Historic Ritz Theatre
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    • Home
    • About
      • Know Before You Go
      • Our History
      • Support & Volunteer
    • Events
      • Upcoming Events
      • Film Series
      • Out of The Box Improv
      • Past Events
    • Rentals
    • Contact Us
Historic Ritz Theatre
  • Home
  • About
    • Know Before You Go
    • Our History
    • Support & Volunteer
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Film Series
    • Out of The Box Improv
    • Past Events
  • Rentals
  • Contact Us

About

The Ritz Theatre has been downtown’s stage since 1925 when it opened as a venue for silent movies and vaudeville acts. First known as the “Williamson” it changed ownership in 1932 and was renamed “The Ritz.” For decades it served as Winter Haven’s only movie house. However, by the 1980s and the introduction of multi-screen theaters, the Ritz was no longer financially viable and went dark. During the 1980s it opened briefly as a nightclub for teens but by the 1990s the building sat vacant and deteriorating.

In 1996 a group of preservation-minded citizens organized to purchase the Ritz and revive its use as an entertainment venue. A study, commissioned by the group, recommended that the building become a multi-purpose venue and not reinstall permanent seating. The effort was plagued by years of setbacks and challenges. Finally, through significant support from city, county and state grants, the theater was beautifully restored and reopened in 2013. A series of missteps and lack of direction forced the organization into receivership in 2018 and a new group of citizens were seated as a Board of Directors. This was the genesis for today’s Historic Ritz Theatre, Inc.

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gannon Olmert, President

JD Dobratz, Vice President

Kim Short, Secretary

Jaquis McCullough, Treasurer

Judy Cleaves, Past President

Steve Kalogridis

Carolyn Kerr

Tom Oldt 

Mark Turner

Gary Schemmer

Dexter Brown

Anita Strang

Tom Westberry

Brian Yates

Bea Hancock

Sara Beth Wyatt

Austin Tharp

Matt Frazier


our staff

Jennifer D'hollander

Jennifer D'hollander

Jennifer D'hollander

Interim Executive Director 

director@ritzwinterhaven.com

Ivy Horn

Jennifer D'hollander

Jennifer D'hollander

Program Coordinator 

ivy@ritzwinterhaven.com

Emily Mathis

Jennifer D'hollander

Emily Mathis

Operations Coordinator

emily@ritzwinterhaven.com

Historic Ritz Theatre

Copyright © 2023 Historic Ritz Theatre - All Rights Reserved.

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