The largest cultural stage in Florida in 1923

If you ever find yourself wandering through Fort Pierce, you might notice the Sunrise Theatre. Back in August 1923, this place was a serious powerhouse. It actually held the largest stage between Jacksonville and Miami, making it the biggest cultural institution in Florida at the time. It was built in the Mediterranean Revival style specifically for vaudeville, variety shows, and early cinema.

C.E. Cahow was the builder behind the scenes. By 1930, the theater had a resident artist named A.E. Backus who handled all the posters and displays for the celebrity acts. It served as the community centerpiece for decades. Eventually, the place fell into disrepair and closed its doors in 1983.

The building has a pretty cool comeback story. The St. Lucie Preservation Association bought the property in 1997. Thanks to a 750,000 grant for restoration, it partially reopened in 1999. A full renovation eventually finished the job and the doors opened for good in 2006.

Now it is on the National Register of Historic Places and it still pulls in the heavy hitters. It has hosted icons like Diana Ross, Ziggy Marley, and the late Dave Brubeck. Even an SBA grant of 1 million helped keep it afloat during the pandemic. It makes sure the lights stay on for the next generation of rock, jazz, and opera.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons