Leaf Theater
The Leaf Theater is a historical theater in Quincy, Florida, run by the he non-profit group Quincy Music Theater.
The Leaf Theater was built in 1949 and named for the economic impact of shade tobacco on the community.[1] Originally a movie theater, the grand opening was hosted by Roy Rogers. [2] The building had air conditioning and a separate entrance for blacks before desegregation took effect. [2] In 1980, the Leaf closed due to competition from multiplexes.[2]
In 1983, the building was purchased and donated to the Quincy Music Theatre group who restored it through a preservation grant, local funds [3] and private gifts from donors who were relations of the Quincy residents who were original purchasers of Coke stocks.[4] Considered a cinematic treasure,[5]the theater now hosts live musical theatre, outreach, and educational events throughout the year. In the summer, The Leaf sponsors the Children's Summer Theatre Workshop and film events.[6] Steven L. Taylor periodically conducts master class workshops at The Leaf.[7][8]
Reports of ghosts in the theater have been included in Alan Brown's Haunted America series[9] and Dave Lapham 's Ghost Hunting in Florida.[10] Included in the List of reportedly haunted locations in the United States, it has also been certified as haunted by Big Bend Ghost Trackers.[11]
References
- ^ Hunt, Bruce (2011). Visiting Small-Town Florida. Pineapple Press Inc. ISBN 9781561644889. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ^ a b c Forsher, James (2003). The Community of Cinema: How Cinema and Spectacle Transformed the American Downtown. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780275973551. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ^ http://www.gadsdenarts.org/gacnew/Portals/0/QuincyHistoricEBook.pdf
- ^ Bloomberg News (January 22, 1997). "Things Have Gone Better After Taking Stock in Coke". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ^ U.S. Cinema Treasures http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/10555
- ^ http://qmt.org
- ^ http://qmt.org/2014/03/28/qmt-presents-the-lion-kings-l-steven-taylor/
- ^ http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/L.-Steven-Taylor/#.U1BOy_lkTAk
- ^ Brown, Alan. (2013). Haunted Big Bend Florida. Haunted America: A Division of The History Press: Charleston, SC. pp. 62-66.
- ^ Lapham, Dave (2010). Leaf Theatre: Quincy. Ghost Hunting in Florida pp. 181-186. Clerisy Press: Cincinnati, OH.
- ^ http://www.bigbendghosttrackers.com/leaf.html