This board really needs a private message function. There is a lot of outstanding information posted, some are with questions regarding the theatres, which is fine, but space consuming. It would be nice if the questions could be asked in private, which will allow only the theatre information to be posted. Discussions are great, we all learn a lot from them, but at times they can distract from the subject of the theatre.
Thank you for the referral. Dick was a wealth of information. He was able to shed a light on the Dade and Regent theatres of Allapatah. In addition he provided me with some information that was valuable in understanding delays before and after WWII, when it came to building.
I have posted the information he provided on the threads that pertain to those 2 theatres. We are still looking for more information on the Strand, hopefully some more folks who are familiar with it will find their way here!
Just had an email correspondence with a guy who is familiar with both the Dade & Regent’s theates of the Allapatah area.
The Dade was completed after WWII. The theatre was just east of the old Western Auto store on NW 36th Street. Apparently the theatre has large seats able to accomodate 2 people or as they put it “larger patrons”. Given the ample seats, the Dade was a very popular place with the younger kids who frequented the theatre on weekends. As I understand it, it was a very popular place to take a date!
This theatre was very short lived. I can tell you that in 1960 none of these two theatres were around.
Interesting as always. The theatre was there in 34, if there was a listing in 24, then 34 was a definite. City of Miami building records shows that building as built in 26. As far as I know, that theatre was always the Strand, with the exception of those few years where it was the Sun Sun.
If you go to the Corpus Christi church website, you will see references made to the Strand, where services were held prior to the church being built.
The last name of this theatre was the Strand. Apparently it was changed back to the Strand after it was purchased by another owner, who apparently had it for about 4 months before it was sold again to a religious group who converted it to a church, since that sale there have been 4 churches there.
If you look at the picture posted, you can see the Strand name, the problem is that originally, the theatre’s name was on a red metal background with neon letters. When it became the Sun Sun, the metal with the neon letters was taken down, and the name Sun Sun was painted on the wall where the original name had been. After the theatre was sold, the Sun Sun name was painted over, and the Strand name was re-painted on the concrete surface. So basically the theatre closed as The Strand. This theatre was still Sun Sun in 1986, it became the Strand again in 87, and closing as a theatre in the latter part of 87, becoming a church sometime in 88, perhaps 89.
According to the City of Miami building records, the building at 3033 NW 7th Avenue was built in 1926. That may be wrong though.
Where did you see that the Strand was showing movies in 24? As you know, from the pics you got of the original grand opening program of the Miami Theatre, the Strand was owned by Wometco in 47 when that event took place. I have always been curious as to the origins of this theatre and whether the building was built with the purpose of being a theatre. The City of Miami records don’t really give any details as far as original owner, type of permit etc. But I know that you have a remarkable way of finding out these things! So I am all ears.
That address doesn’t make sense. As far as Miami goes, I have never seen a W on an address. It has to be SW, because Miami goes as far north as 210th street, and that is right on the broward county line. This has to be the Perrine bordering on Homestead area, in which case, it would SW, not W.
That picture is off the Google Maps satellite view. Amazingly most of the streets in Miami have actual pics. Check it out on Google Maps, there is a little man type of Icon that you can place on the street or address you want to view.
Don great to see you on this board! I am sure you will bring a wealth of information here. I enjoy your website very much, there is not a week that goes by that I don’t go in and reminisce!
I guess the last “normal” movie that ever played there was Fiddler on the Roof, making that pic the most recent. I assume they did not want throat on the marquee for the sales pitch!
That is really a cool pic. I remember when they were playing Fiddler on the Roof at The Sheridan. Do you have any idea what year that ad was from? My reason for asking is because I am curious to see if the pic was a current pic, or a pic that they had and used for the ad.
I don’t remember when the Sheridan closed. I watched 2001 A Space Odyssey there. Funny thing I was talking about Kubrick and his films with my wife on Saturday. I told her, I think I am going to email Al to see if he has the answer!!!! I couldn’t remember what year 2001 came to be. Kubrick also had Clockwork Orange out at a time close to 2001 so things tend to get blured. I remember the images, but I can’t associate the images with the times.
You know, the Roosevelt also went porn in it’s latter years. I think the Roosevelt went down the tubes before the Sheridan.
