Swampy's Florida

Swampy got a tour of the historic Polk Theater in Lakeland. Here’s their cool sign!

Click here to read the history of the theater. I’d repeat it here, but I hope you’ll visit their website and consider making a trip to see a movie or play in a classic setting.

A bit of detail of the original outside facade.

These chandeliers are from an the now gone Florida Theater in St. Petersburg.

Here is a view from the screen and stage.

Here’s a look of the interior by the screen.

This detail from the stage.

Here are the steps to the second floor. The tile is the original to the 1928 structure.

Upstairs is the lounge area for the ladies and the gentlemen.

Detail of the lounge area.

Entry way to the Ladies lounge.

Going almost to the rafters of the third level of seating is this view of the screen.

A second tier view of the interior.

A sign still up backstage.

The less often used electrical hub of the theater.

Here are the steps to the wardrobe rooms.

To makeup and wardrobe. It was in 1957 that Elvie strolled this hallway before going on stage at the Polk Theater.

Makeup!

Now we go downstairs into the basement.

Swampy taking his life in his hands! Actually this is now a storage room.

More of the power source for the theater.

The very bottom floor of the theater. This room has a tendency to flood, so they left the original heating system in. Which is a neat opportunity to see something most could not have room to keep.