Athens Theatre
124 N. Florida Avenue,
DeLand,
FL
32720
124 N. Florida Avenue,
DeLand,
FL
32720
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Showing 26 - 37 of 37 comments
I have lived in the Deland/Deltona areas for quite a few years and remember going to the Athens 2 times in the late 80s. Saw the movies Beetlejuice and Predator there. it sticks out in my mind because we could get pizza and pitchers of soda there. I think it closed not too long after that.
TC: Great photo!
Modern photo:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/35207443qRzFEE
Thanks KenRoe: I’ve written an email to a Deland real estate agent as I have questions concerning the bungalows in the brochure so my interests go beyond theatres to most all unique architecture!
The old tourist brochure (which seems to be from the 1920’s) shows the Athens Theatre (top left), the New Dreka Theatre with 710 seats (top right) and the interior of the New Dreka Theatre (center middle).
Film Daily Yearbooks 1940 and 1943 give a seating capacity of the Athens Theatre as 550 and it was operated by Paramount in 1943. The 1950 F.D.Y gives a seating capacity of 1,138. It could have been modernised or even re-built.
Yes, I will try to research to other to ascertain whether or not it was a cinema.
Also see from the brochure that there were TWO Deland cinemas!
I just compared the photo on the Athens link and the one in the b/w tourist brochure and sure see a big difference in the front facade!
TC: Just viewed the tourist brochure and found it most fascinating as it shows some area homes such as bungalows which are my most favorite style of home. Thanks.
Athens Theatre can found found on the top left of this tourist brochure:
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/general/n029933.jpg
My father and step-mother lived near Deland in Deltona and during all of the many years we visited them I don’t recall the Athens in downtown Deland, but am so glad to read that it is being restored to its former glory, inside and out!
The Athens Theatre seated 1138 people as of 1955 listings.