Opera Theater of Lakeland: Polk Theater

Opera Theater of Lakeland is proud to be the resident opera company of the Historic Polk Theatre in
Lakeland, Florida. The Polk Theatre was built during a golden age in the United States - the stock
market had yet to crash (though the boom had ended in Florida), and the clouds of World War II were not
yet on the horizon. Even so, it was quite a leap of faith to build a vaudeville/movie palace in Lakeland in
1928. The population hovered at only 15,000 people, and it was a rural community.

Lakeland businessman John E. Melton (whose developments include Cleveland Heights and the
eighteen-hole golf course and country club adjoining the area) planned a Polk County first - a
multipurpose building anchored by a grand movie palace. Street front office and retail space would bring
in the revenue needed to build the theatre. However, it was difficult to borrow large sums of money for
new construction in post-boom Lakeland, and Melton was forced to sell the uncompleted theatre portion
of his building to the Publix Theatre Corporation for approximately $300,000.

So build it they did, and it was a place of magic and wonder! The architect, J.E. Casale, an Italian-born
immigrant, recreated a Mediterranean village in the heart of Central Florida. Flanked by Italianate walls
with niches, sconces, and faux balconies and windows, the patron’s eye was drawn toward the stage and
the full scale Italian renaissance “townhouse” setting dominating the theatre’s interior.

The mezzanine lobby, accessible by ornately tiled staircases, featured twisted columns, delicate cornice
and molding work, and brass banded terrazzo floors. All of this splendor sat under the watchful eye of a
starry ceiling. Painted a deep, royal blue, it fascinated patrons with its twinkling stars and sunrise/sunset
effect. Because this simulated a natural setting, it was called an “atmospheric” theatre.

It was during its first 20 years of existence that the Polk Theatre’s star shone most brightly. Beginning
with the advent of the “talkies” in the late ‘20s and ending with the rise of the television medium in the late
‘40s, the golden years of the Polk Theater demonstrated that Lakeland’s movie palace was much more
than just a golden screening room. Vaudeville acts, newsreels, and various civic functions also drew
crowds to the Theatre. Consequently, through depression, war, and up until mid-century, the Polk served
as a town center for community interaction. During the transitional period in American popular culture, the
Polk showcased both vaudeville and films. From its earliest days and extending into the ‘40s, the Theatre
hosted a wide variety of live events in addition to films.

Through the war years, the Polk Theatre provided up to date news on the front, and wartime fundraising
activities were frequently held. However, the ‘40s are seen as the end of the “golden years” in Hollywood
due to a number of factors, not the least of which was the rise of television. By 1957 movie attendance
had dropped 50 percent from its historically high mid-1940’s level. Theatres across the nation closed as
living rooms replaced theatres as entertainment centers. The Polk Theatre survived for three decades
after the end of World War II, but it’s luster faded as years past.

During the ‘60s and ‘70s as Lakeland grew and became an increasingly suburban town, the Theatre’s
downtown location became a district liability. And, with the advent of multiplexes, old movie palaces were
vulnerable targets for closure or worse. The Polk managed to stay operational into the ‘80s, but there
was a growing possibility that the downtown landmark could be razed. The Polk was like a fine lady who
was forced by economic conditions to pawn some of her jewelry, but she never sacrificed her dignity.

In 1982, a group of concerned citizens banded together to save the Polk Theatre. They formed a non-
profit group, borrowed money, secured a grant from the state, and purchased the theatre for $300,000.
As a non-profit, the Polk continues to rely upon grants and donations in order to meet its financial
obligations. A restoration of the building was completed in October 1999.

The Theatre is supported by revenue from films, its Performing Arts Series, two fundraisers a year, rental
income, and memberships. Last year, 30,000 people attended events at the Polk.