Mar-Lea Theatre

TheCinemaFinder on May 29, 2026 at 11:59 am

According To The Haines City Historical Society, The Mar-Lea Theatre was built in 1921 a few months after the Wray Drugstore and Hotel Next door.

 The Mar-Lea Theatre was built by Baseball great Tommy Leach’s son, Nelson Leach and his brother-in-law, Vance Marquis from Bartow. 
              
                 The theatre was a one story building and later expanded in 1924 seating 300 patrons. It originally showed silent movies until “talkies” were invented around 1930.  Previously silent movies had been shown in a small building on Railroad Avenue, so it was a big hit for area citizens to watch new movies, news reels, and shorts of the day in a new modern building.
                 Tommy Leach and his family took over ownership and operated the theatre until the building was gutted by a fire around 1937.  Victor Wray purchased the land in 1940 and expanded his building for the drugstore and hotel with one storefront on Sixth Street.
                

Turning The Building To What It Is Today.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on August 30, 2010 at 9:44 am

Sure could use an exact address, more info, and more photos.

Bravo, got this photo working too!