Lake Theatre
601 Lake Avenue,
Lake Worth,
FL
33460
601 Lake Avenue,
Lake Worth,
FL
33460
1 person
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The original Lake Theatre closed for the final time on June 15, 1974 with Walt Disney’s “Robin Hood” and “Napoleon And Samantha”. It was originally supposed to be converted into a mini mall but a restaurant named Pasta Palace was in-place instead.
The Lake Theatre originally had a 160-seat balcony but that part of the theater was shuttered for the remainder of its history for unknown reasons, with the walls being dark with tobacco stains. The theater’s management once got into trouble in 1964 after a woman who contended the theater broke her ankle after tripping over an empty popcorn box and later file a suit against them after.
Article in the Palm Beach Florida Weekly about the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County moving in to the former Lake Theatre in January of 2012:
https://palmbeach.floridaweekly.com/articles/cultural-council-opening-in-robert-m-montgomery-jr-building/
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, a combination art gallery, performance space, educational center, gift shop and tourist information kiosk that is currently housed in the former Lake Theatre is visited starting at 11:50 in this Lake Worth episode of the PBS tv program “On the Town in the Palm Beaches” on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/-61xIcKfLV0?t=710
Nice contemporary exterior shots at 12:30 and 13:00, but also a historic depiction back at 2:41 and 4:03 even though that part of the program is discussing the Lake Worth Playhouse.
Palm Beach Post article about the Lake and other Palm Beach area theatres.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/entertainment/ghost-buildings-the-lost-movie-theaters-palm-beach-county/JR3HksX4rLOpSzsxsZk91O/
Circa 1940’s photo added courtesy of Alvin Lederer.
This page from the Palm Beach Post web log has several images of the Lake Theatre, including an early drawing from the office of architect Roy Benjamin, showing the proposed building with a different marquee and without the rounded corner.
This building is now home to the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. Great place to view works by local artists, shop locally handmade gifts, find out about cultural events & organizations, etc. It’s free and open to the public Tues-Sat from 10am to 5pm.
http://www.palmbeachculture.com/contactus
This was formerly in the ABC Florida State chain.
As for movies nowadays on Lake Avenue, I can report the nearby Lake Worth Playhouse’s Stonzek Theatre (a 48-seat black box space) is alive and thriving with art house fare. Even with limited space, they’ve proven worthwhile successors to the still much-missed Carefree.
http://www.lakeworthplayhouse.org/indie_films.html
If you’ve tried the link directly above, click on “Pasta Palace/Palm Beach Post/Jan. 9 1976” for the ad itself.
Walking past the building last night, noticed signs announcing the Palm Beach County Cultural Council would soon be setting up headquarters. Turns out the family donated the building in Robert M. Montgomery’s memory. Click below for (presently) a partial exterior shot with the new signage:
View link
Then go here for the announcement:
View link
A forgotten interlude in the Lake Theatre’s career: mid-70s incarnation as the Pasta Palace, where diners could watch classic movies as they ate:
View link
What a shame the building is now sitting vacant. I went to $wap Shop Drive-in in Lake Worth two years ago, not knowing about this gorgeous (though closed) site.
The postcard mentioned above can be seen with a better color rendition and in a larger size on my flickr stream: View link
Know that I scan all my cards at 600dpi and clean them in that size, and that I can email a higher res image for a (personal, non-commercial) repro for on the wall or so.
First the Lake Theatre is changed and then the Paramount in Palm Beach. Such a shame.
Perhaps the high profile Mr. Montgomery could return it to a theatre as that just might succeed!
I love viewing the vintage post card of the art moderne Lake Theatre posted on Sept. 23, 2004. I wonder if the lobby was changed much after the renovations were made though I would certainly understand the auditorium floor being ‘flattened’ to create the museum space. Again, such a shame.
Tom N: Such a shame that the PBICA is now closed especially after the decision was made years ago to discontinue the theatre so now the residents of Lake Worth have neither!
The Lake Theater building is currently closed. When Palm Beach CC could no longer operate the museum, philanthropist Robert Montgomery bought it and re-opened it as the Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art. When it became a financial burden to continue its operation, and when no other supporters could be found, he closed the museum. A few years ago, the slope of the auditorium floor was flattened to create the museum space.
I’m sure this PBCCMA is very nice, but sure wish it was still the Lake Theatre.
After clicking on the name, Roy Benjamin I see that 19 theatres in GA, FL and one in MS were connected with him and many are being restored and remaining as theatres.
Two years ago I was on Lucerne Avenue during a visit to FL, but I wasn’t able to stop and step inside the former Lake Theatre to look around. Another nearby former theatre site was the Paramount in Palm Beach which is now a church. Sections of the original lobby’s green wood ceiling can be seen towards the back near the church area. Also original floor to ceiling green and white columns with the famous happy/sad faces are still there. Many wonderful b/w photos of the theatre in its heyday and photos of the many celebrity artists who appeared at the Paramount are on the walls at you enter the front door. So the Paramount Theatre history has been preserved in this way for visitors. I have digital photos of my visit if you wish to see them. My email is on my profile page.
Tom: Yes, the importance of this building escaping demolition and the fate of other downtown structures is the best news despite the changes over the years to the former theatre on Lucerne Avenue. I hope that a tenant(s) can be found to occupy this downtown site.
Patsy: It was changed to its present day look prior to the establishment of the historic district and/or appearance review. I agree that, without the marquee, the building no longer really looks like a movie theater. It no longer is a movie theater. It’s simply an Art Deco/Moderne building. And still, it did avoid demolition, escaping the fate of other downtown buildings.
IMO, if you compare the theatre and its vintage postcard appearance to how it was changed I can’t imagine the planning board agreeing to that present day look.
Patsy: I’d have to check, and I think the theater is in a historic district. I know it’s in an area where any alteration to the appearance must be reviewed by the planning board. I’m not sure what level of landmark designation it has. As of this date, it’s unused. It would be nice if another non-profit/arts organization could occupy the space.
Tom: Thanks for the info and link! The vintage postcard of the Lake was wonderful to see…only wish it still looked that way as downtown Lake Worth along Lucerne is a quaint community near the ocean and would benefit with an original theatre in its midst!