Cameo Theater


The Cameo Theatre was built in 1936 and is located at 1445 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, Florida. The Cameo has a long history and was a major venue for punk and hardcore acts beginning in 1985 when Richard Shelter struck a deal with Cameo owner Zori Hayon to book shows there. According to the Miami New Times, Richard Shelter's first Cameo event was held in July 1985 and featured D.O.A.
In an interview with Roger Deering, Kristy O'Brien describes the Cameo and the local scene in the 80's. "Growing up in South Florida during the 1980s was a heady experience for anyone with alternative inklings. Against the backdrop of endless blue skies, genteel faded pastel jewel box buildings, midnight porch-sitting elderly and relentless heat tempered with hope, beat the heart of the underground music world known as the Cameo Theater. And undeniably the intense rhythm of that Miami Beach heartbeat was everyone’s favorite local band, the Drills.
Most of the great hardcore punk bands such as Black Flag, Ramones, and the Dead Kennedys came to play in this tiny, decrepit hot pink and lime green art deco throwback and as opening band, the Drills were a huge part of the burgeoning all ages movement."
Richard Shelter was the first promoter to bring punk and hardcore to the Cameo. According to Shelter, "When I got back off the road with Pickett and started doing bigger shows at the Cameo, the financing came from Patrick, the owner of Tobacco Road, whom I had worked for part time as a waiter."

Promoters

Blackmarket

Crossover Concerts

Crossover Concerts was founded by Paco D`Onis and Jim Quinlan. The company was formed in 1986 and held its first show the Cameo Theater at the end of November 1986. Crossover Concerts goal was to book everything from African pop to speed metal. They also planned to renovate and eventually buy the Cameo. De Onis and owner Zori Hayon closed the Cameo in late 1989 for renovations and reopened it in March 1990 with a concert by the Sugarcubes.
In the early 90s, The Cameo more or less became a disco dance club. By the end of 1992 de Onis had left, still marveling at the staying power of disco nights, which lasted five years.

Club Era

The disco madness ended in June 1997 after federal, state, and local undercover agents repeatedly bought cocaine inside the Cameo. Authorities closed the club. A few months later they allowed owner Zori Hayon to reopen after he paid $35,000 in fines and agreed to end the theater's under-21 events, including disco nights."

Major shows

1985