Edwards Theatre 1926
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Marine Biologist
N 27° 20.237 W 082° 32.628
17R E 347280 N 3024738
This historical marker about the Edwards Theatre is located on what is now called the Sarasota Opera House in Sarasota, Florida.
Waymark Code: WMJFEQ
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 11/11/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member the federation
Views: 4

The historical marker reads as follows:

The Edwards Theatre was the dream of Sarasota County's native son and the City's first Mayor, Arthur B. Edwards, who dedicated himself to the proposition that a modern city be built on the shores of Sarasota Bay. He was born October 2, 1874, and died November 14, 1969. He served the community as County Road Supervisor and first Tax Assessor. In the business world he was active in Insurance, Real Estate, Promotion of Winter Tourism, Banking and Abstract of Title Records.

The theatre, of Mediterranean Revival Style Architecture, was designed by Roy A. Benjamin to accommodate the many varieties of entertainment available at the time: silent movies, vaudeville and opera. The best offered by film and stage was featured here, through the last of the "Roaring Twenties" and early thirties, from Grand Opera to "The Ziegfield Follies", and minstrel shows. Among others, the well known star, Will Rogers, appeared upon the stage. Later, in the mid-fifties, a rising young singer, Elvis Presley, appeared.

In December, 1936, the name was changed to "The Florida Theatre", which name was kept until the closing in the early seventies.

The "Edwards" is now the home of the Sarasota Opera Association, Inc.
Marker Number: None

Date: 1983

County: Sarasota

Marker Type: City

Sponsored or placed by: Sarasota County Historical Commission

Website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
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Markerman62 visited Edwards Theatre 1926 07/24/2018 Markerman62 visited it