April 19

Monroe Theatre at 623 Duval Street and Cuban Trinity Church, Key West, ca. 1915.

1912 – The new Monroe Theater at 623 Duval was screening the 1911 Irish feature “Arrah-na-pogue,” with admission at 10, 15 or 20 cents based on seating. The Airdome at 509 Duval Street in Key West was showing the 1903 film “The Great Train Robbery.” Admission was 10 cents for unlimited viewing.

1917 – Fire destroyed 18 houses known as the Murray property at the corner of United and Thomas streets.

1926 – Key West customs officers discovered 500 bottles of assorted liquor that were concealed in the ceiling of a train car carrying horses that had arrived from Havana onboard the ferry Henry M. Flagler. The prohibited booze was seized for destruction.

1955 – Dorothy Raymer returned to The Key West Citizen as society editor. She previously held the post from 1951 to 1952.

1976 – Key West city commissioners received three design proposals for a multi-level parking garage to be built at the existing municipal parking lot at Angela and Simonton streets. A decision on construction would be made in May.

1982 – The roadblock established by the U.S. Border Patrol to check the citizenship of everyone leaving Monroe County, continued despite efforts by locals to have it removed.

1990 – French President Francois Mitterand and President George H.W. Bush met at Ocean Reef on Key Largo. They proposed that the 16 NATO allies hold a summit to discuss the changing face of Europe.

2006 – The Key West Symphony performed a free outdoor concert to an audience of 2,000 in the parade ground of Fort Taylor. Another 2,000 wanted to get in but were turned away at the gate, leaving many people upset. Some tried to jump the park fence, and police were required to intervene.

---

Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

Image: Monroe Theatre at 623 Duval Street and Cuban Trinity Church, Key West, ca. 1915. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.