Well, here’s some interesting news for you —there were actually TWO “Miami” theaters!
Miami Theatre…145 E. Flagler (the newer one)
Miami Theater…265 E. Flagler (the older one)
Look at this Miami map from 1938 which shows the “Miami Theater” on the CORNER of E. Flagler Street & N.E. 3rd.
Compare that with Bryan Krefft’s photo link above which shows the Miami Theatre with “Cowen’s” to the right of it instead of on the corner!
Also, the 1949 Miami Telephone Book lists the Miami Theatre at 145 E. Flagler St., whereas the above map’s index lists the Miami Theater at 265 E. Flagler.
Here’s something interesting I found. This Miami map is supposed to be from 1938.
It shows that the “Town Theater” on Flagler and N.E. 3rd was originally the “Miami Theater” (apparently not the one built in 1947, but and earlier one), and the “Florida Theater” across from Walgreens’s was originally the “Rex Theater,” which I’ve never heard of before.
I figure this photo was taken in the 1920s because of the marquee’s “The Four Horsemen” (of the Apocalypse) which was a silent movie from 1921 by Metro Pictures.
(Also notice the REX Theater toward the west end of that block. I’d never heard of this one before.)
The link for that article I posted has changed…here’s the updated one…Beach Theatre in Miami Beach. If I can get a photo of the new restaurant’s interior, I’ll post that too.
Interesting historical note: The Lincoln Theatre’s marquee originally contained over a thousand pounds of satin finished aluminum, but it was removed in 1942 and sent to Uncle Sam for the War effort. It was replaced with baked enamel.
There’s at least one photo around that shows the original aluminum marquee —I think it was taken at the premier of “Stage Coach” in 1939.
It came from what’s left of an old advertising brochure I bought at Art Deco Weekend a few years ago. It was probably put out by the City of Miami Beach in the 1930s, but the cover is gone, so I can’t tell for sure.
The Sheridan sure was a gorgeous theatre. It reminds me of the Marlin hotel in South Beach.
Here’s a good photo of the Sheridan Theatre in Miami Beach. The marquee shows Edward G. Robinson’s “The Last Gangster,” so this photo is from around 1938.
The Kentucky Theater was converted to retail space in the early ‘70s. The theater was completely demolished and the space was taken over by an ajoining department store called “The Hub,” which is now also closed.
The theater had a classic “theater” design with a stand-alone ticket booth, long up-sloping lobby and a balcony.
My aunt used to be the “ticket girl” at the Virginia Theater in Somerset. I don’t know what year she started working there (probably way before I was born), but from about 1955-59 my cousins and I saw every Randolph Scott movie that was ever made in this theater. I also remember seeing the Big E’s “Jailhouse Rock” when it first came out.
On Saturday’s the local radio station used to do a live “Man on the Street” broadcast from in front of the Virginia Theater.
This theater also had a small stage and I remember seeing at least one live show that came on between movies. Only happened once, though —it wasn’t a standard thing.
I remember my aunt saying that this theater was owned by a prominent local family, but I can’t recall the name.
There was another theater about three blocks away that I believe was called the “Kentucky Theater.” It had a black front facade that I now assume was Vitrolite.
And I also remember my uncle telling me that there was one more VERY old theater that was already gone (fire?) by the middle 1950’s that was behind the Kentucky Theater.
Yep, that’s the Flamingo. It’s now a very cool nightclub called “Set” operated by the same company that operates “Mansion” in the former Cinema Theatre.
Yes, it was “1235” for a while —you can catch it briefly in one 1985 episode of Miami Vice. When Prince owned it, it was called “Glam Slam.” It’s been a nightclub since approximately 1980.
Up through its days as “Level” the interior was still a beautiful art deco theme, but the current club operator really chopped it up. It looks nothing like its original art deco styling.
Here’s a lobby view of the Miami
And the Miami Theatre’s ticket booth
I haven’t found a main room/screen view yet, but if I get lucky and find one I’ll post it.
I think the Miami was an absolutely beautiful theater.
Dixie Theatre
222 NE 1st Avenue
Well, here’s some interesting news for you —there were actually TWO “Miami” theaters!
Miami Theatre…145 E. Flagler (the newer one)
Miami Theater…265 E. Flagler (the older one)
Look at this Miami map from 1938 which shows the “Miami Theater” on the CORNER of E. Flagler Street & N.E. 3rd.
Compare that with Bryan Krefft’s photo link above which shows the Miami Theatre with “Cowen’s” to the right of it instead of on the corner!
Also, the 1949 Miami Telephone Book lists the Miami Theatre at 145 E. Flagler St., whereas the above map’s index lists the Miami Theater at 265 E. Flagler.
This Miami map from 1938 shows the “Rex Theater” on East Flagler Street, and the map’s index lists the address for the Rex as “207 E. Flagler St.”
So, I’m wondering if the Florida wasn’t an expansion or a re-build of the original Rex Theater?
