Biscayne Plaza Theatre

206 South Pointe Drive,
Miami Beach, FL 33139

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Wometco Theatres

Architects: George E.T. Wells

Styles: Spanish Baroque

Previous Names: Plaza Theatre

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The 1,500-seat Plaza Theatre opened November 25, 1926 with Jean Hersholt in “The Old Soak”. During construction a Kimball organ was being installed but it was water damaged during a September hurricane, and had to be returned to the Kimball factory. A new Kimball 14-unit organ was on order, but had not arrived for the opening night. Organist Blanche Keil Rogers (originally from Atlanta, GA) played piano with the theatre orchestra on opening night and until the new organ was installed several weeks later. The Biscayne Plaza Theatre was second theatre to be built in Miami Beach. The theatre was designed by architect George E.T. Wells of Miami. It was located on Biscayne Street (now known as South Pointe Drive) between Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.

My family moved to Miami Beach in 1953 and I remember seeing this theatre from the outside only. The Biscayne Plaza Theatre had closed its doors by then, for that part of South Beach had deteriorated. It was demolished in 1959.

Contributed by Bob Berg

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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

bbin3d on September 21, 2004 at 10:28 pm

The address for this theatre should be 206 Biscayne Street.

miamiguy on July 4, 2007 at 10:12 pm

A note for anyone trying to find this location on a map —“Biscayne Street” in Miami Beach has been renamed “South Point Drive.”

I assume they renamed it so it wouldn’t conflict with “Biscayne Blvd” over in Miami.

Al Alvarez on March 31, 2009 at 12:32 am

The Biscayne Plaza closed in 1951. It was renamed Plaza when Wometco took it over in 1935.

Al Alvarez on April 3, 2009 at 7:03 pm

Article on Biscayne Plaza opening in 1926.

View link

Al Alvarez on October 14, 2009 at 4:12 pm

According to Boxoffice Magazine, this location was demolished in 1959.

Al Alvarez on January 16, 2010 at 7:12 pm

Mike, that paper has two other interesting finds.

The First is the re-opening of the Fotosho which had been torn down and rebuilt that year on the same spot. The second is the ad for the Cameo in Allapattah which I had never heard of.

The Riviera mentioned in the copy was in Homestead.

aeterna on December 28, 2015 at 5:35 pm

A very good shot of the Biscayne from the “Images of America” series (p.41) By the marquee, this was taken September/Fall of ‘27.

https://books.google.com/books?id=rn8eemVio40C