Strand Theatre
3033 NW Seventh Avenue,
Miami,
FL
33127
3033 NW Seventh Avenue,
Miami,
FL
33127
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 81 comments
Al,
There was a Carver Theater on NW 7th Avenue close to the old Shell’s City Supermarket. This theater was circa 62nd Street. I believe the building is still there, but it has been re-done, and there is nothing left of the original building. During the time the theater was operating, the 62nd Street & NW 7th Avenue area was mostly white, so I don’t think this was an African American movie house. It suffered the same fate as the Capitol Theater. The Capitol was in a white neighborhood when it opened. Once I-95 was built, the Capitol, Carver, and The Strand, all went through a transition, eventually closing. From what I hear, the Capitol was a very nice theater.
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.
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.
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.
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
Could this have been the open-air Miami Beach Strand?
View link
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.
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.
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?
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
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?
Correction, The Mank did show films in 1926-1928 but was mostly legitimate theatre.
I just found some new information.
The downtown Strand in the photo above indeed predated this Strand and was operating in 1914.
The Park Theatre in this photo below was also known as the Mank theatre and did not show films.
View photo
I think this may have been an older, pre-1918 Strand. That same photo site also has a Star Theatre in Miami that I have never heard of.
The Center and Parkway are on CT already.
Al,
I just took a closer look and noticed that on the link that has the ad for “Weekend in Havana” that was playing at The Strand, there is also mention of a Center Theatre, the address is NW 1st Avenue, but it looks like the address is 6055, can’t really tell very well. Never heard of that one.
Also, the ad you have there was for 1941, it shows a Miami Theatre on E. Flagler and 3rd, very close to where the Miami that was built in 1947 was located. Not sure if you saw that. The map that Miami Guy posted showed a Miami Theatre, but if I remember correctly it was by the Town Theatre. The other long forgotten one was the Parkway on Coral Way, there is also an ad for that one too. The Parkway was around for quite a while, don’t know anything about it, but I do remember the name. If you have info on those theatres, perhaps they might be worth posting. I would, but have no clue what to put on there, maybe one of those movie year books you have may shed some light!
Al,
I have to wonder if this is why the Strand on NW 7th Avenue had the Seventh Avenue Theatre name for a few years. I wonder if the years coincide? This theatre must have been around in 1926 after the hurricane. According to your research, the Strand did not have that name for 12 years, and it was changed back to Strand in 38. Very possible this other “strand” was around at that time.
The address is North Miami Avenue and 1st street, so I have to assume it was NE 1st, or NW 1st? Funny it wasn’t on Flagler Street eh?
Thanks for the kind words, Louis.
Here is a 1941 Wometco Christmas ad with yet another “Havana” themed movie at the Strand.
View link
Al,
Wow! I am so happy that they changed the name on this URL to Strand Theatre! Finally! I was originally disappointed when they used the Sun Sun name, instead of the Strand. At the time when I first posted this theatre, I did not know how the theatres were listed. I was so thrilled when I was able to get the picture showing the name Strand, I always hoped that the name would be changed to The Strand instead of Sun Sun. Sun Sun was so short lived, and most who would search for this theatre would not use the Sun Sun name. I think that given the time this building has been around, keeping it’s original name, gives it the respect it deserves.
Al, I love your research. I am always nothing short of impressed with your information. I have learned much, and I am very appreciative of your efforts. I am glad that I happened to visit this website and found you. I think that you, Lost Memory, and Miami Guy post outstanding information. I have learned much, and I am very grateful. Thank you! Memories of days gone by are always happy thoughts, and all of you have brought me much happiness!
Louis, glad I am not the only one who enjoys these old ads.
The Tivoli was a Paramount (Sparks) Theatre until the early fifties but was apparently owned by the same guy after that. It advertised jointly with the Strand in The Herald when they both switched to Spanish language films in the late fifties. I guess there were no Spanish language newspapers in town yet and they most likely shared a film booker and not an owner.
Al,
This is priceless! Your research is fantabulous!!!! I also noted the ad for the Tivoli. That is the first ad ever that I have seen advertising the Tivoli. Good stuff, very good stuff!
This Christmas 1932 movie ad page includes a small Strand ad when operating as the new 7th Avenue.
View link
The library is at 101 West Flagler Street next to the Museums. You can park across the street at the Cultural Center parking lot. You get a $5.00 parking discount if you show a museum sticker. Otherwise it is $11.00 on weekdays.
http://www.hmsf.org/about-visit-museum.htm
If you bring a pen drive (memory stick) you can copy microfilm articles onto your drive for free as their viewers are actually connected to computers. I have some items on PDF that I will post when I figure out how to convert them to JPG.
This appears to be the only local library that has Miami Herald/Miami News microfilm going back to the early teens.
Al,
I think I am going to take a Friday and head down to the library and look around. Where is the Miami Library these days?
Louis,
I went to the Miami public library downtown and searched on microfilm. The Herald website articles do not go too far back. Sorry, no photos of the Strand but there were ads for live shows accompanying the movie and talent night competitions prior to the Wometco take over.
Regarding George Stegmeir’s post of July 10, 2006. I did find the BILTMORE located at 151 N.E. 40th Street and operating from 1921 to 1953.
An open air theatre at 79th street at 2nd Avenue may have been the RIALTO (1926). I had once heard it was mostly frequented by Seminole Indians and had a metal grate for a floor. It was allegedly intended to segregate the Seminoles out of the ROSETTA. When it rained, all hell broke loose as the crowd ran over to the indoor theatre demanding admission.
Al,
That’s amazing. 1918, so it was a silent movie house for at least 11 years. You said the talkies came out in the latter 20s, 1929, I believe.
I tried going on to the Miami Herald website to do a search on this, but I wasn’t able to find anything. Is there a special website where you find all this stuff? You never cease to amaze me with the stuff you find out! Great work. BTW, were there any pictures?