While the Lakeland we know today is rich with arts and culture opportunities, it was an entirely different story in 1928. With a population of just 15,000, Lakeland didn’t seem like the ideal place for an ornate vaudeville and movie theater — but businessman John Melton saw it differently. Enter: The Polk Theatre.
Melton was also responsible for major Lakeland developments like Cleveland Heights, but he struggled to borrow the necessary capital to build out the theater. He sold the unfinished project to Publix Theatre Corporation for around $300,000 and building began.
The iconic interior of the Polk Theatre was designed by Italian architect, J.E. Casale.
Image via @fmofmpodcast
One of the most iconic things about the Polk is its Mediterranean-inspired architecture. The mastermind behind it? Architect J.E. Casale, an Italian immigrant who brought a taste of his home to Polk County through the theater’s tiled staircases, twisted columns, terrazzo floors, starry ceilings, and stage that resembles an Italian townhome.
The theater also possessed cutting-edge features at the time, like a 100-ton air wash cooling system and a Vitaphone sound on reel film system. In its early days of operating, the Polk’s air conditioning system took such a toll on Lakeland’s power supply that when it was turned on, lights all across the city dimmed.
Since its opening day in December of 1928, the Polk has expanded its offerings from solely film and vaudeville to include live events, even once hosting notable figures such as Tommy Dorsey and Elvis Presley. After the theater fell on hard times in the 1960s and 70s, a group of locals came together to save it in 1982 and continue to operate it as a non-profit to this day.
Do you have any memories of the Polk Theatre from its earlier years? Share them with us.