Al, Yes it boggles! I don’t know of too many “orchestras” native to Miami. I would dare venture to say that the orchestra was the one that also played at the Gayety Burlesque on Miami Beach. They had some asian guy, Lee Sohn who sang there at one time. I remember seeing that in the newspaper, again, I was too young to have gone into the Gayety. I think the Gayety show with the orchestra came after the short lived Linda Lovelace extravaganza.
A few years here in Broward we had our own little version of Linda Lovelace, but her name was Kathy Willits. She did not have the benefit of the orchestra!!
Al that show was up on the marquee for a while. I remember seeing it for quite some time. Back in those days time seemed to drag by, so who knows it may have been 2 weeks!
I blew up this picture several times. I think that right under Boyd’s it says “shoe store” or “shoe” something. The building to the east of the State appears to be a separate structure, when I blow this up it seems there is an alley way there, the buildings are definitely separated, they are not one. This would explain why the State may have ended up as a corner building.
Sam’s Dulce Cigar Shop is part of that structure. The architecture of the building with the cigar shop is totally different from that of the building where the State theatre is. The angle of the post card makes it difficult to separate, but if you blow it up, I think you may see what I see. I tried sharpening the image as much as possible, and as far as Boyd’s goes the word shoe is in there. I assume it was a shoe store between the State and the building next door, probably on an alley. Downtown Miami had a few alleys here and there, I remember seeing a few of these when I was a kid growing up. Most, however, were service alleys, garbage pickup, etc.
I also think the Hippodrome was advertising their movie. Given the movie poster, I find it weird that they just hand wrote the dates, that looks funny.
According to the map Miamiguy posted the State was on a corner. All of the pictures of the Fotosho show it to have other establishments on each side. I was questioning this because when you look at the pictures of the State and now the Fotosho, they appear to be in the same location, but the map depicts the theatre to be on a corner.
Although hard to tell, this picture of the State at night, http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc11243.jpg, also seems to suggest that it was on a corner, if you look at the right side (East) of the picture, the building seems to end.
The movie playing at the time was Whoopee with Eddie Cantor, which was released in 1930.
Al, I have always thought that the most impressive theatres in Miami, were The Miami, The Carib, The Paramount, and The Beach. As far as originallity goes, I haven’t seen any theatres more grand than those, they were quite unique.
That interior pic is the Paramount. I remember the balcony seating. The 1924 photo referenced above is probably the original Fairfax Theatre, notice that on the marquee it states “all talkies” so, the 1924 pic above must have been when it was a silent theatre.
Al, I guess the “all talkies” sign answers the question regarding when the silent movie era ended in Miami.
Does anyone know if this theatre opened during the time Larry King and Wolfson, one of the Wometco owners were giving money to Jim Garrison so he could complete his investigation of the Kennedy assasination? There was a question of money and how it was distributed. I remember reading something about this, but my memory is not clear. I was about 12 years old at the time.
Has Tao opened yet? I have been to Tao in Vegas several times. It certainly is a place to see, I am curious to see if the “South Beach” version is just as cool.
Isn’t it funny that we find all this information on what would have been the 61st Anniversary of the Miami Theatre’s grand opening! You know 60 years is nothing for a building. Take the Strand Theatre, which was built in 1926, functioning as a church, but nonetheless still standing.
All of these great movie houses went down the tubes because the neighborhoods went to hell in a hand basket. Downtown with it’s crime and the building of I-95 which basically dismembered the Allapatah, Overtown, and Wynnwood areas. Too bad they are forever gone. I miss old Miami, what I would give to bring these things back.
If you look at that pic, you can see where the street ended, hence the additional street on the map you posted. It’s amazing how the Downtown Miami landscape changed between 1926 and 1947. Given the years, I have to assume that the two major storms influenced some of these changes.
I was perusing over your picture album. SUPER EXCELLENT!!! I noted on the Miami’s inagural program a list of theatres owned by Wometco. Much to my surprise I see The Strand listed. I guess that answers a few more questions about the Strand that we did not know before.
Just a suggestion:
This board really needs a private message function. There is a lot of outstanding information posted, some are with questions regarding the theatres, which is fine, but space consuming. It would be nice if the questions could be asked in private, which will allow only the theatre information to be posted. Discussions are great, we all learn a lot from them, but at times they can distract from the subject of the theatre.
