Aladdin Theater

Last updated

The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse
Aladdin Theater, State Theater, Fine Arts Theater, Cocoa Village Playhouse
AladdinTheater.jpg
Aladdin Theater
Address300 Brevard Avenue
Cocoa, Florida
United States
Owner City of Cocoa
OperatorThe Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse
Type Community theatre
Construction
Opened1924
Reopened1990
Website
www.cocoavillageplayhouse.com
Aladdin Theater
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Coordinates 28°21′19″N80°43′34″W / 28.355307°N 80.72601°W / 28.355307; -80.72601
NRHP reference No. 91001541
Added to NRHPOctober 17, 1991

The Aladdin Theater (also known as The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse) is an historic theater in Cocoa, Florida, United States. It is located at 300 Brevard Avenue and originally opened its doors on August 18, 1924. [1] On October 17, 1991, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Contents

Brevard Community College owned the theater from 1985 to 2010. In the mid-eighties, the college had rescued the theater from a dilapidated state. In 2010 the college offered ownership to the city of Cocoa. The theater has its own board of directors. [2]

The annual budget for 2009 was about $263,000. [3]

History

In 1924 the Aladdin Theater first started showing silent movies and live acts. It was built for $80,000. The Sparks Theater chain purchased the Aladdin in 1939 and changed its name to the "State Theater." [4]

The Kent Theater Chain purchased the building in 1960 and renamed it the Fine Arts Theater. [4]

Subsequently, the city of Cocoa bought the building and renamed it the Cocoa Village Playhouse. The city sold it to Brevard Community College for $1 in 1984. Through donations, and grants, the building was restored from 1985 through 1989. In 1990, the playhouse began staging community based musicals. [4]

The theater was heavily featured in the 1993 film Matinee, where it portrayed the fictional Key West Strand Theater. The film, set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, starred John Goodman. [5]

In 2007, a $2.8 million annex was started. [4]

In 2011, the building was returned to the city of Cocoa. [4]

In 2012, there were 50,000 paying customers annually. [6]

In 2016, the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse purchased the historic R.M. Rembert Building located next door at 304 Brevard Avenue. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Datzman, Ken. "Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse to celebrate 100th anniversary with events", Brevard Business News , West Melbourne, Florida, volume 42, number 30, July 22, 2024, pages 1 and 23.
  2. ↑ Spitzer, Michelle (May 18, 2010). "BCC gives up on theater". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1B.
  3. ↑ Spitzer, Michelle (May 23, 2010). "Group:City-run playhouse ideal". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1A.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Basu, Rebecca (January 7, 2011). "Playhouse sets stage for self-sufficiency". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1A, 3A. (partial archived version)
  5. ↑ "Hit Movie 'Matinee' Filmed In Cocoa Village 24 Years Ago, Portrayed Strand Theater In 1960s Key West". Space Coast Daily. March 3, 2017.
  6. ↑ Reed, Matt (April 11, 2013). "Small city, big-city issues (interview with city manager John Titkanich". Florida Today . Melbourne, Florida. pp. 8A.
  7. ↑ Datzman, Ken. "The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse to open Broadway on Brevard' season with musical 'Grease'; fundraising for renovation of R.M. Rembert Building", Brevard Business News, West Melbourne, Florida, volume 40, number 35, August 29, 2022, pages 12 and 19.
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