Olympia Theater Photographs and Papers
Overview
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| Creator: |
Weiss, Alfred
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| Title: |
Olympia Theater Photographs and Papers,
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| Dates: |
1926-1980s
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| Quantity: |
Photographic prints: 393 items
Papers: 0.5 linear ft.
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| Abstract: |
Photographs and memorabilia relating to the Olympia Theater in downtown Miami, Florida. The Olympia is now called the Maurice Gusman Cultural Center. The collector, Alfred Weiss, worked as the theater's manager from 1926 to 1974.
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| Identification: |
1999-385 |
Historical Note
The Olympia Theater is located at 174 East Flagler Street, Miami, Florida. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Olympia, designed as an atmospheric theatre by John Eberson, opened as a silent movie house and converted to vaudeville when talking motion pictures were introduced in 1929. Alfred Weiss served as manager of the Olympia Theatre from its opening in 1926 until his retirement in 1974. Weiss booked high quality acts, and the theatre gained the reputation as one of the major stops for entertainers on the American vaudeville circuit.
During the 1950s the growing popularity of television led to the Olympia's decline, and the theater closed in 1954; however, it reopened three months later as a first-run theatre. In 1971, as plans were under consideration to demolish the structure and convert the site to a parking lot, philanthropist, Maurice Gusman purchased the building as a gift to the city. In 1972 it reopened as the Maurice Gusman Cultural Center for showcasing the arts.
Scope and Content
The Alfred Weiss collection consists primarily of photographic prints along with performance logs, press advertisements, pamphlets, ephemera and papers pertaining to the Olympia Theatre. Some also relate to other theatres and the Florida State Theatre, Inc. Information on the Weiss family, manuals for theatre management and trade magazines are also included.
The photographic prints and papers are arranged by subject and filed in alphabetical order.
Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Permission from Historical Museum of Southern Florida staff required prior to reproduction of photographs in a publication. Please contact archives staff for more information.
Index Terms
Eberson, John, 1875-1954
Maurice Gusman Cultural Center
Olympia Theater
photographic prints
Theaters -- Florida -- Miami
Weiss, Alfred
Administrative Information
Preferred citation:
Historical Museum of Southern Florida
Provenance:
Gift of his daughter, Vicky Dassler, 1999.
Container List
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| Box |
Folder |
Contents |
| 1 |
1 |
Olympia Theatre -- advertising posters |
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2 |
Olympia Theatre -- celebrities |
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3 |
Olympia Theatre -- interiors and alley |
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4-5 |
Olympia Theatre -- marquee |
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6 |
Olympia Theatre -- orchestra |
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7-8 |
Olympia Theatre -- performers |
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9 |
Olympia Theatre -- staff, groups, etc. |
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10 |
Olympia Theatre -- stage sets |
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11-12 |
Theatres -- Florida and Miami |
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13 |
Weiss family |
| 2 |
1-2 |
Florida State Theatres, Inc., etc. |
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3 |
Olympia Theatre -- cartoon, letter, etc. |
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4-5 |
Olympia Theatre -- log of performers and costs |
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6-7 |
Olympia Theatre -- newspaper clippings |
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8 |
Olympia Theatre -- performance schedules |
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9 |
Olympia Theatre -- press advertisement |
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10 |
Theatre programs |
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11 |
Theatre publications |
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12 |
Theatres - Miami |
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13 |
Variety Club program |
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14 |
Weiss family papers |
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15 |
Showmanship in advertising [book] |
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16 |
M and P Theatre maintenance manual |
Oversize Items
| 1 |
Formal opening of the Olympia Theatre. The Herald, February 18, 1926 |
| 2 |
"The Talk of the West" [broadside] |
| 3 |
Certificate presented to Al Weiss for services in World War II |
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