Here’s something interesting I found. This Miami map is supposed to be from 1938.
It shows that the “Town Theater” on Flagler and N.E. 3rd was originally the “Miami Theater” (apparently not the one built in 1947, but and earlier one), and the “Florida Theater” across from Walgreens’s was originally the “Rex Theater,” which I’ve never heard of before.
Here’s the Fairfax Theater, Miami, Florida
“The Fairfax was renamed the Paramount”
Al, that’s exactly what I was wondering as I was reading down through these comments.
Maybe this will help shed some more light on it: Here’s a map of downtown Miami businesses from the 1930s-1940s(?). Miami Map
The top of the map is west, and the bottom is east toward Biscayne Bay. About half way down you can see the block that says…
Paramount Theater
Fairfax HOTEL
Miami Theater
And here’s the Fairfax Theater, Miami, Florida
I figure this photo was taken in the 1920s because of the marquee’s “The Four Horsemen” (of the Apocalypse) which was a silent movie from 1921 by Metro Pictures.
(Also notice the REX Theater toward the west end of that block. I’d never heard of this one before.)
The photo link I posted has changed, here’s the updated one for the Sheridan Theatre in Miami Beach.
The link for that article I posted has changed…here’s the updated one…Beach Theatre in Miami Beach. If I can get a photo of the new restaurant’s interior, I’ll post that too.
The first time I ever saw “Casablanca” was at the Silver Screen. I can still remember how striking the movie’s opening music sounded in that theatre.
Interesting historical note: The Lincoln Theatre’s marquee originally contained over a thousand pounds of satin finished aluminum, but it was removed in 1942 and sent to Uncle Sam for the War effort. It was replaced with baked enamel.
There’s at least one photo around that shows the original aluminum marquee —I think it was taken at the premier of “Stage Coach” in 1939.
It came from what’s left of an old advertising brochure I bought at Art Deco Weekend a few years ago. It was probably put out by the City of Miami Beach in the 1930s, but the cover is gone, so I can’t tell for sure.
The Sheridan sure was a gorgeous theatre. It reminds me of the Marlin hotel in South Beach.
Here’s a good photo of the Sheridan Theatre in Miami Beach. The marquee shows Edward G. Robinson’s “The Last Gangster,” so this photo is from around 1938.
…[chuckle]…
As Al pointed out, “anti-Castro” is putting it mildly.
More Tower Theatre info here.
“When it opened in December of 1926, it was Robdendon Corporation’s newest theater and cost $110,000.”
“On October 3, 1931 the Tower Theater re-opened following extensive remodeling under the leadership of renowned architect Robert Law Weed.”
The Kentucky Theater was converted to retail space in the early ‘70s. The theater was completely demolished and the space was taken over by an ajoining department store called “The Hub,” which is now also closed.
The theater had a classic “theater” design with a stand-alone ticket booth, long up-sloping lobby and a balcony.
“Miami Beach’s Long-Gone Lincoln Road Movie Theater”
Community Theatre
1007 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach
(decent photo, too)
Hot off the press: Beach Theatre is becoming a TAO Restaurant & Lounge…story here…Miami Beach
My aunt used to be the “ticket girl” at the Virginia Theater in Somerset. I don’t know what year she started working there (probably way before I was born), but from about 1955-59 my cousins and I saw every Randolph Scott movie that was ever made in this theater. I also remember seeing the Big E’s “Jailhouse Rock” when it first came out.
On Saturday’s the local radio station used to do a live “Man on the Street” broadcast from in front of the Virginia Theater.
This theater also had a small stage and I remember seeing at least one live show that came on between movies. Only happened once, though —it wasn’t a standard thing.
I remember my aunt saying that this theater was owned by a prominent local family, but I can’t recall the name.
There was another theater about three blocks away that I believe was called the “Kentucky Theater.” It had a black front facade that I now assume was Vitrolite.
And I also remember my uncle telling me that there was one more VERY old theater that was already gone (fire?) by the middle 1950’s that was behind the Kentucky Theater.
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.
A better photo is here
Yep, that’s the Flamingo. It’s now a very cool nightclub called “Set” operated by the same company that operates “Mansion” in the former Cinema Theatre.
Couple of current interior photos…
View link
You know, it’s really hard to believe that someone didn’t have the forethought to photograph the lobbys of all these theatres.
About halfway down this page there’s a close-up of one of the figures on the Colony Theatre’s silver entry doors…
View link
(It’s been a nightclub since approximately 1980.)
Correction: Make that “a nightclub since 1983.”
Yes, it was “1235” for a while —you can catch it briefly in one 1985 episode of Miami Vice. When Prince owned it, it was called “Glam Slam.” It’s been a nightclub since approximately 1980.
Up through its days as “Level” the interior was still a beautiful art deco theme, but the current club operator really chopped it up. It looks nothing like its original art deco styling.
A shame, really.
The Cinema was a club called “Level” for a few years. In this photo taken from the balcony you can see the left side stairs and part of the stage…
View link