Jacksonville Historical Society Archives / Leah Mary Cox Collection. Photo taken before 1917 showed Dixie Theater proudly stood before the band stand cupola. The famous preserved 250 years old Oak Tree is behind the old theater. The only true remaining of the Dixieland Park left. Building demolished. Once a roller rink in that building. Visiting the Oak Tree at the Oak Tree Park is a must see! Then you will know where the old rink was. Right next door where the parking garage is.
State Archives of Florida. The view of Dixieland Park by the water. Can you find the Dixie Theater? Easy to find and that is right, where the band Cupola was located in the rear facing the river. This was true Main Street USA look for an amusement park. Not like that one replica down in Orlando where that mouse, a duck, and a dog live.
Dixie Theater Roller Rink Mary Street, Jacksonville, FL
The history is so big before it became a roller rink because it was demolished in 1964, the Dixie Theater Roller Rink was on Mary Street, Jacksonville, FL sometimes after 1917 and closed in 1964 which housed in an antique style theater named Dixie at then Dixieland Amusement Park, a trolley park once called, "Coney Island of the South" of sort that began in March 9, 1907 after the Great Jacksonville Great Fire of May 3, 1901 which left 10,000 people homeless, Tas the fire swept over 466 acres burning 146 city blocks, destroying 2,368 buildings and homes.
I named this rink as Dixie Theater Roller Rink because I do not have actual name for this former rink.
The park had 21 acres with a good 1,100 feet of riverfront. It was bounded on the east by Flagler Avenue and extended to what now is Prudential Drive. Immediately adjacent to the park were related attractions such as a baseball field and exposition center. The river curves at that point as I can see on the map. It was a cozy spot to place the park where the fire was once occurred back then cross the river.
But the park popularity sank after it was opened which ended the park merely ten years later due to several factors including United States involved in World War I, but also a hail storm caused major damage to the park shortly after it opened. There were also fires in the park which hurt its attractions and contributed to attendance declines as the Great Fire still on people's minds and therefore feared attending the park.
Then there were Movie production companies were unpopular to some segments of the Jacksonville community and left for political and economic reasons. Theatre activity in Dixieland Park virtually ended in 1909 due to competition from theatres across the river.
Then this is where roller skating came in after the park closed. Just roller skating and the famed real life folklore "Treaty" Tree remained from 1909 till 1964 to raze to make room for this 9 story apartment complex which wsa proposed which is now a large parking garage. I carefully looked at the location of the tree in old photos and the old theater was. The hotel you see on Google Map is now where the admission gates were.
The Interior.
Unknown. Likely wood floor.
The Exterior.
It was white colored theater built in 1907. But after the competition and the park closing in 1017, it became a roller rink sometimes between 1917 and 1964. It ran about 45 years of roller rink. Many windows decorate the building itself which looks modern Edwardian of sort. It had a lot of steps to go in front door since they did not think of handicapped accessible at the time. But the rink was evidently safe from surges after a hurricane would hit the area. It is fine architecture that I like it. Very classic to its period at the time. Could have preserved but the developer wanted to built a 9 story apartment but shortly after that, it became parking lot and part of the highway.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Possible Maple, Clear coated.. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1907. Demolished: 1964. For new complex. Then demolished for parking lot.
Type of Building: Theater - like Building (Three stories).
Roof: Mansard-like Hip.
Acres: 21 Acres (part of Trolley Park).
Operated: c.1917 to c. 1964.
Reason for Closure: Closing, a developer wanted to place 9 story apartment complex there..
Wanted: Information regarding actual date of open, closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Florida Times-Union; Way Marking (where hotel is now); The Jaxson Magazine; Join the Road Again;
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.
I named this rink as Dixie Theater Roller Rink because I do not have actual name for this former rink.
The park had 21 acres with a good 1,100 feet of riverfront. It was bounded on the east by Flagler Avenue and extended to what now is Prudential Drive. Immediately adjacent to the park were related attractions such as a baseball field and exposition center. The river curves at that point as I can see on the map. It was a cozy spot to place the park where the fire was once occurred back then cross the river.
But the park popularity sank after it was opened which ended the park merely ten years later due to several factors including United States involved in World War I, but also a hail storm caused major damage to the park shortly after it opened. There were also fires in the park which hurt its attractions and contributed to attendance declines as the Great Fire still on people's minds and therefore feared attending the park.
Then there were Movie production companies were unpopular to some segments of the Jacksonville community and left for political and economic reasons. Theatre activity in Dixieland Park virtually ended in 1909 due to competition from theatres across the river.
Then this is where roller skating came in after the park closed. Just roller skating and the famed real life folklore "Treaty" Tree remained from 1909 till 1964 to raze to make room for this 9 story apartment complex which wsa proposed which is now a large parking garage. I carefully looked at the location of the tree in old photos and the old theater was. The hotel you see on Google Map is now where the admission gates were.
The Interior.
Unknown. Likely wood floor.
The Exterior.
It was white colored theater built in 1907. But after the competition and the park closing in 1017, it became a roller rink sometimes between 1917 and 1964. It ran about 45 years of roller rink. Many windows decorate the building itself which looks modern Edwardian of sort. It had a lot of steps to go in front door since they did not think of handicapped accessible at the time. But the rink was evidently safe from surges after a hurricane would hit the area. It is fine architecture that I like it. Very classic to its period at the time. Could have preserved but the developer wanted to built a 9 story apartment but shortly after that, it became parking lot and part of the highway.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Possible Maple, Clear coated.. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1907. Demolished: 1964. For new complex. Then demolished for parking lot.
Type of Building: Theater - like Building (Three stories).
Roof: Mansard-like Hip.
Acres: 21 Acres (part of Trolley Park).
Operated: c.1917 to c. 1964.
Reason for Closure: Closing, a developer wanted to place 9 story apartment complex there..
Wanted: Information regarding actual date of open, closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Florida Times-Union; Way Marking (where hotel is now); The Jaxson Magazine; Join the Road Again;
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.