By Dale White
Published: Tuesday, June 9, 2009
For historic Olympia Theatre, a return to roots After years of doubt, the 1916 silent-movie house is reborn as an arts venue. The boxy building with the staggered roofline that houses the historic Olympia Theatre in Palmetto may not be as architecturally significant as other theatrical palaces of its era. But its history is no less colorful, and now, as it reaches a possible rebirth after decades of neglect and misuse, its future is no less bright.
Its revival as a playhouse, cabaret and concert venue comes after years of doubt and conflict about its fate. A recently formed arts organization is raising the curtain on a new life for the Olympia Performing Arts Center. The Olympia opened as a silent movie cinema in 1916. Audiences not only marveled at the magic of the motion picture but, in 1921, got their first taste of a cold beverage called Coca-Cola. Supposedly, the single-screen theater briefly offered its own special effect.
According to the late Don Fuqua, who wrote columns about small-town life in Palmetto for the Miami Herald during the 1960s, contractors dug a hole and literally put the front rows of seats underground. When the theater leaked during heavy rains, that seating area would flood, Fuqua wrote. "The most realistic film ever shown was one depicting the sinking of the Titanic. You could see it going under real water."
Yet the Olympia's showbiz career would not last. It showed its last reel in 1956. For a time, it became a bakery and stores. It eventually evolved into a Hungry Howie's pizzeria, which shut down in 1989. After that, the empty structure sat neglected for years. In 1995, the Olympia appeared to be on the verge of a comeback. The bank that foreclosed on the deteriorating building sold it to the city of Palmetto. The city sold it for $1 to Joel Jarvis Sr. and his wife Cindy, who were restoring historic buildings. The Jarvises invested heavily in renovations and repairs with the intention of opening the theater for stage performances. Although they were able to use an outdoor stage for concerts, the Jarvises never completed the restoration.
A few months ago, a group of local theater buffs joined Jarvis in forming Olympia Performing Arts Center Inc. With their manual labor and more than $1 million that they -- mostly the Jarvises -- invested, the Olympia came back to life. The beige exterior wears a fresh coat of paint between its faux marble columns. The Olympia's insignia, a laurel wreath, and its name shine in gold. The interior has been rebuilt, from a new hardwood floor to a small windowed balcony. From this perch behind the audience, musicians will accompany the performances.
The arts center includes a 99-seat indoor cabaret and an outdoor theater with a bar; its capacity is up to 400 spectators. Eventually, the organization plans to renovate space used for storage to add a 300-plus seat main auditorium.
Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant, who attended a premiere party, believes the Olympia will soon be widely regarded as a cultural asset not just for Palmetto but the region. "It looks great," Bryant said. "They've really done a nice job. I think, as they grow, it will be very positive for them and for the community."
The North River Players, the comedy group Green Bridge Improv and other entertainers will regularly perform. The Fusion Food Group will operate the kitchen. Already on the schedule: a Broadway revue, a children's summer camp, a July Fourth celebration, two murder mystery dinner shows, the Miss Palmetto and Miss Teen Palmetto pageants, "The Rocky Horror Show" and a Halloween ball. The center, just a short stroll from the river, is expected to bring nightlife -- as well as matinees -- to what some may consider a sleepy city hardly known for its songs, dances or soliloquies.
"We think it's time for Palmetto to get back into the cultural market," said Matthew Mayo, a Manatee County native who is the center's executive director and lighting designer. Other production credits include: Michael Kent, technical director; Jeffry Woods, video-audio engineer; Michael Gironda, marketing director; and Michael Lessard, audio engineer.
