The Historic Lyric Theater
Opened
in 1913, the Lyric Theater quickly became a major
entertainment center for blacks in Miami. The
400-seat theater was built, owned and operated
by Geder Walker, a black man from Georgia. In
1915 the Miami Metropolis newspaper described
the Lyric Theater as, "possibly
the most beautiful and costly playhouse owned
by Colored people in all the Southland."
The Lyric Theater served as a symbol of black
economic influence, as well as a social gathering
place-free of discrimination- and a source of
pride and culture within Overtown.
The theater anchored the district know as "Little
Broadway," an area alive with hotels,
restaurants and nightclubs frequented by the black
and white tourists and residents. Clyde Killens,
a local resident and entertainment promoter, was
primarily responsible for bringing black entertainers
-- who could perform in the clubs on Miami Beach
but not stay in the hotels -- to Overtown, the
Lyric Theater and "Little Broadway."
The Lyric Theater's roster of stars was spectacular
as the theater itself -- featuring over 150 performers
including Count Basie, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin,
the Ink Spots, B.B. King, Patti LaBelle, Ella
Fitzgerald, Redd Foxx and Mary Wells. When Overtown
began to deteriorate in the 1960's the Lyric Theater
closed and would remain shuttered for four decades.
In 1988, the Lyric Theater was acquired by The
Black Archives, History and Research Foundation
of South Florida, Inc. By 1989 the Theater, the
lone surviving building in the Overtown district
known as "Little Broadway", was listed
in the National Register of Historic Places and
restoration of the former showplace had begun.
In 2000, after extensive rehabilitation, the newly
restored Lyric Theater opened once again to audiences.
The Lyric Theater is now the oldest legitimate
theater in Miami and now serves as a community
theater. Just as in Overtown's glory days during
the early part of the 20th century, the Lyric
Theater is poised to once again become, in the
21st century, a symbol of black economic influence,
as well as a social gathering place-free of discrimination-and
a source of pride and culture within Overtown.
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] [ Facilities
] [ Map and Directions
] [ Event Photos
]