¶ … Olympia Theater -- or El teatro Olympia, as it's Spanish-inspired architecture and design might lead it to be called -- is a Miami, Florida landmark and a rich emblem of the city's history. It was designed by John Eberson, a master architect when it came to theaters; he was especially known for creating distinct "atmospheres" within his theatres, and the Olympia was no different. Eberson added to the mystique and majesty of the Moorish/Spanish architecture and design work of the building by creating a realistic image of the night sky on the ceiling of the auditorium, creating a full experience for the audience that went beyond simply the entertainment they were witnessing.

Though the Olympia first opened in 1926 as a silent movie theatre, and adapted easily to the "talkies" when they arrived, it also quickly became a popular venue for live performances. In the waning days of Vaudeville, the Olympia was one of the last theaters to continue to host these touring variety acts. It has also been very popular both with musical performers and their audiences throughout its history; artists as diverse as Elvis Presley and Luciano Pavarotti have performed on the Olympia's stage, and MTV continues to host events and concerts there on occasion.

Despite its popularity, however, the Olympia has faced some difficult times. In 1975, the theatre was scheduled for demolition, but was purchased by businessman Maurice Gusman and donated to the city along with the historic Olympia Office Building next to it. The entire complex was renamed in Gusman's honor, and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The theatre is still not entirely safe from the clutches of time, however, and careful restoration work on the aging building is a constant and painstaking process -- but well worth the effort to preserve such a landmark theatre.