Miami Jackson,
Thank you for the referral. Dick was a wealth of information. He was able to shed a light on the Dade and Regent theatres of Allapatah. In addition he provided me with some information that was valuable in understanding delays before and after WWII, when it came to building.
I have posted the information he provided on the threads that pertain to those 2 theatres. We are still looking for more information on the Strand, hopefully some more folks who are familiar with it will find their way here!
Al,
Just had an email correspondence with a guy who is familiar with both the Dade & Regent’s theates of the Allapatah area.
The Dade was completed after WWII. The theatre was just east of the old Western Auto store on NW 36th Street. Apparently the theatre has large seats able to accomodate 2 people or as they put it “larger patrons”. Given the ample seats, the Dade was a very popular place with the younger kids who frequented the theatre on weekends. As I understand it, it was a very popular place to take a date!
This theatre was very short lived. I can tell you that in 1960 none of these two theatres were around.
This location is now a shoe store. Ottabo Shoes. The little porn shop, which seems to at one time have been a Farm Stores is still there.
The name of the city is Pompano Beach.
Interesting as always. The theatre was there in 34, if there was a listing in 24, then 34 was a definite. City of Miami building records shows that building as built in 26. As far as I know, that theatre was always the Strand, with the exception of those few years where it was the Sun Sun.
If you go to the Corpus Christi church website, you will see references made to the Strand, where services were held prior to the church being built.
Al,
The last name of this theatre was the Strand. Apparently it was changed back to the Strand after it was purchased by another owner, who apparently had it for about 4 months before it was sold again to a religious group who converted it to a church, since that sale there have been 4 churches there.
If you look at the picture posted, you can see the Strand name, the problem is that originally, the theatre’s name was on a red metal background with neon letters. When it became the Sun Sun, the metal with the neon letters was taken down, and the name Sun Sun was painted on the wall where the original name had been. After the theatre was sold, the Sun Sun name was painted over, and the Strand name was re-painted on the concrete surface. So basically the theatre closed as The Strand. This theatre was still Sun Sun in 1986, it became the Strand again in 87, and closing as a theatre in the latter part of 87, becoming a church sometime in 88, perhaps 89.
According to the City of Miami building records, the building at 3033 NW 7th Avenue was built in 1926. That may be wrong though.
Where did you see that the Strand was showing movies in 24? As you know, from the pics you got of the original grand opening program of the Miami Theatre, the Strand was owned by Wometco in 47 when that event took place. I have always been curious as to the origins of this theatre and whether the building was built with the purpose of being a theatre. The City of Miami records don’t really give any details as far as original owner, type of permit etc. But I know that you have a remarkable way of finding out these things! So I am all ears.
That address doesn’t make sense. As far as Miami goes, I have never seen a W on an address. It has to be SW, because Miami goes as far north as 210th street, and that is right on the broward county line. This has to be the Perrine bordering on Homestead area, in which case, it would SW, not W.
Lost,
That picture is off the Google Maps satellite view. Amazingly most of the streets in Miami have actual pics. Check it out on Google Maps, there is a little man type of Icon that you can place on the street or address you want to view.
Don great to see you on this board! I am sure you will bring a wealth of information here. I enjoy your website very much, there is not a week that goes by that I don’t go in and reminisce!
I guess the last “normal” movie that ever played there was Fiddler on the Roof, making that pic the most recent. I assume they did not want throat on the marquee for the sales pitch!
Al,
That is really a cool pic. I remember when they were playing Fiddler on the Roof at The Sheridan. Do you have any idea what year that ad was from? My reason for asking is because I am curious to see if the pic was a current pic, or a pic that they had and used for the ad.
I don’t remember when the Sheridan closed. I watched 2001 A Space Odyssey there. Funny thing I was talking about Kubrick and his films with my wife on Saturday. I told her, I think I am going to email Al to see if he has the answer!!!! I couldn’t remember what year 2001 came to be. Kubrick also had Clockwork Orange out at a time close to 2001 so things tend to get blured. I remember the images, but I can’t associate the images with the times.
You know, the Roosevelt also went porn in it’s latter years. I think the Roosevelt went down the tubes before the Sheridan.
