Colony Theatre
1040 Lincoln Road,
Miami Beach,
FL
33131
1040 Lincoln Road,
Miami Beach,
FL
33131
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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).
a couple of recent shots of the facade including a lobby shot (which must be a recent reconstruction as this area of the theatre was totally gutted a few years back during the extensive renovation – see the last photo)
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In the sixties, the Colony was home to THE SOUND OF MUSIC on road show release. On it’s first anniversary, the managers sent the local critic an anniversary cake marking one year since he had written his scathing review of the film.
An odd side-note to all of this: the exterior of the Colony is visible in the 1963 skin flick “Blaze Starr Goes Nudist”. Blaze, weary from working under hot studio lights, goes to a movie to relax. She watches a film about a nudist camp in Homestead (“why that’s just a few miles away”) and immediately decides to become a nudist. As Blaze leaves the theatre, fans crowd around her for her autograph, confirming for Blaze that it’s time to get away for a while and become a nudist. The theatre is clearly the Colony, although I don’t think the marquee is visible. “Blaze Starr Goes Nudist” is one of several early skin-flicks directed by Doris Wishman and filmed in Miami.
Saw Barbara Cook In Concert here many years ago.
I remember seeing GUYS AND DOLLS at this theatre. Shortly before this the theatre had been closed, but many posters were in view for the upcoming attraction of GUYS AND DOLLS which reopened the Colony. At that time the theatre had a much nice facade and marquee. There was a longer entrance before you entered the theatre with framed posters behind glass to show what feature was playing or upcoming. Somehow they must have expanded the lobby area since the entrance area is now very short.
Our company has upgraded the cinema projection system in the performing arts center. The theatre is closed for 9 months in 2003 so that they can build a new stage area to the existing complex.