Seminole Cultural Arts Theatre

The Seminole Cultural Arts Theatre, commonly known as the Seminole Theatre, is a historic live-performance venue at 18 North Krome Avenue in Homestead, Florida. Its origins trace to 1916, when the Airdome Theatre—built in 1912 at 174 East Flagler Street in Miami—was dismantled, shipped by train to Homestead, rebuilt on the old Dixie Highway east of Krome Avenue, and renamed the Homestead Garden Theatre. It operated as the Homestead Cinema from 1916 to 1919, when the building was renamed the Seminole Theatre. In 1921, pioneers James Washington English and Henry Booker Sr. built a new theatre in downtown Homestead and carried over the Seminole name; it opened on November 26, 1921. In March 1940, a fire of unknown origin started on the stage and destroyed the theatre completely. Fire engines from Coral Gables, South Miami, and the City of Miami responded but could not save the building. During reconstruction, films were shown on a screen set up in the alley. The theatre rebuilt in 1940 features the Art Deco facade that remains its signature today. The Seminole closed in 1979 due to financial difficulties and was nearly destroyed in 1992 by Hurricane Andrew. In 1993, the owners donated the dilapidated building to the city, and preservationists worked for decades on its restoration. In a May 2014 bond referendum, Homestead voters approved $5 million in restoration funding. Today the Seminole Theatre is a cultural arts venue owned by the city and managed by OVG Facilities. It presents a diverse range of live performances, film screenings, community events, and educational programs. Recent and upcoming programming includes the play Frankenstein and its immersive pre-show experience, a "1920s Christmas Cabaret," "The Next Chapter: 'Sitting Pretty'," In the Heights, "Opera Meets Zarzuela," the family Halloween event "Toy Story of Terror," and "Seminole Theatre Voice" classes and school showcases for young people. The venue also hosts private and community events and offers ticketing, playbills, concessions, and seating charts. The theatre's mission is rooted in historic preservation and community cultural enrichment, and it is a key center for the performing arts in southern Miami-Dade County. From a traveling cinema in Miami to a rebuilt Art Deco landmark to a restored city-owned arts center, its long history makes it one of Homestead's most enduring cultural institutions.

The Seminole Theatre's history begins with a building that traveled. In 1916, the Airdome Theatre in Miami — built in 1912 at 174 E. Flagler St. — was dismantled, loaded onto a train and hauled to Homestead. It was rebuilt on Old Dixie Highway, east of Krome Avenue, and renamed the Homestead Garden Theatre. According to Bob Jensen, president of the Town Hall Museum in Homestead and a member of the Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council, the movie theater changed names sometime between 1916 and 1919 to the Homestead Movies. In 1919 the building was renamed the Seminole Theatre. In 1921 the theater ceased operating under that name at that location when early pioneers James Washington English and Henry Booker Sr. built a new theater in downtown Homestead and took the Seminole name with them. The new Seminole Theatre opened on November 26, 1921. In March 1940 the theater burned down after a fire started on the stage; the cause was never determined. Fire trucks were sent from Coral Gables, South Miami and the City of Miami, but the effort was not enough. As the official history recounts, "It burnt down completely. All that was left was the shell and the sky. And so when it was rebuilt, it was completely redesigned." In the meantime, a screen was set up in the alley and people watched movies there. When the theater was rebuilt in 1940, it was designed with the Art Deco facade that remains today. The Seminole closed its doors in 1979 due to financial trouble. In 1992 it suffered a near-total loss from Hurricane Andrew. In 1993 the owners donated the dilapidated structure to the city, and historic preservationists have been working since to bring it back. The effort was laborious and decades in the making, driven by devoted citizen groups passionate about historic preservation. During the May 2014 bond referendum, Homestead voters voted in favor of a $5 million measure tied to the restoration. Today the Seminole Theatre operates as a restored, city-owned cultural arts venue at 18 N. Krome Ave, Homestead, FL 33030. It is managed by OVG Facilities and presents a broad program of live theatre, music, film, community and educational events, including productions such as "Frankenstein," the "1920s Christmas Cabaret," "In the Heights," "Opera Meets Zarzuela," and family programming like the "Toy Story of Terror Spooktacular."

• 2014

  Homestead voters approve a $5 million bond measure for restoration in the May referendum.

• 1993

  Owners donate the dilapidated structure to the city.

• 1992

  Near-total loss from Hurricane Andrew.

• 1979

  Seminole Theatre closes due to financial trouble.

• 1940

  Theater burns down in March; rebuilt with Art Deco facade.

• 1921

  New Seminole Theatre built downtown by James Washington English and Henry Booker Sr.; opens November 26, 1921.

• 1919

  Building renamed the Seminole Theatre.

• 1916

  Airdome Theatre dismantled, shipped to Homestead, rebuilt as the Homestead Garden Theatre.

• 1912

  Airdome Theatre built in Miami at 174 E. Flagler St.

A historic, city-owned cultural arts theatre and live-performance venue serving Homestead and southern Miami-Dade County.

• Frankenstein

• 1920s Christmas Cabaret

• The Next Chapter: 'Sitting Pretty'

• In the Heights

• Opera Meets Zarzuela

• Toy Story of Terror Spooktacular

• Seminole Theatre Vocals – Fall Session

1. 1Seminole Theatre — Historic Live Performance Venue in Homestead, FLseminoletheatre.org
2. 2History - Seminole Theatreseminoletheatre.org
3. 3About Us - Seminole Theatreseminoletheatre.org
4. 4Toy Story of Terror Spooktacular at Seminole Theatreseminoletheatre.org
5. 5Seminole Cultural Arts Theatre - Wikidatawikidata.org