Polk Theatre
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The Polk Theater is located
on the main drag of downtown, Lakeland, FL. It is a four story building.
It is still in operation and used for movies and live performances. It
seats 1400. What is interesting to note about the structure is that it
was the first theater in the country in the 1920s to have air conditioning.
A pump was attached to an artesian well and the water would chill the
building. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The glowing Polk Theatre sign has been drawing people into downtown Lakeland for generations. Day or night, the tall vertical marquee is hard to miss and gives Florida Avenue a little touch of old Hollywood.
The theater opened in 1928 as one of Florida's grand movie palaces, complete with an elaborate interior designed to resemble an open-air Mediterranean courtyard beneath a twinkling night sky. Over the years it welcomed countless moviegoers, along with a few famous faces. A young Elvis Presley even performed here in 1956 during the height of his early rise to stardom.
Like many downtown theaters, the Polk nearly disappeared as audiences drifted toward suburban multiplexes. Fortunately, local residents stepped in during the early 1980s and saved the landmark from demolition.
UPDATE: The Polk Theatre continues to host classic movies, concerts, and live performances beneath its beautifully restored neon sign. 08-26
Strand Theatre (Closed)
Key West, FL Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
The Strand Theatre in Key West, FL is now a Walgreen's, but at least the sign is still lit as though the Strand were still open. Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info.
UPDATE: The Strand opened in the mid-1920's only to close in the 1980's. After a stint as a nightclub and then a Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum, the old theatre became a Walgreens drug store. The interior with the exception of the balcony is history. More information about this theatre can be found here. 01-09
The Strand opened in 1921 and welcomed generations of moviegoers beneath its Spanish Baroque-style facade. Like many neighborhood theaters, it eventually closed as changing times caught up with the big movie palaces. Rather than disappearing, though, the building found a new life while keeping much of the look that made it a local landmark.
It's a pleasant surprise to find a familiar theater marquee still greeting people along one of Florida's most famous streets. Sometimes the sign tells the story long before you notice what's inside.
UPDATE: The Strand building now houses a Walgreens, but the historic marquee and vertical sign remain part of the Duval Street streetscape. 08-26
Tropic Cinema
Key West, FL Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Just a few blocks from Duval Street, the Tropic Cinema brings a little old Hollywood charm to Key West. Its retro marquee and glowing neon look like they belong to an earlier era, even though the theater itself is one of the newer additions to the island's movie scene. 01-09
The Key West Film Society was organized in 1999 with the goal of creating a home for independent and foreign films, and the Tropic Cinema opened its doors in 2004. Since then, it has grown into a favorite gathering place for movie lovers, offering everything from independent features and documentaries to classic films, lectures, concerts, and community events. Before heading inside, take a look at the Marilyn Monroe statue standing out front. It's become almost as popular as the theater itself.
UPDATE: The Tropic Cinema continues to show independent and first-run films while serving as one of Key West's busiest cultural gathering places. 08-26
Tropic Cinema
