Garden Theatre (Winter Garden, Florida) facts for kids
Garden Theatre, 2007
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| Address | 160 West Plant Street Winter Garden, Florida USA |
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| Operator | Winter Garden Heritage Foundation |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 1935 |
| Renovated | 2002 |
The Garden Theatre is a cool, old theater in Winter Garden, Florida, USA. You can find it at 160 West Plant Street. It's a busy place, hosting over 200 shows each year! You can see plays, listen to music, watch dance performances, and even movies. It's the main spot for arts and shows in Winter Garden.
Contents
A Look Back: The Garden Theatre's Story
The Garden Theatre first opened its doors in December 1935. It started as a movie theater with just one screen. It was special because it was the first theater in Central Florida built for "talkies" – movies with sound!
Over the years, the theater was changed a few times. But in 1963, it closed down. This happened because more and more people started watching TV at home instead of going to the movies. After closing, the building became a store that sold farming supplies. All the seats were taken out, and the sloped floor was made flat with cement.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
In 2002, the City of Winter Garden bought the old building. Then, the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation stepped in. This group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which means they work to help the community, not to make money. They started the big job of bringing the theater back to its original glory.
The Theatre's Cool Design
The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation officially took over the building on January 1, 2004. They worked hard to restore it.
Inside the Garden Theatre
The inside of the theater is really neat. It has 299 seats and a warm, inviting feel. The design is called Mediterranean Revival architecture. It looks like a Spanish courtyard with special "Romeo and Juliet" balconies. You can also see lanterns in the windows above the stage arch. On either side of the stage, there are palm trees decorating the area.
The theater now has a large screen, about 12 by 24 feet (3.7 by 7.3 meters), with a modern digital projector. There's also a place to buy tickets and a concession stand for snacks. The ceiling of the theater is painted a dark blue, covered with sparkling stars, making it feel like you're under the night sky.
Finishing the Restoration
In 2008, the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation finished all the restoration work. They made sure the Garden Theatre looked just like it did when it first opened. This helped it fit in with the historic downtown area of Winter Garden, making the building a true piece of history.
