Lincoln Theatre
541 Lincoln Road,
Miami Beach,
FL
33139
541 Lincoln Road,
Miami Beach,
FL
33139
3 people
favorited this theater
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Robert E. Collins, architect
1937 photo added courtesy of Flashback Miami.
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”
I remember always trying to sneak upstairs to the balcony which was usually roped off. Always had excellent double features for a good price. Went there whenever the Roxy wasn’t showing anything good. The last time probably in 1984.
1936 photo & copy added courtesy of the Miami & South Florida Memories Facebook page. See Photos Section.
Information above should be changed to closed renovating. When I was in Miami BEach in MArch the theater had closed.
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/
When was Lincoln Road malled? Sometime in the 1960s, right? But which year?
The January 15th, 1936 grand opening ad had been posted here.
Jeff, Brandt closed it in 1970. It re-opened in 1972 as a discount house with occasional first-runs and ran until the summer of 1987. It later re-opened as a performing arts center with movie facilities.
“Ben-Hur” premiered here in 1959 and again for the 1969 roadshow re-release. I can’t help with the wagon wheel.
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.
Your help is always appreciated. Thank you!
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
I’d love to know which roadshow films were run at this theater during the 1960s.
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.
(If anyone from CT sees this, time to mark the status as “Closed”)
Fashion retailer H&M just announced plans to take over the former (hurts to say that) Lincoln, aiming for a fall 2012 opening:
View link
Meanwhile, there’s a possibility that the Jackie Gleason Theater (currently aka The Fillmore at…) may disappear in a proposed major renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center. Live Nation could’ve taken over the Lincoln instead.
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?
A recent photo of the Lincoln Theater.
View link
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.
Article about conversion to retail. Some features to be restored but for how long? 5 years?
View link
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.
Yeah, that “conversion to retail” thing really worked out well for the Caribe and the Beach Theaters didn’t it.
Sheezh…these short-sighted City officials…
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.
Say goodbye:
View link
2010 — still home of the New World Symphony. 2011 — shops and restaurants.
Grand opening ad From January 15th, 1936 is View link