Strand Theater

There were a number of other theatres in Key West in the years 1978-80. I remember a small movie theatre on the other side of Duvall St. where I saw The Rocky Picture Horror Show. There was another historical theatre on Duvall St. whose name I can’t remember but we called it the Cuban Opera House with an austere interior where I saw Phyllis Diller perform live after it had been closed for many years. There was a movie theatre on N. Roosevelt Blvd. in the Searstown shopping mall. There was the Greene Street Theatre where plays were performed. I saw a wonderful performance of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire there. The Greene Street Theatre moved from Greene St. to the Navy Base off of Whitehead St. and featured plays like Cabaret and A Thousand Clowns (in which I was involved.) The Red Barn Theatre opened during this time on Duvall St. which featured plays. I saw the single most hilarious performance I’ve ever seen there which was an evening of scenes from Shakespeare’s tragediesâ€"not meant to be funnyâ€"with a rowdy audience. There was a theatre on Front St. which performed plays. And finally a beautiful, modern theatre opened in 1980 as The Tennessee Williams’ Art Center on Stock Island adjacent to Key West at the Community College where Tennessee Williams donated an old play of his to be performed for the opening titled Will Mr. Merriweather Return From Memphis? (never before performed.) I met Tennessee Williams’ there during the auditions and again later for a follow up audition at his home on Duncan St. I was in Key West in 1983 when Tennessee Williams died and attended a memorial service for him at this theatre where locals reminisced about him, a number of them falling down drunk. Ah, Key West.

Hollywood, I don’t understand what you typed. You have more photos of the Strand when it was a club, but you don’t want to post them because the Strand burned when it was a club perhaps? What are the photos? Any interior photos from when it was a theater?

Such a shame that this theatre didn’t remain a theatre rather than another Walgreens. Was this the only theatre in Key West?

I used to work at the Strand back in the early 90’s when it was a nightclub (quiet as its kept I used to live there temporaily). Famous reggae bands used to perform there and 2 legendary Female Impersonators Ms. Tiffany Arieagus a former Miss Continental http://gay-guide.com/tiffany/intro.htm (whom inspired me to be who I am today). and Ms. Coco Vega View link who does a fab Pattie Labelle, also a local favorite at the time Ms. Sasha Sterling who won the Miss Copa pageant I hear that club is gone too. I was planning a trip back to Key West and found this website about the Strand. I cant believe they sold it to Ripleys and now Walgreens. Well at least the La Te Da is still open for sunday tea dances. by the way the “catwalk” was how u got to the dj booth if I remember correctly. Just so yall know the Strand was a “straight” nightclub who just happend to have a gay manager who liked to have drag shows once in awhile afterall Key West used to be the Gay Capitol back in tha day.

Peace! Jazi:)

ken: Yes, better half than none and the exterior was beautifully restored so that’s a good thing.

Better half than none.

I was in the theater back in january, yes the floor was definitely leveled off. That may have already been done for the Ripleys. The opening comments are no longer accurate, as there are no wooden floors (it’s just standard white linoleum tiles like any store has), and I there’s no “lobby” anymore or original tiles that were in the lobby unfortunately. The ceiling is high, but it’s just plain regular drop ceiling tiles, and florecent lighting (like you would see in any store). There is a balcony in the back, with a railing around it, and that is opened to the windows out front, allowing natural daylight into the “store” from above. The back of the store has been opened up to the stage area, and that has a lower normal heigh ceiling. Little if any original elements of the theater interior survive.
The outside has been beautifully restored, but there is little left on the interior.

At night:
http://tinyurl.com/qxnwj

Bway: It’s been a long time since my post and yours so it was good to see a recent photo of the Strand and your on site visual report. The Walgreens sign appears to have been nicely done and does seem to be color coordinated with the former Strand colors, but I do wish it were still……a theatre! Am glad that Walgreens chose to keep the original theatre facade, but perhaps a Key West historical group told them they had to do so.

I wonder how the Walgreens Drugstore (former Strand) weathered Wilma?

THIS theatre with its colorful facade should have been purchased. Someone should have organized a Friends of the Strand like in other communities that go forward to save old theatres. The fact that this theatre was allowed to get into the hands of Ripley’s Believe It or Not and then into the hands of Walgreens was an absolute CRIME! The folks of Key West should hang their heads in shame!

Donna Merritt: My father, Iggy Carbonell, owned and ran the Strand. I have such fond memories of the Old Strand. Even when Rippley’s brought it they tore down some of the beautiful Spanish tile that was part of the ticket booth and the fountain in the lobby by the candy counter. Thanks to everyone who have said such wonderful things about the Strand. I also will never forget the William Gambles Jewlery neon clock down below the curtain. Donna Merrit would that be formerly Brazil?
Coni Carbonell

Drive in theatre is movie theatre. Why would you want to exclude them from here. That is just discrimination and I very much loathe discrimination in any form. Any type of theatre should be welcome here this not only for some elite people.