Lincoln Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on September 11, 2022 at 4:40 am

Robert E. Collins, architect

David_Schneider on May 14, 2016 at 12:43 pm

The Lincoln Theater closed several years ago and became an H&M clothing store in 2012. (I believe I remember hearing of objections by preservationists that did not prevail… though after the transformation some people were pleased with what was preserved.)

The New World Symphony moved behind the Lincoln into the newly constructed New World Center (across 17th Street from the Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater) which opened in January of 2011. Click here (the same official link under “Related Websites” above) for info and the Wikipedia page.

The parking lot that had been at the corner of Washington Avenue and 17th Street was removed and turned into Soundscape Park. “Wallcasts” of concerts going on inside the New World Center and movies in the Soundscape Cinema Series are presented to outdoor audiences free of charge via large projectors in the park aimed at the “projection wall” on the east side of the New World Center building. (Nice overhead shot of projection wall.)

Still it would have been nice to have been able to visit the Lincoln when it was a cinema. … A friend of mine told me his parents took him to see “Beverly Hills Cop” there in the 80’s. … I remember seeing news reports of the premiere of the “Miami Vice” (2006) movie with stars in attendance, apparently using the projection capability the theater still had though it was the home of the symphony.

Now when I’m in the area I enjoy sitting in the front windows of the Starbucks next to what had been the Lincoln, watching the parade of pedestrians on Lincoln Road Mall. (Another kind of “motion picture”? … Don’t take my seat, okay? … Only kidding…)

I like the way the current description of the Lincoln in its overview here on Cinema Treasures reads from the time when it still housed the symphony so part of me wants to say “Don’t change or update it due to my post“, except to change it from “open“ to “closed“.

List of articles with photos regarding the Lincoln in its transition to H&M.

Including: “Look At The Guts Of Lincoln Theatre, Revealed And Preserved”

And: “Giant LED Screen! This Is The Inside Of Miami’s New H&M”

Another article about the history, transformation, preservation and architects:
“Art-Deco-Meets-HM”

DavidZornig on April 13, 2015 at 6:45 pm

1936 photo & copy added courtesy of the Miami & South Florida Memories Facebook page. See Photos Section.

irishcine on September 7, 2012 at 1:37 am

A story about the conversion of the Lincoln into a shop is at…… http://pymnts.com/news/businesswire-feed/2012/september/06/art-deco-meets-hm-20120906006355/

rivest266 on October 16, 2011 at 2:37 pm

The January 15th, 1936 grand opening ad had been posted here.

Jeff_Donnelly on October 14, 2011 at 8:20 am

There are some urban lends about the Miami Beach Lincoln Theater. Did Ben Hur premiere her in 1960? Was there a wagon/chariot wheel in the lobby to commemorate that event? On the comment above, I would suggest a slight change: the Lincoln Theater (541 Lincoln Road) was open as late as 1986 when I went to a movie there, but I would be intersted in any help in finding documentation on the closing date.

Al Alvarez on August 22, 2011 at 12:23 pm

ChasSmith,

Here are some Lincoln roadshows:

1957 “The Bridge on the River Kwai” 1959 “Ben-Hur” 1960 “Pepe” 1961 “Judgment at Nuremberg” 1962 “The Longest Day” 1963 “Cleopatra” 1964 “My Fair Lady” 1965 “The Agony and the Ecstasy” 1966 “Exodus” 1967 “Camelot” 1968 “Star!” 1970 “Patton”

If you want to search further, The Miami News is available here: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uoQyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=seoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3537%2C3497926

Luis Vazquez on April 3, 2011 at 12:30 pm

The status of this theater needs to be changed to CLOSED. I just passed by and it is all boarded up with lots of work going on behind the scenes; presumably to convert it to retail space. We’ll see see what H&M will do to preserve the old theater. I am not hopeful.

irishcine on January 27, 2011 at 2:28 am

Stories on the new concert hall opening confirm the Lincoln has been sold by the NWS, but gave no information concerning the plans for future development of retail space at the Lincoln.

Any word of the retail scheme?

sporridge on December 30, 2010 at 7:43 pm

NWS gave their last performances at the Lincoln in December 2010, before the move to their new auditorium. The Miami Herald reported the final concert concluded with a retrospective slide show of NWS' 20 years at the Lincoln, with a singalong of “Auld Lang Syne.”

The imminent conversion to retail reportedly includes some provisions that would eventually allow the possibility of restoration as a performing arts venue.

sporridge on February 2, 2010 at 4:26 am

If the New World Symphony gives its final Lincoln concert as planned in January 2011, that will coincide with the theatre’s 75th anniversary.

Since classical music itself is based on continuation of heritage, I wish NWS would’ve been more sympathetic to architectural legacy as well. Yet times being what they are, especially for nonprofits, I can unfortunately see why they sold it.

kencmcintyre on January 26, 2010 at 4:32 pm

I know a real estate investor that owns a lot of the property across the promenade from the Lincoln. I didn’t see his name on that list, though.

rivest266 on January 16, 2010 at 11:48 am

Grand opening ad From January 15th, 1936 is View link