Spotlight on the Arts
Florida Repertory Theatre - “History of the Arcade Theatre”
7/13/2021 | 2m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
We go inside Fort Myers’ historic Arcade Theatre and trace its beginnings to the 1920s...
We go inside Fort Myers’ historic Arcade Theatre and trace its beginnings as a 1920s vaudeville house and movie theatre, to present day as the home to Florida Repertory Theatre.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Spotlight on the Arts is a local public television program presented by WGCU-PBS
Spotlight on the Arts is a series of short videos highlighting arts organizations in Southwest Florida. Funding provided by Naomi Bloom in loving memory of her husband, Ron Wallace.
Spotlight on the Arts
Florida Repertory Theatre - “History of the Arcade Theatre”
7/13/2021 | 2m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
We go inside Fort Myers’ historic Arcade Theatre and trace its beginnings as a 1920s vaudeville house and movie theatre, to present day as the home to Florida Repertory Theatre.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(upbeat music) (old-time music) - The historic Arcade Theater has been home to Florida Rep since 1998, but this amazing venue has hosted arts and entertainment for over a century.
- [Narrator] Built by Harvey and Gilmer Heitman in 1915, the theater was part of the historic arcade of shops envisioned by the Heitman brothers who were instrumental in the development of Fort Myers in the early 20th century.
Originally a vaudeville house and expanded and reopened as a movie theater in 1917, the Arcade hosted a variety of magic acts, plays, and local talent nights that would have been attended by many of Fort Myers' famous early residents, including the Burrow sisters, the Firestones, Thomas and Mina Edison, and Henry Ford.
In 1938, the arcade was rebuilt to the plans of architect Roy Benjamin reopening to great fanfare that same year.
But by the late eighties, the theater had fallen into severe disrepair and its future was in doubt.
However, a 1991 benefit, starring famed ballet and film star Mikhail Baryshnikov raised enough money to completely renovate and save this historic theater.
- So after the space was empty for awhile, Florida Rep took over in 1998.
And our very first production was a terrific comedy, a farce, "Noises Off" by Michael Frayn, which I was actually involved in that production.
We've redone the seats here and the acoustics in here have been revamped over the years.
The sound system in here is state-of-the-art.
Our lobby area is appointed with a concessions bar where you can get something to eat, a cocktail, soft drink at intermission during the show.
And they're really, with the way the seats are situated in here, there's really not a bad seat in the house.
- [Narrator] From vaudeville to movies to live theater productions, the historic Arcade Theater has always had the best seat in the house for wonderful entertainment in Southwest Florida.
(gentle music)
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Spotlight on the Arts is a local public television program presented by WGCU-PBS
Spotlight on the Arts is a series of short videos highlighting arts organizations in Southwest Florida. Funding provided by Naomi Bloom in loving memory of her husband, Ron Wallace.