Teatro Marti

Louis of Pompano on August 27, 2008 at 8:51 pm

Al,

The neighborhood was little Havana before the assasination. Riverside Elementary, Ada Merit Jr. High, and Miami High were the schools where spanish speaking teachers were hired to handle the kids that came from Cuba. Technically speaking, Cubans were segregated into what is known as Little Havana. This segregation took place due to the anticipated language barriers that were going to become reality once the larger numbers of people came to Miami. Most don’t know this because it wasn’t a racial thing, but the fact is that Cubans were segregated and that is how the SW area became what it is.

The theatres of the area, The Tivoli, and The Tower became the “spanish speaking” theatres, hence the movies and live shows you have posted about. In addition, places such as Miami Stadium became venues for larger audiences and Anti-Castro demonstrations. There is a film, “White Elephant”, that brings some of this history into view. I haven’t seen it, but it did have a limited engagement at The Tower a couple of years ago.

Teatro Marti had a late start given that it was founded in 1971, which was a good 10 years after the Cubans started coming to the US. The majority of Cubans came to Miami, but some went to Key West, Tampa, Clewiston, West Palm Beach, and Union City New Jersey. The smallest numbers were in Clewiston and West Palm, these were the Cubans who were involved in the sugar business. Key West as well as Tampa had much more influence, but a good portion of that influence was due to the Havana Key West Tampa cigar trade days, which were pre-revolution. Mind you the rum runners were also plentiful, although these colorful characters are rarely spoken about, they played a critical role in the Cuban influence on Key West, but mostly Tampa. This is why you do not see any theatres in the WPB and Clewiston areas that evolved in the manner that the Tivoli and Tower theatres did. I haven’t researched Tampa theatres.

Union City is another story. The Tony Theatre in Bergen Line, what I call the equivalent of SW 8th Street, is or was a theatre that evolved just like the Tower and Tivoli theatres of Miami. I haven’t looked up the Tony Theatre, hadn’t thought of it! I should see if it is listed on Cinema Treasures.

BTW, you should list the Hippodrome. You have such a wealth of information about all these theatres that we never knew existed. It’s always a pleasure to read your fascinating posts.

kencmcintyre on May 15, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/o9wsvk

kencmcintyre on May 15, 2009 at 6:25 pm

And responding to them.

Al Alvarez on May 16, 2012 at 4:21 pm

I just met his stepson last Christmas here in NYC where he is an actor. I will ask him the next time I see him.

armando135 on August 18, 2015 at 1:37 pm

Ada Merritt Junior High School

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wt2EObc5tA