Dedicated on July 13, 1958, the Orlando Youth Center used to be the scene of teen activity for the Orlando crowd in the days before Disney.
Soon to be the new home of the Orlando Ballet, the Loch Haven Community Center, located at 610 N. Lake Formosa Drive, was once the scene of teen activity for the Orlando crowd in the days before Disney came to town. These photos were taken by Tim Orwick, Colonial High School graduate and yearbook photographer.
Let us know if you have any memories of good times at the center!
Search OrlandoMemory.info using Tim’s last name “ORWICK” for many more photos of Orlando in the 1960s.
Back to topDedicated on July 13, 1958, the Orlando Youth Center used to be the scene of teen activity for the Orlando crowd in the days before Disney. The facility located at 610 N. Lake Formosa Drive, will soon be transformed from the Loch Haven Neighborhood Community Center into the new home of the Orlando Ballet. The photos in this PDF were taken by Tim Orwick, Colonial High School graduate and yearbook photographer. Let us know if you have any memories of good times at the center!
In the mid-1960’s the OYC scheduled entertainment events to raise money for the Center. In ‘63 & ‘64 the event was named Stage Center, and all of the performers were local high school students.It was held at what was then called Municipal Auditorium. I was a part of it in 1964, noting that it was a grand cooperation among the 4-5 high school communities who were more accustomed to athletic competitions. Lots of fun for a good cause!
Greetings George! Thank you for visiting our post on the Orlando Youth Center and sharing your memories! If you have any photos or flyers from the event, we’d love to create a post or add to this post. Let us know and we’ll make arrangements to borrow them! THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
Both the Winter Park and Orlando Youth Centers were my ‘go to’ places while in high school at Colonial (67-70). Some great bands played there. While I can’t remember them all, some come to mind. We the People, Plant Life, Purple Underground, Turtles, Royal Guardsmen, Birnam Wood, Tin House, Marshmellow Steam Shovel, The Undertakers, The Outlaws. Great places for music, dance, meet girls and socialize. A different time in Orlando.
Greetings Philip! Thank you for commenting on the Orlando Youth Center post. If you have any photos from back in the day at the center, we’d love to add a few. We hope you find other posts that bring back memories and continue to share with us. THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
I was in high school during the sixties, and I was at the OYC practically every weekend. I saw so many great local and regional bands there, including We The People and the Go-Mads, among many others. I also saw the Turtles perform there. I met lots of girls, danced a lot, and have many wonderful memories of that time and place. Life was so much simpler back then.
Greetings Randy! Thank you for visiting the Orlando Youth Center post on Orlando Memory. We hope you find other posts and continue to share your memories of Orlando with everyone! THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
The Orlando Youth Center is where Walt Disney Productions held auditions for walk around characters at Walt Disney World which opened October 1, 1971. Auditions were earlier and, after being selected, the original characters were hired and the hire date was August 14, 1971. We rehearsed and became used to being animated
“ Big movements. We can’t see it!” “Look alive!”
All in anticipation of October 1, 1971. An absolutely incredible moment in each of our lives.
We were there and witnessed theme park history.
And all at 2.05 an hour. And we made a living.
Oh the memories. All different. But all way beyond heartfelt. Those days will never be experienced again. A place. A time. Wow!
Thank you for visiting Orlando Memory and sharing your amazing memories about the Youth Center and the connection with the opening of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in 1971. We hope you will visit other posts on OM and share your Disney memories. Here are a couple we think you’ll like https://orlandomemory.info/events/magic-kingdom-grand-opening-ceremonies/and https://orlandomemory.info/events/magic-kingdon-opening-day-october-1-1971/
Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end!