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

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This property has been
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. Marker 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Oates Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); 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. ¼ mile away); Second Mass. Infantry Camp

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); The Moorehead Community (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of the Camp of The 10th Cavalry, The “Buffalo Soldiers” (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lakeland.

More about this marker. The marker is capped with the Great Seal of the United States.

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

Photographed By AGS Media, December 22, 2011

2. Polk Theatre and Office Building Marker

The plaque is mounted under the marquee, to the left of the entrance.

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.)

The Polk Theatre and Office Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, December 22, 2011

3. The Polk Theatre and Office Building

The Polk Theatre image. Click for full size.

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 672 times since then and 49 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.