Where Reader Meets Seminole Theatre/Roaring 20's thru the 0000's/K.Teresa Harris.page4

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Seminole Theatre

The Roaring 20's

..Going forward into the OOO's*..

K.Teresa Harris..page4

By the late 1960's, many cities, including Homestead, had begun to experience a decline in the popularity of their downtown districts as an entertainment hub. Downtown buildings were aging and homeowners were migrating to the suburbs. In the early 1970's, the Seminole Theater was sold to the Turner family and renamed the Premier Theater. It operated as a rental movie house during the 1970's and offered Spanish language films for the growing Hispanic population in the area. Unfortunately, low ticket sales forced the theater to close in 1979.

The theater sat idle in the years that followed. Eventually, the technical equipment became useless and its once elegant interior fell into a dilapidated state. After the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the theater appeared to have met its demise. Fortunately, the theater's historical designation has paved the way for its survival.

The architects in charge of the current rennovation are Robert Barnes of Barnes & Associates, a local firm, and Stewart Barger of Barger & Dean in Sarasota, Florida.

Recently, The Seminole Theater Group has hosted several oral history days in order to gather information on the architectural elements of the theater. Ultimately, the group anticipates that the information will help to replicate the 1940's art deco feel as much as possible. Participants also shared many personal memories. A story was told of how many theater patrons would drive their cars downtown early on Saturdays, park their cars, and walk home. Returning to the theater on foot later that evening for the show, they were assured of a good parking spot at the end of the evening!

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