Polk Theatre

The Polk Theatre is located in Lakeland and offers an extensive theatre program, as well as special events and rental space. It was built during the gold age before the stock market crashed and World War II occurred. The theatre began as a movie palace and vaudeville theatre in 1928. The population in Lakeland at the time was only 15,000 people and it was a very rural community, yet the theatre was immensely popular. The theatre was the creation of John E. Melton who intended to create a multipurpose complex that included the theatre. The project became to expensive and he ended up selling an unfinished building to the Publix Theatre Corporation. They continued the building of the elaborate theatre which included sconces, twisted columns, molding work, brass banded terrazzo floors, cornice, a starry ceiling, faux balconies, Italianate walls and a full scale Italian Renaissance townhouse. The theatre saw its grandest days during its first two decades. It welcomed talkie films in the late 1920's and continued to shine until television created an upset in the theatre world. The theatre underwent major restoration in the fall of 1999. Today, the theatre is supported by memberships, rental income from special events, two annual fundraisers and its extensive Performing Arts Series.