State Theatre
69 E. Flagler Street,
Miami,
FL
33131
69 E. Flagler Street,
Miami,
FL
33131
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The 1939 complete refurbishing plans of the State Theatre was drawn by architect Robert E. Collins.
Thank you to Cinema Treasures for merging the Fotosho page into this one for the State after I posted that I figured out the Fotosho became the State by comparing photos.
Thank you Joe Vogel. In my enthusiasm I had forgotten that Isidor Cohen mentions in his book that the Fotosho had originally been the Marco (as did a comment by Al Alvarez on the Fotosho’s former page).
Here is a link to the full text of the “Development of Miami’s Theaters” chapter on a page by itself.
The Miami-Dade Public Library also has physical copies of the book.
If the State was indeed the same building as the Fotosho, then it was opened in 1910 by F. E. McVeigh as the Marco Theatre, according to the 1925 book Historical Sketches and Sidelights of Miami, Florida by Isidor Cohen (Google Books preview.)
Not sure who is the moderator or manager of this site, but I wanted to thank you for all the information about the old Miami theaters, both downtown and in the Allapattah area. I opened a Facebook page on the Old Allapattah Area of Miami and contribute a great deal to the two sites “We Grew Up in Miami in the ‘60s and '70s” and “We Grew Up in North Miami in the '50s, '60s and '70s” You’re all welcome to visit and contribute to these sites, of course. I’m going to be using much of the information I gleaned from this site on the Miami and Allapattah Facebook pages. Again, thank you. Ben Arnold in Ft. Lauderdale
Here is a postcard view that clearly shows another building between the State and the corner. The marquee seems to read ‘BELLE OF THE NINETIES" which would make it 1934.
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The State must have had some prestige at one time. The January 15, 1938, issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that the musical film “The Goldwyn Follies” would have its world premier at Wometco’s State Theatre in Miami on January 28. It referred to the State as a “popular Flagler Street house.”
Miamiguy’s posting on the Town Theater page has a link to a list of theaters in Miami and Miami Beach from the August, 1949 Southern Bell Telephone Book. It lists the Strand as being at 3033 N.W. 7th Avenue. Stage Manager was closest at 29th St., Louis of Pompano Beach next at 33rd St. I was way off at 24th st. Looking back at my previous comment, I guess I meant shouldn’t there be a Strand page?
Hmmmm… Where was the Strand? Stage Manager puts it south of NW 29th St. Louis of Pompano Beach pegs it at NW 33rd St, and my memory puts it at NW 24th St. I went to Robert E. Lee Jr Hi on NW 5th Ave at 31st and occasionally hung out at a candy store which, now that I think more about it, wasn’t too far from Lee, which would tend to support the 33rd St location. I haven’t been in Miami in about 15 years, and then didn’t get anywhere near this part of 7th Ave. So, has anyone IDed the Strand in a recent drive-by? And should we continue this thread on the Strand page?
MayFairMan,
Welcome to Cinema Treasures! I am happy to see another native participate in this fabulous website. I was born in 1957, so I missed out on a lot of the history of these theatres, when I was old enough to go to the movies, downtown wasn’t too secure, although I did frequent the movies, I never did get a chance to visit all of the theatres.
The Strand Theatre is still there, it is currently being used as a church. The building is on 33rd and on the east side of NW 7th Avenue. It is listed as the Sun Sun Cinema. The Strand went on to become a porn theatre, and later the Sun Sun, which specialized in martial arts films, then it became the Strand again, and it was closed. Today there is a church there, but the building hasn’t been changed.
Like you, there have been a lot of folks that lived in the Allapatah and Wynwood areas who have made contributions. It’s funny that you mention the Shrimp Place! I remember going there with my Dad in the 60s. I also remember the Royal Castle, as well as the Kwik Chek next to the Seaboard RR Station. That area is now what I like to call the rust belt of Miami. I don’t know if you know this, but Miami Stadium was finally demolished a few years ago. It was sad to see what that place had become after years of neglect. It ended up a crack house, and a place where gangs hung out. The graffiti, and filth that surrounded it was deeply disturbing to me, because as a child I grew up in Allapatah. We moved from the area in 72.
I don’t know if you still live in Miami or have moved on to another part of the country. Personally I still live in Florida, just further north, about 32 miles, in Pompano Beach. Thanks for all your posts, I look forward to reading more of them!
MayfairMan, I love hearing the recollections and never tire of them. Since Miami is so transient and so many older people are not online, these memories may otherwise be lost forever, so bring them on.
I sometimes wish I could go back in time and hear the Mayfair cashier repeat; “Little boy, this movie is in Czech with subtitles. Are you sure you want to see this?”
Sounds about right, Al. I’m Clay, and a newbie contributor on this site, which I’ve been watching for awhile, and sure do appreciate your vast knowledge of the Miami cinema scene. I’m a native, born in 1940, of a pioneer, though far from prominent Miami family. Movies were my life in those days and I have many memories to share. Only hope I don’t become a nuisance. Check out my addition to the Mayfair page. More later, I’m off to see The Reader.
I have seen a wide shot photo which clearly shows one other small building at the corner. The State opened in 1930.
An address of 69 E Flagler tells me that it would be east of Miami Ave, but if it was a corner property with the number of 69 it would have to be west of Miami Ave. Odd numbers on the north side of Flagler, even numbers on the south side. Addresses got larger going west from Miami Ave, and got larger going east. The State was a favorite starting point for Sat. morning movies when I was old enough to go downtown by myself (about ‘52.) Five cartoons, a serial, and a double feature for $.50, was a great bargain. My memory, and it’s address puts it on, or very near the corner of Miami Ave and W. Flager Street.
In re Stage Manager’s question about the Strand, it was a neighborhood theater on NW 7th Ave between about 21st & 24th St. I can’t pin it down any closer than that (alas, memory fades.) It was on the east side of 7th Ave opposite the old Seaboard RR station which was at 23rd St. To the south in the same block, was Dexters Roller Rink. Nearby was The Shrimp Place (the best fried shrimp in Miami!) and a Royal Castle, where I learned to be a breakfast grill cook. It was a rough neighborhood, even in the 50s, but they had a Sat AM kids show (5 cartoons & a double feature.) Total mayhem inside, but cheap. My bike was stolen from out front one Sat.AM.
The State was already operating in 1934 and closed in 1950.
The postcard shown above can be seen in my Flickrstream:
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Ron,
Was the State theatre on a corner property? In the pictures it appears that the theatre had stores on both sides of it. The reason why I ask, is because there was a post with a link to a map of 1938 downtown, it shows the theatre as being on a corner. I am trying to validate the map, also it labels the Florida Theatre as the Rex Theatre and the Town Theatre as the Miami Theatre. I wasn’t around until 1957 when I was born, but it would be nice to know if those names were indeed correct and those theatres were renamed at some poing in time between 1938 & 1950.
Does anybody know anything about a former Strand Theatre in Miami?
One morning while communting from my home in Hollywood down to my job in Coral Gables, I decided to avoid the terrible traffic on I-95 and find some avenue that ran parallel to the interstate. And somewhere between NW 29th Street and NW 14th Street along NW 7th Avenue I found a small theatre with a marquee and classic double doors. It was labeled the STRAND with the S having fallen off some time ago. It currently seems to be a small church/prayer home now. I will try to take some pictures of it. Can anybody here identify what part of town/neighborhood we would call this area? It’s definitely industrial and very poor. Perhaps that might help with some research (where I’m finding NO luck).
Ron, my family moved to Miami in 1953. I don’t remember the State Theatre. I remember the Paramount, Miami, Olympia, Town and two theatres that were about to be torn down the Royal and Embassy. From the picture it looks like the theatre was near Woolworth’s or Byron’s Dept Store. Was it torn down prior to 1953?
Please note it is Flagler Street, not Avenue.
This small theater had no charm nor good looks. In the late 40’s and early 50’s it played exploitation films. Prior to closing, it was double features.
Having been there many times in my youth, I can assure you that there was nothing much to write about this theater.
Ron Shaw
The State Theatre was located at 69 E. Flagler Street and it seated 887 people.