Jackie Gleason Theater - Miami Beach, FL - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Honeymooners_Myspace · 03-18-2009, 12:27 AM

Hello everybody,
I just thought I would share these photos with Jackie's fans. Some of you know me, and some of you don't. My name is Ralph (aka Ralphie Boy), and I created The Honeymooners Official Myspace Fan Page about three years ago now. I am a Miami, Florida native and still live in South Florida, just a few minutes from Miami. This past weekend, my wife, son, and myself took a trip down to Miami Beach (South Beach).

The main parking garage for the area is literally located right next to the theater that Jackie used to broadcast his Miami Beach show from in the late 60's to early 70's. In 1987 when Jackie passed away, in tribute to him for all he did for the city of Miami and especially Miami Beach, they put his name on the theater, which became known as 'The Jackie Gleason Theater of The Performing Arts'.

It remained with his name on it since, and in 2007, the mega live concert promotion company Live Nation bought the theater. After talking to some people at Miami Beach city hall on the phone back at that time, they indicated to me that even they were unsure whether Jackie's name would still remain as part of the name of the theater after Live Nation took it over. I definitely crossed my fingers because you're talking twenty years worth of Jackie's name being part of that theater. I mean, Jackie's the one who put Miami Beach on the map, and the least they could do would be to continue the tribute to him using his name on the building. As you all know, after he left NY in the 60's, Miami and Miami Beach was HIS TOWN! Since I talked to the muckety mucks at Miami Beach's city hall in 2007, I noticed over the past year, every time there was a promotion on the local radio for a live concert at that theater, they were still including Jackie's name as part of the name of it, which was a HUGE relief to me.

So when I arrived down by the theater on Sunday, we took a walk over to the front of the building. When you see the front of it, it's like going back in time to the 1960's. It's just a cool feeling! The outside of the building has never been changed. If any of you have ever seen pictures of the outside of this theater from the MPI special production, 'The Great Gleason Express' (From The Color Honeymooners/Collection 1/Disc 3), the theater looks exactly the same on the outside. For any Jackie Gleason fan, it's just an awesome site. As you will see from the photo I took of the front of the building below, Live Nation has now named the theater, 'The Fillmore, Miami Beach, at The Jackie Gleason Theater'.

In addition to seeing the theater itself, outside on the grass of the front lawn lies another awesome site. This is a tall standing metal replica of the famous 'And Away We Go' stick figure that was used many times on television during the closing of many of his variety shows. If this isn't enough, the road that comes in from 17th Street on Miami Beach into the front of the theater is appropriately named, 'Jackie Gleason Drive'. I have photos for you to see of this below also. Enjoy everybody!

Here is a REALLY cool shot of the theater that I found online (4/28/09) that I wanted to post here with the ones I took myself. Notice the difference in the name on the front than the photo I took above recently. This picture was obviously taken before Live Nation took it over, and when it was named 'The Jackie Gleason Theater of The Performing Arts'. Anyway, it looks REALLY COOL from a distance with Jackie's 'And Away We Go' stick figure in the foreground. Enjoy!

Marvo301 · 03-18-2009, 12:54 AM

Those are very cool pics! Thanks for sharing.

Honeymooners_Myspace · 03-18-2009, 01:07 AM

My pleasure Marvo, I'm glad you enjoyed them!

Honeymooners_Myspace · 03-27-2009, 10:21 AM

Hey, thanks Bill!

FosseGal · 04-21-2009, 07:38 PM

Ralphie boy,

Thanks so much for the pics. In my mind's eye I can just see Elaine racing to get here to do the taping in time every week.....(she never got anywhere on time). A tidbit you would like to know. She said because she was always late she never got the "choice" dresses. I guess they got to pick their own so she always got last dibs. Ha.

Honeymooners_Myspace · 04-21-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FosseGal

Ralphie boy,

Thanks so much for the pics. In my mind's eye I can just see Elaine racing to get here to do the taping in time every week.....(she never got anywhere on time). A tidbit you would like to know. She said because she was always late she never got the "choice" dresses. I guess they got to pick their own so she always got last dibs. Ha.

Hi FosseGal!

You're VERY welcome, and it's an honor to have you see them... and thanks SO much for that little bit of personal information about your friend Elaine... I know a lot of people like her... hehe... well, I gotta say that she did a VERY good job as a Glea Girl, and I'm sure Jackie was very satisfied with her as well, or he wouldn't have kept her in there... as you know, Jackie was a perfectionist... I'm SURE that Elaine was a VERY nice girl, and for her to have been part of Jackie's show from Miami Beach must have been a true honor... I have all of the available Color Honeymooners on DVD, and I really love watching those, especially because I'm watching my favorite ALL-TIME comedic actor broadcast a show from my home town, of which I've lived around ALL my life... In addition, the first Color Honeymooners show from Miami Beach was broadcasted September 17, 1966, almost one month after I was born... lol...

Thanks again SO much for becoming a part of this message board Fossegal... it's an honor to know you.

Ralphie Boy

The Great One · 04-25-2009, 05:52 PM

Great pictures and very interesting information. Thanks for taking the time to post the details.

