Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Guide
Thursday, September 28, 1961, page 6 (of 24)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
WEST of the City Limits with Ron Levitt
Saturday night, after three curtain calls, the actors and actresses at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, had a final drink and readied themselves to return to New York City. They left behind them several people who still insist that the Coconut Grove Playhouse will once again be bringing big names and top productions to the Miami area. But as the three-week run of "Invitation to a March" closed, no one could say for sure WHEN or IF the theater — Miami's only legitimate theater—would open again. There was the feeling on closing night Saturday that the Coconut Grove Playhouse was in a fight for its survival. There were those who sat around discussing the subject who were optimistic — that some "angel" would come along and lease the theater for another season. Others said that after a "four week vacation," the beautiful little theater would once again have its lights on. Others admitted that the current situation for re-opening looked pretty bad. And then there were the real pessimists who said "well, this looks like the end." The optimists readily admitted that they were pinning their hopes that Owen Phillips, who managed the theater for the past few years, would be the man who could pull the rabbit out of the hat and keep legitimate theater alive in Miami. Phillips is probably the one man in This Town who has the theatrical knowhow and the confidence of both theater people and potential "angels" to get the theater lights on again. The theater has been having its ups and downs since its curtain first went up in 1955. There have been some very successful shows, plenty of big name stars — and some flops. Culturally, every season has been a success. Unfortunately, financially the case has not been the same. Some say the theater's location has been responsible for not drawing the crowds it should. Some say this area of a million people is just not a theater-going crowd. However, the location was accessible enough and Miamians proved to be theater-going crowds for a string of successful runs: "Showboat," "Tea and Sympathy," "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," "Two For The Seesaw," and many others. This seems to prove — at least to me — that with the right kinds of shows — shows which will attract the public — the theater should be able to come out at the end of the season "in the black." Perhaps, I am one of the optimistic ones — because I love the theater and know that a city of a million people need legitimate theater. The Grove Theater as it looks today came into being in 1955. George Engle, the multi-millionaire oil man, said he had a dream to make Miami a legitimate theater tryout town such as New Haven. He said he was determined to make theater in Miami pay. Engle, who has some 300 oil wells gushing for him around the country, could well afford to operate the theater as a toy and not worry about expenses. That's what he did for several seasons. But Engle himself said later that he's not used to doing things which don't make money. So after a few seasons, he was ready to shutter the $500,000 theater. Then a few corporations made a stab at running the theater, leasing it from Engle. During this time, there were some great — and financially successful shows — but it didn't quite reach the point which made the stockholders shout for joy. Just what is the winning combination to make theater a seasonal success here, I am not sure. But I feel that more than the theatrical aspects, more than the financial backing what is really needed is a genuine support from the public. If there are those who agree with me — if there are those who really feel the need for a legitimate theater in Our Town — I'd like to hear from them. Perhaps the public themselves can supply the winning combination. After all, few things are great successes overnight. This theater as a Broadway-style showplace is only six years old. That's still pretty young. It even took George Engle awhile to make his first million dollars. He was 21. And the theater isn't one-third that old, yet!
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