The Shores Theater opened in 1946 and was operated by Paramount back when studios were also able to own movie theaters.. The Art-Deco mini movie palace was designed by architect Harold Steward of the firm Steward and Skinner and quickly became the heart of the quickly growing post-war community. The theater thrived through the mid 1970′s when the proliferation of neighborhood multiplexes made it hard for a single screen auditorium to survive. The theater eventually become a dollar cinema showcasing older release films and finally closing it’s doors circa 1988. In 1990 it reopened as the Shores Performing Arts Theater, producing live theatrical events until that organization’s demise in 2004.

The Playground Theater, under the leadership of founder Stephanie Ansin took the space over in 2005, lovingly restoring it to its original splendor while building one of the regions most acclaimed venues for live theater, bringing in over 150,000 children, educators and adults. In 2012, the theater was re-branded the Miami Theater Center, and has expanded its reach to include live theater for children, performances for adults, training in the performing arts, and film through it’s partnership with O Cinema.

O Cinema Miami Shores at the Miami Theater Center is South Florida’s largest independent movie theater auditorium- featuring seating for 330 patrons, state-of-the-art digital projection on our big screen and impressive 5.1 Surround Sound. The venue is fully ADA-compliant and features over twenty assisted listening devices and spaces for ten wheel chairs.