Monday, May 6, 2013
A pair of plush velvet seats from the old Capitol Theatre are being sold by an antiques dealer out of New Mexico.
"Vtg antique set 1940 Clearwater" reads the eBay promotion for a pair of "very cool theatre seats from the old original and heavily haunted" Capitol Theatre in Clearwater. An antiques dealer, who goes by the moniker SeaWhale1, is offering a pair of original seats from the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater. The historic theater is currently undergoing a renovation. The seller offers several photos of the seats with the online post. The starting bid is $209. SeaWhale1 includes photos that reveal heavy, cast iron feet, wooden scroll arms and the original blue velvet material. Perhaps a theater buff will buy the pair for his or her home theater viewing. Go to the eBay site, or contact the seller at 727-417-4104, or by email at sbwhittington@yahoo.…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
As crews work to renovate the Capitol Theatre they discovered a nearly 20-foot-tall, painted “Wall of Honor” listing names most likely compiled from Clearwater servicemen during World War I.
The names appear clearly enough through the nearly 100-year-old paint. Rudolph Petree. Newlan C. Plumb. Grover and Aubrey McMullen. John B. Stetson. The powerful and pioneering family names appeared as the plaster was removed inside the Capitol Theatre this week, revealing a "Wall of Honor" listing names of residents who served in various military branches during World War I, according to Clearwater historians. “This was completely unexpected,” said Katie Pedretty, spokeswoman at Ruth Eckerd Hall, who is undertaking the renovation project of the more than 90-year-old theater in partnership with the city. The discovery Tuesday has planners scrambling to figure out a way to preserve and incorporate the nearly 20-foot-tall wall into …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The Lokey Building, one of the city's oldest structures, is being torn this week as part of plans to renovate the Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater.
The rafters snapped like match sticks. The painted white brick crumbled like a card house. And the must of nearly 100 years filtered into the air along Clearwater's Cleveland Street as crews worked to demolish the Lokey Building, one of city's oldest structures, as part of renovation plans for the Capitol Theatre on Tuesday. Osceola Avenue between Cleveland and Pierce streets is closed this week for the demolition of the Pat Lokey building, which has stood in downtown Clearwater for 98 years. The 1914 structure was originally going to be part of the Capitol's upcoming year-long renovation. Plans included incorporating the building and converting it into a grand lobby, concession areas, and restrooms for the theatre, which would then be …
Have you seen crews working to demolish the Lokey Building this week? Share your demolition photos here.
The Lokey Building, one of the city's oldest structures, is being torn this week as part of plans to renovate the Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater. Osceola Avenue between Cleveland and Pierce streets is closed this week for the demolition. The 1914 structure was originally going to be part of the Capitol's upcoming year-long renovation. Plans included incorporating the building and converting it into a grand lobby, concession areas, and restrooms for the theatre, which would then be able to seat 655. But officials decided it isn't sturdy enough to handle the load needed for a planned rooftop terrace, wraparound balcony and more to be added on top. Plans call for restoring and expanding the Mediterranean Revival look. The Lokey …
Monday, December 17, 2012
As the 10-month Capitol Theatre renovation project kicks off, we want to know what you think it could mean for downtown Clearwater. Will it bring new life to the area? What else should be done?
The 10-month renovation of the Capitol Theatre that kicked off earlier this week is aimed at helping to revitalize downtown Clearwater. Will it work? Performing arts guru Zev Buffman, who attended Tuesday's groundbreaking, thinks so. Buffman said when it's completed in 2013, the remodeled theater will draw thousands of arts patrons downtown. The 1921-built Capitol Theatre, once an entertainment mecca, fell into years of disrepair before a 2009 partnership with Ruth Eckerd Hall helped draw sold-out shows, events and concerts. Officials hope the renovation project, coupled with other improvement projects, will lead to a renaissance for the downtown district. Some Patch readers also have high hopes for the project. "SO EXCITING!" commented …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tuesday's ceremonial groundbreaking kicked off a 10-month construction project to expand and renovate Clearwater's Capitol Theatre.
One of the oldest movie theaters in the state is set to go under a 10-month renovation. A ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday kicked off construction to expand and rehabilitate the Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater. Mayor George N. Cretekos called it a community project and harkened to the venue’s early days of popularity when a 1921 advertisement offered “clean and unique” performances. “We are so excited about what this project means,” Cretekos said to about 100 people crowding around the front of the venue along Cleveland Street. “We’re all going to come back to what is going to be a wonderful opening.” *** The Capitol Theatre, built in 1921, is one of the oldest operating theaters in Florida. Sen. John Taylor had the movie house …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Construction on the expanded and renovated structure officially begins with a groundbreaking ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, in Clearwater.
After planning and re-planning, construction is set to break ground on an expanded and renovated Capitol Theatre on Tuesday. In recent months, Clearwater city leaders rescinded the historic designation on the building and the two adjacent ones planned as part of the construction project. Leaders also vacated the alley behind the building. This will effectively close off the alley that connects Osceola and Fort Harrison Avenues. It also increases the footprint of the land available for development. The Lokey Building, which was most recently the office for the Chamber of Commerce building and one time space of the Clearwater Sun, will be destroyed as part of the construction of the renovated Capitol Theatre. Plans initially included …
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Check out these ghost stories of some well-known Clearwater places.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The 1914 structure, one of the oldest in northern Pinellas County, will not be part of the Capitol Theatre's renovation and will instead be demolished, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Pat Lokey building, which has stood in downtown Clearwater for 98 years, is likely to be torn down in December, the Tampa Bay Times reports. The city-owned building, located at the southeast corner of Cleveland Street and Osceola Avenue next to the Capitol Theatre, is slated to be knocked down and replaced, according to officials. The 1914 structure, one of the oldest in northern Pinellas County, was originally going to be part of the Capitol's upcoming year-long renovation. But officials decided it isn't sturdy enough to handle the load needed for a planned rooftop terrace, wraparound balcony and more to be added on top, the Times reports. The Lokey building, named after a local businesswoman who owned a high-end women's clothing shop…
Sunday, August 19, 2012
A construction worker is saved after being trapped in a ditch, a technical glitch delays primary vote totals in Pinellas County, and more recap some of the most popular stories on Clearwater Patch.
1. Glitch Delays Primary Vote Totals in Pinellas County: Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark said that the issue could have been with the phone lines. Computer servers, which have been used since 2008, are tested before each election and there were no problems, Clark said. There is even a backup server as a fail safe. 2. Construction Worker Rescued From Ditch:A construction worker is free after being trapped waist-deep in mud at the bottom of a drainage ditch for more than three hours Tuesday morning. The 57-year-old worker, who is not being identified, was pulled to safety using a harness, shovels and a ladder with the help of 35 rescue personnel operating in shifts. 3. Debby Doesn't Curtail Record Setting Turtle Nesting Season: So …
Jo-Ann Leake
4:08 pm on Tuesday, April 16, 2013
I wonder what would compel someone or something - a company, town planners, etc - to consent to covering this up in the first place? I agree with previous commentary that it is essential to carefully address historic buildings BEFORE razing them in the name of progress. more ›