Melbourne Outdoor Theatre
1400 W. New Haven Avenue,
West Melbourne,
FL
32904
1400 W. New Haven Avenue,
West Melbourne,
FL
32904
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Kent Theatres Inc., Southeast Cinemas, Talgar Theatre Company
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The Melbourne Outdoor Theatre was opened on March 8, 1955 screening the 1952 adventure “Mutiny” featuring Mark Stevens, Angela Lansbury and Patric Knowles. The second feature was the 1953 horror-Sci-Fi “Phantom from Space”, featuring Ted Cooper, Tom Daly and Steve Acton. The screen tower was 60ft high and 50ft wide. The new airer had a capacity of 300-cars. M.C. Talley Jr. who was the assistant manager at the Brevard Drive-In, was slated to become manager of the new outdoor theatre. It was opened by Talgar Theatres. Rupert N. Koblegard Jr. (dba Sunrise Theatres Inc.) was from Jacksonville, FL. In 1930, Koblegard Jr. had formed a partnership with M.C.Tally (Tal) B.B. Garner (Gar) and Frank Rogers. That was the beginning of the Talgar Theatre Co. On April 3, 1955, the Talgar Theatre holdings were bought out by Horton R. Pudden dba First Southeast Corporation. They had extensive holdings in real estate.
In June of 1960, Fred H. Kent dbs Kent Enterprises bought all of the First Southeastern Corporation Theatre holdings. Fred H. Kent was a veteran in the theatre business and a lawyer. T.L. Hyde was in charge of all the theatres. Before Kent Theatres, Hyde was associated with Talgar Theatres, Florida State Theatres and Sparks Theatres. In looking at a picture of the marquee from 1959-1960 it says “open Fri-Sat-Sun, other nights attend Brevard”, which was the Brevard Drive-In. The Melbourne Outdoor Theatre screened its last movie on March 4, 1979. The property was sold and the theatre was demolished. It is now Chateau in the Pines town houses. During my research of the Melbourne, I found it curious that the term ‘outdoor theatre’ was used to describe it. I did find later on there was a Melbourne Drive-In Inc. that was incorporated in 1955 by another group from Jacksonville, FL with no connection to Talgar Theatres. In 1960 the corporation was disolved. I could be wrong……
Contributed by
Randy Studer, Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Yes, Ken, I visited your family several times when you lived behind the drive-in. It was probably a location not conducive to making friends when you were a kid. Right?
I remember it had a little playground back by the concession stand! It was all dirt parking areas. There were huge pine trees in front of the place. It was just west of Evans Road on 192! Your map pin is way off!
I was a projectionist at this theatre from 1970 to 1972. I maintained the projection equipment and repaired the field speakers as well. I also worked many years as projectionist at the Brevard drive in, Palms theatre and Satellite theatre. My boss at the Satellite lived behind the Melbourne Outdoor theatre in a trailer. I remember going to the Melbourne outdoor back in the 50’s when my dad was projectionist. I miss the projectionist profession and am sorry to see that it is dying.
projectionist1, dying??? Its dead. I am a projectionist in New Jersey of 37 years. My deceased father was also a projectionist for over 55 years. Although our work was mostly indoor theatres, I have many fond memories too. Today I work in the last 6 plex still running 35mm until later this year when it goes all digital. Then I will only get work once a month or so in theatres doing film festivals and such. My main work these days is as a stagehand. The union up here tries to keep me busy. Its very sad how our profession has been destroyed over the years.
1965 print ad added, courtesy of the Melbourne & Melhi Memories-Melbourne Florida Facebook page.
I found reference of a Gem Theatre that was opened on New Haven Avenue in 1914 by J.B. Johnston, and was sold in 1916 to former first Melbourne Mayor Charles John Frazier Campbell. It was still in existence in 1924, the date of a photo I saved from the Melbourne & Melhi Memories-Melbourne Florida Facebook page. I’m looking for confirmation that it ever showed films, before I add a page for it to CT. Please respond back here if anyone finds anything further.
The map that you have for this theater is incorrect. If you expand the map, the correct location is where the “ME” of Melbourne Court is, to the east of the mall. I should know; I lived there for 20 years. I previously posted as raceday6, but could not login.
That is the correct address for it. Don’t go by the little Google map. Click on it and go to the Google map page itself.
It actually opened on 3/8/55 and closed in February 1976. At least that’s when the ads stopped. I visited the site the other day, on 2/2/2020, and it’s behind the Autozone on Highway 192, just east of the Mall. Take the side road that runs north by the autoparts store, and you’ll find…condos! What else? Nothing remains that I could see.
Opened with “Mutiny” and “Phantom from space”.