DeLand in Volusia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Dreka Theater

1922

Photographed by AGS Media, August 1, 2011

1. Dreka Theater Marker

Inscription. Imagine the front of this now-modern building with parapets, decorative geometric tiles, and elaborate curvilinear windows on the facade. At the center was an ornate kiosk ticket office, naming it for the popular department store adjacent to it, Walter Geissinger developed the theater to capitalize on the emerging movie industries which boomed following World War I. For at least three generations of patrons, the Dreka Theater was DeLand's most popular spot on Saturday afternoons. Double features always included a western movie, often with a "singing cowboy," and a scary mystery or zany comedy. At least two cartoons and an exciting weekly serial kept on the edge of their seats. Tickets under 12 years of age: 9 cents. The theater closed in 1956.

Erected by the West Volusia Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Florida - West Volusia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.

Location. 29° 1.679′ N, 81° 18.174′ W. Marker is in DeLand, Florida, in Volusia County. It is on East New York Avenue (State Road 44) east of Woodland Boulevard (U.S. 17 / 92), on the right when traveling

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east. The marker is mounted on the outside of the building, facing the sidewalk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 East New York Avenue, Deland FL 32724, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: James H. Ford Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Dreka Building (within shouting distance of this marker); 1925 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1960 DeLand McCory’s Store Sit-In (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilcox Saloon (within shouting distance of this marker); DeLand Woolworth’s Store Sit-In (within shouting distance of this marker); Miller-Fish Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Circa 1883 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeLand.

Regarding Dreka Theater. The former theater is a commercial/retail building, and at the time of this marker's submission to the database, the building was vacant.

To learn more about the department store of which the theater was a namesake, see Dreka Building under "Other nearby markers" above.

Photographed by AGS Media, August 1, 2011

2. Dreka Theater Marker

Seen here looking west along New York Avenue, mounted next to the building's front entrance.

The former Dreka Theater image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, August 1, 2011

3. The former Dreka Theater

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,389 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 1, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.