Al, Yes it boggles! I don’t know of too many “orchestras” native to Miami. I would dare venture to say that the orchestra was the one that also played at the Gayety Burlesque on Miami Beach. They had some asian guy, Lee Sohn who sang there at one time. I remember seeing that in the newspaper, again, I was too young to have gone into the Gayety. I think the Gayety show with the orchestra came after the short lived Linda Lovelace extravaganza.
A few years here in Broward we had our own little version of Linda Lovelace, but her name was Kathy Willits. She did not have the benefit of the orchestra!!
Al that show was up on the marquee for a while. I remember seeing it for quite some time. Back in those days time seemed to drag by, so who knows it may have been 2 weeks!
I blew up this picture several times. I think that right under Boyd’s it says “shoe store” or “shoe” something. The building to the east of the State appears to be a separate structure, when I blow this up it seems there is an alley way there, the buildings are definitely separated, they are not one. This would explain why the State may have ended up as a corner building.
Sam’s Dulce Cigar Shop is part of that structure. The architecture of the building with the cigar shop is totally different from that of the building where the State theatre is. The angle of the post card makes it difficult to separate, but if you blow it up, I think you may see what I see. I tried sharpening the image as much as possible, and as far as Boyd’s goes the word shoe is in there. I assume it was a shoe store between the State and the building next door, probably on an alley. Downtown Miami had a few alleys here and there, I remember seeing a few of these when I was a kid growing up. Most, however, were service alleys, garbage pickup, etc.
Al,
I also think the Hippodrome was advertising their movie. Given the movie poster, I find it weird that they just hand wrote the dates, that looks funny.
According to the map Miamiguy posted the State was on a corner. All of the pictures of the Fotosho show it to have other establishments on each side. I was questioning this because when you look at the pictures of the State and now the Fotosho, they appear to be in the same location, but the map depicts the theatre to be on a corner.
Although hard to tell, this picture of the State at night, http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc11243.jpg, also seems to suggest that it was on a corner, if you look at the right side (East) of the picture, the building seems to end.
The movie playing at the time was Whoopee with Eddie Cantor, which was released in 1930.
Al, I have always thought that the most impressive theatres in Miami, were The Miami, The Carib, The Paramount, and The Beach. As far as originallity goes, I haven’t seen any theatres more grand than those, they were quite unique.
That interior pic is the Paramount. I remember the balcony seating. The 1924 photo referenced above is probably the original Fairfax Theatre, notice that on the marquee it states “all talkies” so, the 1924 pic above must have been when it was a silent theatre.
Al, I guess the “all talkies” sign answers the question regarding when the silent movie era ended in Miami.
I recently stayed at The Omni Hotel, nothing of what it was. Given the age of the building, I think it’s pretty run down.
Given the address this theatre was very close to the old Regal Beer brewery.
Does anyone know if this theatre opened during the time Larry King and Wolfson, one of the Wometco owners were giving money to Jim Garrison so he could complete his investigation of the Kennedy assasination? There was a question of money and how it was distributed. I remember reading something about this, but my memory is not clear. I was about 12 years old at the time.
MiamiGuy,
Has Tao opened yet? I have been to Tao in Vegas several times. It certainly is a place to see, I am curious to see if the “South Beach” version is just as cool.
Isn’t it funny that we find all this information on what would have been the 61st Anniversary of the Miami Theatre’s grand opening! You know 60 years is nothing for a building. Take the Strand Theatre, which was built in 1926, functioning as a church, but nonetheless still standing.
All of these great movie houses went down the tubes because the neighborhoods went to hell in a hand basket. Downtown with it’s crime and the building of I-95 which basically dismembered the Allapatah, Overtown, and Wynnwood areas. Too bad they are forever gone. I miss old Miami, what I would give to bring these things back.
MiamiGuy,
If you look at that pic, you can see where the street ended, hence the additional street on the map you posted. It’s amazing how the Downtown Miami landscape changed between 1926 and 1947. Given the years, I have to assume that the two major storms influenced some of these changes.
The Strand appears as part of Wometco Enterprises on the 4/18/1947 theatre list posted on the back of the Miami Theatre’s inagural program/brochure.
Al,
I was perusing over your picture album. SUPER EXCELLENT!!! I noted on the Miami’s inagural program a list of theatres owned by Wometco. Much to my surprise I see The Strand listed. I guess that answers a few more questions about the Strand that we did not know before.