Miami Dade College Reclaims Tower Theater Management

The City of Miami will transfer management of the historic Tower Theater to Miami Dade College on Nov. 1. This move restores the college's stewardship of the Little Havana landmark after a 2022 agreement lapse. The transfer ends a period where the venue operated primarily for special events rather than regular film screenings. Residents of Calle Ocho will see a return to daily programming as the college prepares for the theater's centennial anniversary.

The college previously managed the city-owned venue for 20 years. During that time, the theater offered daily screenings of international and Spanish-language films. It also hosted annual film festivals. In 2022, the city declined to renew the management agreement. City Commissioner Joe Carollo had proposed converting the space into a museum dedicated to the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. When veterans of Brigade 2506 rejected the idea, Carollo stated the theater would serve as a welcome center for international arts. Since that decision, movie programming dropped significantly compared to earlier decades.

New Mayor Eileen Higgins and City Commissioner Rolando Escalona sponsored legislation in January to return control to the college. The pair cited the institution's long track record in operating the venue and preserving its history. Higgins stated that the college brings years of experience and a commitment to the arts. She expressed confidence in working together to preserve the landmark and support its future operations.

James Woolley, executive director of the Miami Film Festival at Miami Dade College, noted that the return of the keys has been a long time coming. The college plans to hold a block party on Dec. 10 to mark the theater's 100th anniversary. A full re-opening is scheduled for mid-January. The venue will remain closed for renovations before the new year to install new screens and equipment.

The college holds a five-year lease with multiple renewal options. Woolley expects to open two screens with daily programming upon re-opening. He pointed to recent expansion in the area, including a second screen at the Coral Gables Art Cinema and three new screens at O Cinema in Little River. Woolley described the city as a major hub for independent film momentum due to these concurrent openings.