O Cinema Miami Beach
500 71st Street,
Miami Beach,
FL
33140
500 71st Street,
Miami Beach,
FL
33140
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 41 of 41 comments
I ran this location in late 1997 early 1998 for Regal Cinemas. The theatre was in horrible shape. I remember there being sub-pumps in some of the auditoriums to drain the water when it rained.
The smaller house having 70mm was not rare for Miami twins as this was the designed for roadshows and longer runs in order to capitalize on the improved film terms.
Though the Byron Carlyle Theatre was opened in 1968, it got an article in Boxoffice on October 19, 1970. The Byron had 590 seats and the Carlyle seated 993. Oddly, the larger house had only 35mm projection while the smaller was equipped with Century 70/35s.
The Boxoffice article said that the architect of the project, A. Herbert Mathes, was “…the architect responsible for many Wometco theatres….”
December 18th, 1968 grand opening ad is at View link
Article on the Byron/Carlyle opening, 1968.
View link
Looking at the photos, I can’t believe this is the same Byron Carlyle I went to in the mid-80’s. The marquee Maxter describes was awesome to me as a kid (I used to stand across the street after shows and just take it all in). The last time I ever went to the BC was a sneak preview for 1988’s THE UNHOLY. Then we moved out of Miami.
Man, it looks weird now.
This had seven screens at one point.
I worked at the Byron Carlyle 7 from 1990 to 1996 and I loved my job. Started as a usher and ended up as a Projectionist. The theater had a major renovation when Theater Aquisitions Inc. took over from Wometco, and than Cobb Theaters right after. The front markee that had the span of the whole front was removed and replaced by the hanging markee at front. Round mirror window wanna-be fixtures were attached to make it look like a cruise ship and it was painted baby blue… or Deco Style colors. “Deco Style” was the theme. The inside had two big auditoriums to the right, both with balcony and five to the left. I clearly remember the renovation, as they got raid of the old seats and old carpet and replaced it with some funky multicolor rug and gray rubber floor to replace the black tiles in the lobby. The consession stand remained the same but extensions were made to both sides to make it as long as the lobby itself. The inside hallways crossing from side to side were untouchedexcept for a new coat of paint. The old Century Projectors ramained the same, only that the sound system was upgraded to Dolby Digital, SDSS & DTS to meet the new sound experience. I had a good time and have very good memories of that place. I thought I’ll let you’ll know…..
I was in Miami Beach in March and the theatre is well maintained. Unfortunatley the former Surf which is around the corber and housed Med Fit Gym for many years has closed. Veneviosn International which ha studios int he oild Shore theatre across the street had posters in the window, but no mention of taking it over.
HEY!They had tryouts for Hottest Mom In America here last week.That’s putting it to good use.Tryouts this week in Chicago.
Isaw that this theater has reopened and has been showing movies all summer. Anybody know if it is permanant?
Before its renovation and reincarnation, the Byron-Carlyle had a $2 admission policy for a couple of years (around 1999-2000)screening recent second-run films on all 6 or 7 screens (I remember seeing The Bone Collector, Blue Streak, Meet the Parents and many others), bringing a brief bit of grindhouse nostalgia to the contemporary moviegoing experience, especially as the theater began to deteriorate a bit. Too beautiful to last, though, like NYC’s bargain-priced Worldwide Cinemas.
JKane
The lobby of this popular Miami Beach theatre was decorated with classical Chinese style paintings done by Frances Wolfson, wife of WOMETCO founder Mitchell Wolfson.
I see that some screenings of The Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival were held here April 2005. It is also advertised as a live theatre venue. Has it been de-plexed?
The Byron-Carlyle has been renovated and has reopened as a playhouse.
As I lived around the corner from this theatre in the 1970s and attended many time and the actual name was the Byron – Carlyle not the Carlyle. These were twin theatres and each was named separately. Later when I left the city the theatres were split and supposedly renamed Byron – Carlyle 7.