Olympia Theater (Miami) facts for kids
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Miami's Original Performing Arts Center
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Exterior of venue (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 in Miami, Florida. It was designed by John Eberson in a special "atmospheric" style, making you feel like you're outdoors under the stars. The theater first opened its doors in 1926. Over the years, it has been a movie theater, a place for concerts, and a center for different kinds of performances. In 1984, it was recognized as an important historical place. The Olympia Theater is one of only three "atmospheric" theaters left in Florida, along with the Florida Theatre and the Tampa Theatre.
Contents
History of the Olympia Theater
Building a Dream Theater
In 1924, a company called Paramount Enterprises, Inc. wanted to build a new theater in South Florida. They looked at cities like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and Sarasota. They hired architect John Eberson because he had done great work on the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas.
Eberson finished the plans in December 1924. Miami was chosen for the theater's location. It was built where an old open-air movie theater, called the "Airdome," used to be.
Opening Day and Early Years
Construction started in May 1925. The building was first called the "Miami Theatre and Office Building." John Eberson designed the inside to look like a beautiful Spanish garden. The theater was finished in January 1926.
Before it opened, the wife of the land owner, Mrs. A.E. Rickmers, renamed it the "Olympia Theater and Office Building." This new name fit its Mediterranean design style. The Olympia Theater officially opened on February 18, 1926, showing silent movies.
From Silent Films to Superstars
As movies changed, so did the theater. By 1929, "talking pictures" (movies with sound) and vaudeville shows became very popular. The Olympia Theater started hosting many famous acts, including the Marx Brothers and Gypsy Rose Lee.
By the 1950s, the theater was a popular spot for concerts. It became even more famous in August 1956 when Elvis Presley performed there 15 times, selling out every show! In the 1950s and 1960s, other music legends like Etta James, Della Reese, and B.B. King also performed on its stage.
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 kind businessman named Maurice Gusman bought the building. He hired a famous local architect, Morris Lapidus, to update the main auditorium. The number of seats was changed from 2,000 to 1,700. In 1972, the newly renovated theater became the home of the Greater Miami Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1975, Mr. Gusman gave the theater to the City of Miami. More renovations happened from 1975 to 1977. The old movie palace was turned into a rock concert venue and renamed the "Gusman Cultural Center." During this new era, the theater hosted concerts by bands like Jimmy Buffett, The Police, Molly Hatchet, Devo, and Supertramp.
A Historic Landmark and New Beginnings
In 1984, the theater was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its importance. However, the theater faced tough times again in the late 1980s. There were ideas to turn it into a shopping area. But the Gusman family worked against these plans. They created a non-profit group, "Friends of Gusman," to raise money to fix the old building.
Renovations began in 1989 to change the rock venue into a performing arts center. The theater reopened in 1994 and was renamed the "Gusman Center for the Performing Arts." It continued to host concerts by the Florida Philharmonic (which is no longer active), Annie Lennox, Luciano Pavarotti, and Johnny Cash.
Restoration and Modern Era
In 2000, work started to restore the theater's original artwork. Plans were also made to fix the building's structure and outside. The theater had a grand reopening in October 2002, with a new name: the "Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts."
In 2009, more renovations began. These included repairing the stage, improving the sound, updating the air conditioning, replacing seats, and restoring the original Olympia sign outside. The seating capacity was changed from 1,700 to 1,500.
In 2010, a new group called Olympia Center, Inc. was created 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.
Due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the high costs of keeping the historic building in good shape, the theater's management decided in 2020 to return its operation to the City of Miami.
Why the Olympia Theater is Special
On April 18, 2012, the American Institute of Architects's Florida Chapter added the Olympia Theater (then known as the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts) to its special list called Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places. This shows how important and beautiful the building is in Florida's history and architecture.
See also
In Spanish: Olympia Theater and Office Building para niños
