Lakeland in Polk County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Polk Theatre and Office Building
Photographed by AGS Media, December 22, 2011
1. Polk Theatre and Office Building Marker
placed on the
National
Register of
Historic Places
By the United States
Department of the Interior
Erected 1993. (Marker Number 93000446.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment.
Location. 28° 2.597′ N, 81° 57.437′ W. Marker is in Lakeland, Florida, in Polk County. It is on South Florida Avenue north of West Lemon Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is mounted on the building, next to the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 121 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland FL 33801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Florida. 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: Munn Park Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); The Oates Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Munn Park Historic District (about 600 feet away); Munn Park (about 700 feet away); Allen Kryger (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mute Swan Protecting Her Cygnets (approx. Ό mile away); Second Mass. Infantry Camp (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Moorehead Community (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lakeland.
More about
this page online
Regarding Polk Theatre and Office Building. Built in 1928 in Italian Renaissance revival style, the 1,400 seat vaudeville/movie palace is an "atmospheric" theater, featuring an elaborate interior resembling an outdoor Mediterranean village. The ceiling, complete with twinkling lights, looks like an open, starry sky. The theater featured Polk County's first air conditioning system. Notable performers who have graced the Polk Theatre stage include Tommy Dorsey, Eddy Arnold, Gene Autrey, Glenn Miller, and Elvis Presley.
Attached to the Theatre is a significant two-story section of street front retail and office space.
Polk Theatre continues to host films, performing artists, and special events, and it received a major restoration in 1999. The building was listed with the National Register of Historic Places on May 27, 1993 (ref #93000446). In 1997, it was also designated a Contributing Property within the Munn Park Historic District, a National Historic District.
Also see . . . Polk Theatre page on Wikipedia. (Submitted on March 17, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.)
Photographed by AGS Media, December 22, 2011
2. Polk Theatre and Office Building Marker
Photographed by AGS Media, December 22, 2011
3. The Polk Theatre and Office Building
Photographed by AGS Media, December 22, 2011
4. The Polk Theatre
Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 997 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 17, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
