Palms Theater
Broadway Boulevard,
Dunedin,
FL
34698
Broadway Boulevard,
Dunedin,
FL
34698
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I lived in Dunedin in 1956 & 1957. If I can remember well, the First National Bank of Dunedin stood where the Chamber of Commerce stands now. My Brother and I went to the Palms theater for a Halloween show in 1956 we both really enjoyed it.
I just stumbled upon this site, so I’m a bit late to the party. My grandfather was Clayton Bennett, who originally purchased this property. My father was Gordon Bennett who operated it. I appreciate the information that was provided here, and would welcome any additional commentary.
Nice art moderne rounded look and classy marquee.
The Palms Theater was owned and operated by my father, Edward H. Eckert who was very active in various community activities and served as both a City Commissioner and Mayor. He sold the theater to the First National Bank of Dunedin in 1962. It was later demolished. The Sun Trust Bank now sits on the property on Broadway Blvd. one block north of Main St. The last movie shown was The Music Man with Robert Preston.
Boxoffice of January 1, 1949, said that the Palms Theatre had opened recently. It had been built for Clayton Bennett, and was being operated by his son Gordon. The Palms was sold to Edward Eckert in 1951, as reported in various issues of Boxoffice in June and July that year.
Eckert was still operating the house at least as late as 1962, when he posed for a photo (upper right, with the marquee of the Palms in the background) that appeared in Boxoffice of March 5. The caption mistakenly dates Eckert’s purchase of the Palms to 1949.
Not sure. Since the article was from 1963, it is entirely possible (and probably likely) that the bank is gone as well.
I haven’t been down to Dunedin for a few years now, but all the times I’ve driven on Broadway and never knew a theater had once been there. Can’t recall a bank being there, what is it’s name?