Lake Worth Playhouse to star in May 6 history lecture
Retrace the evolution of the Oakley Theater as the Historical Society of Palm Beach County brings a History Talks event to downtown Lake Worth Beach
THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE, Palm Beach County’s oldest working theater, will get the spotlight next week with the Historical Society of Palm Beach County lecture “The History of the Oakley Theater.’’
While most of the society’s popular History Talks are held at The Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum in downtown West Palm Beach, this one will take place at the playhouse at 713 Lake Ave. in downtown Lake Worth Beach on May 6 from 5:30-7 p.m.
Tickets are $20, but free to society members. Click here for more information.
Leading the tour will be Michael McKeich, a longtime historical society volunteer who also serves as the playhouse’s board president and historian.
Built in 1924, the playhouse is something of a dear friend to McKeich, who will trace the building’s storied history starting from the dream of the Oakley brothers to open a movie theater during the Florida land boom.
The time-traveling talk follows the Oakleys’ loss of their business and the four incarnations of the Oakley Theatre building, including a stint showing X-rated movies, before the playhouse bought it in 1975.
The lecture covers a story full of ambition, setbacks, reinvention and “just the right amount of drama,” said McKeich, who continues to find hidden treasures in the old building.
“Recently we had to rebuild what we use as a rehearsal hall. When the false wall was removed, we found two glass windows still intact from 1924,’’ he said.
“I am amazed after the 1928 hurricane that the building was rebuilt in less than four months. I’m sure there was a lot of rebuilding going on so getting the resources and rebuilding the building is amazing,’’ he said.
He said an Oakley ancestor recently gave him an old photo of Clarence Oakley’s son sitting in an upstairs office “giving us a view into the past.’’
A showcase for award winning community theater productions, the playhouse also has a haunted history that has made it a popular magnet for ghost hunters, a topic McKeich will briefly touch on.
While he can’t promise that the ghost of Lucien Oakley will appear on May 6, McKeich said that lecture attendees will get “a new appreciation for the stage you thought you knew.’’
IF YOU GO
History Talks Lecture: “The History of the Oakley Theater”
May 6 — 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in downtown Lake Worth Beach.
Tickets: $20, but free to Historical Society of Palm Beach County members.
Click here to buy tickets.
