Aladdin Theater

Aladdin Theater
This article is about the theater in Cocoa, Florida. For the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, see Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Aladdin Theater
Location: 300 Brevard Avenue
Cocoa, Florida
Coordinates: 28°21′19″N 80°43′34″W / 28.355307°N 80.72601°W / 28.355307; -80.72601
NRHP Reference#: 91001541
Added to NRHP: October 17, 1991

The Aladdin Theater (also known as The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse) is an historic theater in Cocoa, Florida, United States. It is located at 300 Brevard Avenue and originally opened its doors on August 18, 1924. On October 17, 1991, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Brevard Community College owned the theater from 1985 to 2010. In the mid-eighties, the college had rescued the theater from a dilapidated state. In 2010 the college offered ownership to the city of Cocoa. The theater has its own board of directors.[1]

The annual budget for 2009 was about $263,000.[2]

History

In 1924 the Aladdin Theater first started showing silent movies and live acts. It was built for $80,000. The Sparks Theater chain purchased the Aladdin in 1939 and changed its name to the "State Theater."[3]

The Kent Theater Chain purchased the building in 1960 and renamed it the Fine Arts Theater.[3]

Subsequently, the city of Cocoa bought the building and renamed it the Cocoa Village Playhouse. The city sold it to Brevard Community College for $1 in 1984. Through donations, and grants, the building was restored from 1985 through 1989. In 1990, the playhouse staging community based musicals.[3]

In 2007, a $2.8 million annex was started.[3]

In 2011, the building was returned to the city of Cocoa.[3]

References

  1. ^ Spitzer, Michelle (18 May 2010). "BCC gives up on theater". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1B. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100518/NEWS01/5180316/BCC-votes-to-give-up-control-of-theater&template=artsemantics&server=MOC-WN0079. 
  2. ^ Spitzer, Michelle (23 May 2010). "Group:City-run playhouse ideal". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1A. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100523/NEWS01/5230332/1006/Group++City-run+playhouse+ideal. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Basu, Rebecca (7 January 2011). "Playhouse sets stage for self-sufficiency". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1A, 3A. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110107/NEWS01/101070322/1006/Cocoa+Village+Playhouse+sets+stage+for+self-sufficiency. 

External links


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