MiamiVue | Colony Theatre Lobby
The Colony Theatre was built as part of the Paramount Theatre chain in 1934 and was designed by R.A. Benjamin. In 1976 it was reopened and the original details were kept intact by Morris Lapidus who was architect for the restoration.
The Colony is one of six theatres that have occupied Lincoln Road at one time or another. These include…
Beach Theatre
Carib Theatre
Colony Theatre
Community Theatre
Flamingo Theatre
Lincoln Theatre
In 1960 the theatre’s entrance and lobby was moved to the NW corner facing the intersection of Lincoln Road and Lenox as part of Morris Lapidus’ re-design of Lincoln Road into a pedestrian mall. However in 2002 the Colony, which is now owned by the City of Miami Beach, was completely renovated and the lobby and theatre entrance were restored to their original location facing north toward Lincoln Road.
An anti-trust case against the Hollywood movie studios (United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. - 1948) put an end to the studios owning both the production of movies and the means of exhibition (theatre chains). This suit brought an end to what was considered the “Golden Age of Hollywood.” The vast majority of theatres built during the beginning of the Golden Age have been destroyed in one way or another. Luckily the Colony made it through.
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