The Polk Theatre was built during a golden age in the United States - the stock market had yet to crash (though the boom had ended in Florida) and the clouds of World War II were not yet on the horizon. Even so, it was quite a leap of faith to build a vaudeville/movie palace in Lakeland, Florida in 1928. The population hovered at only 15,000 people and it was a rural community.

The architect, J.E. Casale, an Italian-born immigrant, recreated a Mediterranean village in the heart of Central Florida. Flanked by Italianate walls with niches, sconces, and faux balconies and windows, the patron’s eye was drawn toward the stage and the full scale Italian renaissance townhouse setting that dominates the Polk Theatre’s interior.

In 1982, a group of concerned citizens banded together to save the Polk Theatre. They formed a non-profit group, borrowed money, secured a grant from the state, and purchased the theatre for $300,000. As a non-profit, the Polk Theatre continues to rely upon grants and donations in order to meet its financial obligations. Restoration of the building was completed in October, 1999. Today it serves as a vital part of downtown Lakeland, Florida entertainment.