Plus, 10+ Lakeland schools get new principals.
 
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Today’s Forecast

93º | 19% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:38 a.m. | Sunset 8:26 p.m.

 

🎞️ A theater fit for the golden age

The Polk Theatre’s star-studded history
Screen Shot 2019-07-22 at 3.15.29 PM
How much do you know about the Polk Theatre’s roots? | Photo by @aschwenker6690
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 of his dreams. He sold the unfinished project to Publix Theatre Corporation for around $300,000 and building began.

The interior of the Polk Theatre is shown, including a screen surrounded by faux windows and balconies.

The iconic interior of the Polk Theatre was designed by Italian architect, J.E. Casale.

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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.

Elvis stands on stage at the Polk Theatre with a guitar holding a microphone

Did you know that the King himself performed on the Polk’s stage in 1956?

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Photo by Jerry Perkins courtesy of Laura Milton, Polk Theatre

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.
Asked

Which of the following celebrity figures did not perform at the Polk Theatre?
A. Eddy Arnold
B. Charlie Chaplin
C. Glenn Miller
D. Gene Autrey
Give us your best star-studded guess
 
Events
Wednesday, July 10
  • Bridge | Wednesday, July 10 | 12:30-4 p.m. | Peggy Brown Building, 215 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | $0-$5 | Bring your own Bridge game, play with a group, or take a class to learn how to play.
  • Live Trivia w/ Smokin’ Chanchos | Wednesday, July 10 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Join in a round of free trivia for a chance to win prizes.
Thursday, July 11
  • Ballet Class | Thursday, July 11 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | Free | Kids ages 5-17 will learn basic ballet skills + terminology in a supportive environment.
  • Stargazing at the Rooftop | Thursday, July 11 | 8-10 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free entry | Head to the Rooftop Bar to view stars through a telescope with cocktail specials in hand.
Friday, July 12
  • Lakeland Cruisers Cruise Night | Friday, July 12 | 5-8:30 p.m. | Lakeside Village, 1479 Town Center Dr., Lakeland | Free | View modern and classic cars at this family-friendly car show.
  • Dixieland Night Market | Friday, July 12 | 6-11 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Browse art, fashion, food, and jewelry from local makers at this monthly night market.
  • Steve Hytner | Friday, July 12-Saturday, July 13 | 8 p.m. | Laugh Out Lounge, 19 3rd St. NW, Winter Haven | $25-$30 | See this “Seinfeld” actor perform stand-up at a 21+ show.
Saturday, July 13
  • Ladies Brunch | Saturday, July 13 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Lavender ‘n Lace, 430 N. Lake Shore Way, Lake Alfred | $65 | Find community while sipping a cuppa in this brunch just for the ladies.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Community
  • At least 18 elementary, middle, and high schools across Polk will receive new principals before school goes back into session in August. See the 10+ Lakeland schools that are on the list. (The Ledger)
Coming Soon
  • Lakeland’s Rose Dynasty Center will double in size in the next few months. In early 2025, the center will take over the other half of its rented building to expand its clinical offerings and library, as well as add a food pantry + clothing closet in the future. (WUSF)
Development
  • A new single-family housing development is opening near downtown Winter Haven this October. Annabelle Estates will include 286 detached single-family and 38 townhome lots, as well as a pickleball court + other recreation areas. Starting home prices are TBA.
Tech
  • Polk State received a $114,642 grant through the Florida Commerce Digital Connectivity Technology Program. Funds will be used to establish the college’s first-ever “Collab Lab,” which will provide entrepreneurs with internet, tech, and training to launch or grow their businesses.
Edu
  • Dr. Devin Stephenson’s term as president of Florida Poly began on Monday, replacing inaugural president Dr. Randy Avent. Among Stephenson’s main goals are to increase campus enrollment, infrastructure, and funding, as well as add new academic programs.
Weather
  • The NOAA Hurricane Hunters got an early start to their season, flying through Hurricane Beryl last week. The Lakeland-based team possesses the only two aircraft in the world made for these types of data collection missions. (WFLA)
Answered
  • Earlier this week, we asked how many parks call Lakeland home. More than 200 of you submitted your best guess — but only 17.5% of you guessed the correct answer of 70+. Next time you’re looking a new park to try, check out our guide.
Sports
  • Get your student athlete new-school-year ready with Lakeland Regional Health’s Free Sports Physical Day — offering (you guessed it) free sports physicals for middle and high school students. Bonus: Also enjoy giveaways of UV sunglasses, reusable water bottles, and more. Register for the weekend events on July 27 + Aug. 10.*
Finance
  • Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*
 
Outdoors

🐻 Look for the bear necessities

What to do when you see injured or unexpected wildlife in Lakeland
A black bear peers through a glass window looking inside a home.
If you receive an unexpected wildlife visitor, don’t panic — here’s what to do. | Photo by NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Lakeland and Polk County are teeming with all kinds of wildlife. Some, like our infamous swans or alligators, are seen regularly. Others, like the young black bear recently spotted roaming Lakeland’s Shore Acres neighborhood — not so much.

If you see wildlife that are out of the norm for your area, or appear to be sick, orphaned, or injured, the most important thing to know is to not approach it or pick it up and leave the handling to the experts.

Most wildlife concerns can be directed to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) via the Wildlife Alert system. While the FWC is a state office, there are several regional outposts with officers stationed around the state, including one in Lakeland off of Drane Field Road. Other available resources include:
The Buy

The Buy 7.10.24 (Affiliate)
Cozy Earth’s Bamboo Viscose Sheet Set, so you can enjoy soft, luxurious sheets that also keep you cool. How you know they’re good: The sheets were featured on Oprah’s 2018 Favorite Things list.
More worth The Buy
 
The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
Can you believe a bear was seen casually roaming around Lakeland? I mean, I don’t blame him — our city is pretty great. Growing up in a state park in the northeast, the only wildlife I ever saw up close were deer, turkeys, and the occasional moose. Maybe soon I’ll be able to add a bear to my list, too.
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