I worked at the Florida Theatre in Ocala during my high school years (1960-1963). It was a fun place to work for a high school kid! Not as “Up-scale” as the Marion Theatre, but I had as much fun as a kid could have @ 50 cents an hour, and all the popcorn you could eat! We showed mostly 2nd run movies. I was an usher, sold tickets, sold candy and popcorn, and sometime filled in as relief projectionist. I also changed the marque. That was really fun when it was cold and rainy!!! I think I got paid extra for that, but don’t remember for sure. After Silver Springs Boulevard was widened, the sidewalk in front of the theatre had a significant slope to it. This made changing the marque really fun as it was almost impossible to get all four feet of the required 20 foot ladder securely on the ground at the same time! Especially on the right side marque where the sidewalk sloped in 2 different directions.
I wish I had known more of the history of the building when I worked there. I understand it had once been a vaudville theatre stop. The area behind the screen and in the basement was really interesting with multiple dressing rooms and storage areas. All the old movie “1 sheets” (Posters), that were there would probably be worth a fortune on ebay now, but who knew then?
In keeping with the attitudes of the time, African Americans were required to sit in the balcony and had a separate entrance. Black Americans were not allowed in the Marion Theatre at that time!
The building has been demolished and I believe the area was a parking lot the last time I was in Ocala.
One of the most exciting days back then was in July 1961, when Elvis came to town while filming “Follow That Dream!”
I worked at the Florida Theatre in Ocala during my high school years (1960-1963). It was a fun place to work for a high school kid! Not as “Up-scale” as the Marion Theatre, but I had as much fun as a kid could have @ 50 cents an hour, and all the popcorn you could eat! We showed mostly 2nd run movies. I was an usher, sold tickets, sold candy and popcorn, and sometime filled in as relief projectionist. I also changed the marque. That was really fun when it was cold and rainy!!! I think I got paid extra for that, but don’t remember for sure. After Silver Springs Boulevard was widened, the sidewalk in front of the theatre had a significant slope to it. This made changing the marque really fun as it was almost impossible to get all four feet of the required 20 foot ladder securely on the ground at the same time! Especially on the right side marque where the sidewalk sloped in 2 different directions.
I wish I had known more of the history of the building when I worked there. I understand it had once been a vaudville theatre stop. The area behind the screen and in the basement was really interesting with multiple dressing rooms and storage areas. All the old movie “1 sheets” (Posters), that were there would probably be worth a fortune on ebay now, but who knew then?
In keeping with the attitudes of the time, African Americans were required to sit in the balcony and had a separate entrance. Black Americans were not allowed in the Marion Theatre at that time!
The building has been demolished and I believe the area was a parking lot the last time I was in Ocala.
One of the most exciting days back then was in July 1961, when Elvis came to town while filming “Follow That Dream!”