Florida Theater

E. Hinson Avenue & 8th Street,
Haines City, FL 33844

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Floyd Theaters

Architects: Roy A. Benjamin, William J. Heim

Nearby Theaters

The Florida Theater was opened in 1925. It was remodeled in 1948, to the plans of Avon Park based architect William J. Heim. By 1950 it was operated by Floyd Theaters. A 1961 article in the Lakeland Ledger mentions a Florida Theater in downtown Haines City.

Contributed by Andy

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

irvl
irvl on July 29, 2010 at 6:09 pm

The Florida Theatre was also Carl Floyd Theatres' home office. Years after the theatre closed, the chain’s offices were still active in the building. My understanding is after closing as a full-time theatre, it was reopened from time to time for special showings. What is the building used for now?

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on July 29, 2010 at 9:43 pm

Not sure. I’m planning a trip to the Northeast Polk area soon, so I’ll see if I can locate the building.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on August 1, 2010 at 5:13 am

If you ever find the address, let us know. Need more info and photos.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on August 1, 2010 at 4:18 pm

I think that building on the 500 block is an old Publix store dating from the 40s.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on October 26, 2010 at 8:11 pm

A 1925 article announces the construction of a theater at the corner of Hinson and 8th Street, directly across the corner of the Hotel Polk. The hotel’s still there, but nothing else on the corner resembles a theater.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 11, 2013 at 2:21 am

It’s possible that the Florida Theatre was the new house mentioned in the November 16, 1925, issue of The Film Daily:

“Construction work on Haines City’s new $100,000 theater has begun. The architect is R. A. Benjamin, of Jacksonville.”
Haines City’s other early theater, the Mar-Lea, was already in operation in 1925, and a photo of it shows that it was a fairly small house that was very unlikely to have cost $100,000.

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