a Wurlitzer organ AND live orchestra! It’s too bad that neither the former Oakley and/or the former Lake Theatre which is now PBICA (Palm Beach Insitute of Contemporary Art)don’t exist today!
Can’t seem to bring up the Lake Worth Playhouse official site.
While looking through FL theatres I don’t see the restored Lyric Theatre listed. It is in Stewart FL.