Olympia Theater (Miami) facts for kids
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Miami's Original Performing Arts Center
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The Olympia Theater in Miami (2016)
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| Former names | Olympia Theater (2003-21) Gusman Center for the Performing Arts (1978-2003) Olympia Theater & Office Building (1926-78) |
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| Address | 174 E Flagler St Miami, FL 33131-1130 |
| Location | Downtown Miami |
| Owner | City of Miami |
| Operator | City Of Miami |
| Capacity | 1,567 (2012-present) 1,710 (1977-2012) 2,170 (1926-77) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 27, 1925 |
| Opened | February 18, 1926 |
| Renovated | 1972, 1975-77, 1989-96, 2000-02, 2009-12 |
| Closed | 1970-72, 1989-96 |
| Construction cost | 1.5 million ($25.6 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| General contractor | George A. Fuller Company |
| Tenants | |
| Greater Miami Philharmonic Orchestra (1972-82) | |
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Building details
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| General information | |
| Renovated | 2009-12 |
| Renovation cost | $12.2 million ($16.6 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | RJ Heisenbottle Architects |
| Structural engineer | Maurice Gray & Associates |
| Services engineer | Gartek Engineering |
| Civil engineer | Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. |
| Main contractor | Trigram GC |
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Olympia Theater and Office Building
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| Location | Miami, FL |
| Built | 1925-26 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000839 |
| Added to NRHP | March 8, 1984 |
The Olympia Theater is a famous theater located in Miami, Florida. It was designed by John Eberson, a well-known architect, in his special "atmospheric" style. This means the inside of the theater looks like an outdoor scene, often with stars and clouds on the ceiling. The theater first opened its doors in 1926. Over the years, it has been used as a movie theater, a place for concerts, and a performing arts center. In 1984, it was recognized as a historic place by the NRHP. The Olympia Theater and the Tampa Theatre are the only two "atmospheric" theaters left in Florida.
Contents
Building the Olympia Theater
Early Plans and Design
In 1924, a company called Paramount Enterprises, Inc. decided to build a new theater in South Florida. They considered cities like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and Sarasota. They hired architect John Eberson to design it. He was famous for his work on the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas.
Eberson finished his plans in December 1924. Miami was chosen as the best city for the new theater. It was built where an old outdoor movie theater, called the "Airdome," used to be.
Construction and Opening
Construction started in May 1925. The building was first called the "Miami Theatre and Office Building." Eberson designed the theater to look like a beautiful Spanish garden. He wanted people to feel like they were watching a show under the stars.
The theater was finished in January 1926. The wife of the land owner, Mrs. A.E. Rickmers, renamed it the "Olympia Theater and Office Building." She chose this name because it matched the theater's Mediterranean design style. The Olympia Theater officially opened on February 18, 1926, showing silent movies.
A Changing Stage: From Movies to Music
The Golden Age of Entertainment
As movies changed, so did the theater's purpose. By 1929, movies with sound, called talking pictures, and live variety shows, known as vaudeville, became very popular. The Olympia Theater began to host many famous acts. Performers like the Marx Brothers and Gypsy Rose Lee graced its stage.
By the 1950s, the theater became a popular spot for concerts. It gained a lot of attention after Elvis Presley performed 15 sold-out shows in August 1956. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, many other music legends performed there. These included Etta James, Della Reese, and B.B. King.
Saving the Theater
In the late 1960s, fewer people were using the theater. There were even plans to tear it down and turn the space into a parking lot. But in 1970, a businessman named Maurice Gusman bought the venue. He hired a famous local architect, Morris Lapidus, to renovate the main auditorium. The seating capacity was reduced from 2,000 to 1,700. In 1972, the newly renovated theater became the home of the Greater Miami Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1975, Gusman gave the property to the City of Miami. Renovations continued until 1977. The old movie palace was then turned into a rock concert venue. It was renamed the "Gusman Cultural Center." During this new era, the theater hosted concerts by artists like Jimmy Buffett, The Police, Molly Hatchet, Devo, and Supertramp.
Historic Recognition and New Life
In 1984, the theater was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the theater faced problems again in the late 1980s. This time, there were ideas to turn the property into shops. The Gusman family worked against these plans. They created a non-profit group called "Friends of Gusman." This group helped raise money to improve the old building.
Renovations started in 1989 to change the former rock venue into a performing arts center. The theater reopened in 1994. Its name changed again to the "Gusman Center for the Performing Arts." It continued to host concerts by groups like the Florida Philharmonic (which is no longer active), and famous singers such as Annie Lennox, Luciano Pavarotti, and Johnny Cash.
Modern Restorations and Management
In 2000, work began to restore the theater's original artwork. Plans were also made to fix the building's structure and outside frame. The venue had a grand reopening in October 2002. It was then called the "Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts."
In 2009, more renovations started. These repairs included the stage, sound systems, and air conditioning. They also replaced the seating and restored the original Olympia marquee sign. The seating capacity was reduced from 1,700 to 1,500.
In 2010, a new group called Olympia Center, Inc. was formed to manage the theater. They work with different event companies to bring shows to the venue. In 2014, the theater went back to its original name, "Olympia Theater." It has hosted concerts by artists like Bryan Adams, Kraftwerk, and Damien Rice.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it became too difficult to keep the theater running. The management decided to return control of the historic Olympia Theater & Office Building to the City of Miami.
Significance and Legacy
On April 18, 2012, the American Institute of Architects's Florida Chapter added the building to its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places. It was listed as the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. This shows how important the theater is to Florida's architectural history.
See also
In Spanish: Olympia Theater and Office Building para niños
