Little Hollywood Playhouse

History

The Little Theater of Hollywood

Beginning in 1940, the Little Hollywood Playhouse started as a volunteer troupe known as the Hollywood Beach Community Players. The group presented various stage and radio productions, performing wherever they could find space, including City Hall, fraternal lodges, and local schools. The group disbanded during World War II after many members joined the armed forces, donating all theater equipment to Hollywood Central School and remaining treasury funds to the United Service Organizations (USO).

They reorganized in January 1947 as the Little Theater of Hollywood, and in 1949, purchased a plot of land on Washington Street from the city for $10. A “reverter clause” was included to return the property to the city if the tract ceased to be used for public performances.

Kenneth J. Spry, Architect of the Hollywood Playhouse

Architect Kenneth James Spry, one of the founders of the Little Theater of Hollywood, was directly involved with the organization from its inception in 1940, starting as a set designer. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, Spry moved to Hollywood in 1938 to design luxury homes and commercial properties. Following the troupe’s reorganization in 1947, Spry was elected president of the Little Theater and remained deeply involved in all facets of the group, including serving as a director. He also designed the amphitheater at Young Circle Park in 1950.

In 1941, he joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, completing his military service as a lieutenant. He died on January 19, 1983, and is buried at Arlington Cemetery.

Little Theater Playhouse

The 18,000-square-foot Little Theater Playhouse featured 265 seats split between the main floor and an intimate balcony. Groundbreaking took place in January 1953, with actress Gloria Swanson among the honored guests. Because only the foundation was complete at the time, the troupe performed that season outdoors, sometimes in 45°F weather, while the audience bundled up on blankets and lawn chairs. By 1956, a stage and lighting booth were in place, and construction was fully completed in 1958. In 1982, the playhouse underwent a $30,000 renovation that added a glass-roofed lobby and 260 crushed velour seats.

Rise and Fall

The Little Theater enjoyed great success, experiencing a boom during the 1950s as retirees flooded into South Florida. With only 260 seats, productions frequently sold out. Thanks to high demand and a reliable subscriber base, the theater never needed to advertise. However, this strategy backfired by 1987 when empty seats became increasingly common. Concerned by the declining attendance, staff made personal calls to subscribers, only to discover that aging and death had claimed most of their core audience.

In a desperate pivot, management attempted to transition to professional productions. Although these shows drew crowds, the theater’s location in a quiet residential neighborhood was to blame for its lackluster attendance, ultimately contributing to the sale of the property.

From Investment to Passion Project

In 2003, developer Ron Posner purchased the property with plans to build about a dozen single-family homes, leasing the facility back to the theater group in the interim. However, struggling with limited funding and support, the Little Theater troupe folded financially and ceased operations in September 2004. Later that year, the Hollywood Boulevard Theatre troupe took over the venue after their previous home was demolished. This partnership didn’t last long, as damage from Hurricane Wilma was severe enough to shutter the playhouse.

Repairs were made to the building, and it reopened the following year as the Musicians Exchange—Hollywood Playhouse. This partnership soon failed as well with the passing of the group’s operator, Dan Cohen, founder of the Musicians Exchange Cafe in Fort Lauderdale. A celebration of life was held in his memory at the Hollywood Playhouse on October 10, 2007.

In 2008, Posner spoke with The Miami Herald after further renovations were made to the aging playhouse, saying, “I bought the place as an investment, but I fell in love with theater.” Posner set out to modernize the facility by offering live theater and multimedia production services. Behind a new rotating set, a sound stage was built for virtual sets. Rooms for film and television production, editing, printing, animation, and music production were also added. By 2010, however, the property was in foreclosure.

Abandonment and Revitalization

Despite the “reverter clause,” TransCapital Bank acquired ownership of the property. The City of Hollywood filed a lawsuit to reclaim the land. Still, TransCapital countersued, arguing that the restriction made the property nearly impossible to sell and demanding $1.2 million from the city for stifling a potential sale. Despite residents urging city officials to continue the legal fight, Hollywood dropped its lawsuit, citing concerns about the high financial risk if a judge ruled against it.

Abandoned for several years, the property was sold to Pastor Martin Vargas, founder of Iglesia Real (Real Church). The old Hollywood Playhouse was renovated and today serves as a church and event venue.

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