Honeymooners_Myspace · 04-25-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Great One

Great pictures and very interesting information. Thanks for taking the time to post the details.

Hey, you're welcome!... next time I go there, I will be going inside the theater, and I'll post those pictures too for everyone... have a great one, Great One

The Great One · 04-26-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honeymooners_Myspace

Hey, you're welcome!... next time I go there, I will be going inside the theater, and I'll post those pictures too for everyone... have a great one, Great One

That's great to hear! It will be interesting to see what the inside is like. I'm looking forward to seeing those pictures.

03-18-2009, 12:27 AM	#1
Honeymooners_Myspace Homina! Homina! Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 07, 2007 Location: Key Largo, Florida Posts: 122	Jackie Gleason Theater - Miami Beach, FL Hello everybody, I just thought I would share these photos with Jackie's fans. Some of you know me, and some of you don't. My name is Ralph (aka Ralphie Boy), and I created The Honeymooners Official Myspace Fan Page about three years ago now. I am a Miami, Florida native and still live in South Florida, just a few minutes from Miami. This past weekend, my wife, son, and myself took a trip down to Miami Beach (South Beach). The main parking garage for the area is literally located right next to the theater that Jackie used to broadcast his Miami Beach show from in the late 60's to early 70's. In 1987 when Jackie passed away, in tribute to him for all he did for the city of Miami and especially Miami Beach, they put his name on the theater, which became known as 'The Jackie Gleason Theater of The Performing Arts'. It remained with his name on it since, and in 2007, the mega live concert promotion company Live Nation bought the theater. After talking to some people at Miami Beach city hall on the phone back at that time, they indicated to me that even they were unsure whether Jackie's name would still remain as part of the name of the theater after Live Nation took it over. I definitely crossed my fingers because you're talking twenty years worth of Jackie's name being part of that theater. I mean, Jackie's the one who put Miami Beach on the map, and the least they could do would be to continue the tribute to him using his name on the building. As you all know, after he left NY in the 60's, Miami and Miami Beach was HIS TOWN! Since I talked to the muckety mucks at Miami Beach's city hall in 2007, I noticed over the past year, every time there was a promotion on the local radio for a live concert at that theater, they were still including Jackie's name as part of the name of it, which was a HUGE relief to me. So when I arrived down by the theater on Sunday, we took a walk over to the front of the building. When you see the front of it, it's like going back in time to the 1960's. It's just a cool feeling! The outside of the building has never been changed. If any of you have ever seen pictures of the outside of this theater from the MPI special production, 'The Great Gleason Express' (From The Color Honeymooners/Collection 1/Disc 3), the theater looks exactly the same on the outside. For any Jackie Gleason fan, it's just an awesome site. As you will see from the photo I took of the front of the building below, Live Nation has now named the theater, 'The Fillmore, Miami Beach, at The Jackie Gleason Theater'. In addition to seeing the theater itself, outside on the grass of the front lawn lies another awesome site. This is a tall standing metal replica of the famous 'And Away We Go' stick figure that was used many times on television during the closing of many of his variety shows. If this isn't enough, the road that comes in from 17th Street on Miami Beach into the front of the theater is appropriately named, 'Jackie Gleason Drive'. I have photos for you to see of this below also. Enjoy everybody! Here is a REALLY cool shot of the theater that I found online (4/28/09) that I wanted to post here with the ones I took myself. Notice the difference in the name on the front than the photo I took above recently. This picture was obviously taken before Live Nation took it over, and when it was named 'The Jackie Gleason Theater of The Performing Arts'. Anyway, it looks REALLY COOL from a distance with Jackie's 'And Away We Go' stick figure in the foreground. Enjoy!
	__________________ Ralphie Boy www.myspace.com/the_honeymooners "Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!... Carlos was teaching you to do the Mambo!... that puts a different light on everything!... before when I walked in here, I didn't know what you were doing!... now I know, Carlos was teaching you to do the Mambo!... that makes a WOOORLD of difference!... EVERYYY BODY OUUUUUUT!!!!!!!!" Last edited by Honeymooners_Myspace; 04-28-2009 at 10:16 PM.

03-18-2009, 12:54 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Those are very cool pics! Thanks for sharing.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

04-25-2009, 05:52 PM	#7
The Great One Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 6,378	Great pictures and very interesting information. Thanks for taking the time to post the details.
	__________________ .

03-18-2009, 01:07 AM	#3
Honeymooners_Myspace Homina! Homina! Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 07, 2007 Location: Key Largo, Florida Posts: 122	My pleasure Marvo, I'm glad you enjoyed them!

03-27-2009, 10:21 AM	#4
Honeymooners_Myspace Homina! Homina! Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 07, 2007 Location: Key Largo, Florida Posts: 122	Hey, thanks Bill!

04-21-2009, 07:38 PM	#5
FosseGal Member Forum Cub Join Date: Apr 07, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 2	Ralphie boy, Thanks so much for the pics. In my mind's eye I can just see Elaine racing to get here to do the taping in time every week.....(she never got anywhere on time). A tidbit you would like to know. She said because she was always late she never got the "choice" dresses. I guess they got to pick their own so she always got last dibs. Ha.