Tampa Theatre
711 Franklin Street,
Tampa,
FL
33672
711 Franklin Street,
Tampa,
FL
33672
44 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Tampa Theatre Online (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Consolidated Amusement Company, Florida State Theaters Inc., Paramount Pictures Inc., Publix Theaters Corp.
Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson
Functions: Concerts, Live Performances, Movies (Classic), Movies (Independent)
Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Colonial
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
813.274.8981
Manager:
813.274.8286
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jul 2, 2014 — Stefanie Klavens' Celluloid Dreams
- Feb 22, 2012 — Hit the red carpet during Tampa Theatre's 'Oscar Night'
- Feb 17, 2012 — Old movie theaters find new life
- Oct 8, 2011 — Tampa Theatre: Still cool at 85
- May 17, 2010 — Famed theater organist Rosa Rio passes at 107
- Mar 5, 2008 — Airline Magazine by Ross Melnick features Historic Movie Theaters
- May 25, 2004 — Tampa Theatre Documentary Debuts
The Tampa Theatre opened by Publix/Consolidated Amusements Inc. on October 15, 1926 with Adolph Menjou in “The Ace of Cads”. It was designed by noted theatre architect John Eberson as a Florida Mediterranean Atmospheric style theatre. Audiences were transported to a lavish, romantic Mediterranean courtyard, replete with old world statuary, flowers and gargoyles. Over all is a night-time sky, replete with twinkling stars and floating clouds.
The Tampa Theatre ‘Mighty Wurlitzer’ is a magnificent 3Manual/14Rank instrument which was opened by New York based organist Edward J. Weaver. It is maintained by the Central Florida Theater Organ Society.
In the 1940’s, the Tampa Theatre was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks. This wonderous movie palace almost faced the wrecking ball. After almost fifty years of top notch films, the Tampa Theatre was forced to eke out an existence by showing ‘B’ movies. By 1973, the Tampa Theatre was closed. People and government rallied to save the Tampa. The theatre was then donated to the city. In 1977, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places and reopened following an extensive restoration.
The Tampa Theatre presents art films, classic films, concerts and other performances. There are usually tours every month. Eberson’s magic lives on.
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 170 comments)
On June 14th, 2015 I toured the Tampa Theater. I mentioned to the tour guide that parts of the interior, like the second floor lobby, looked something like the Olympia in downtown Miami.
After the tour, before the film began (“Key Largo”, as part of their Summer Classic Film Series), she found me in my seat to tell me she had just discovered the two theaters have the same architect, then left saying “Now I have to visit Miami”. : )
I enjoyed the history of the theater, the live organ performance (it rises from beneath the stage, descends as the music finishes), and getting to see an old film in a venue that was around during the film’s original release.
The Tampa Theater, its history and preservation, are also discussed in part of the book “The Southern Movie Palace: Rise, Fall, and Resurrection ” by Janna Jones..
Patsy: Thanks, I enjoy doing them. I rewrote it slightly and reposted, then deleted the original which is why your comment now appears above mine.
The films scheduled for Tampa Theatre’s 4th annual Halloween series, A Nightmare on Franklin Street:
Oct. 21: A Nightmare on Elm Street (7:30 p.m.); Friday the 13th (10 p.m.)
Oct. 22: The Innocents (2 p.m.); Beetlejuice (4:45 p.m.); The Conjuring (7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 23: Hocus Pocus (2 p.m.); Psycho (4:30 p.m.); Scream (7 p.m.); Halloween (10 p.m.).
Oct. 24: The Witch (7:30 p.m.); It Follows (10 p.m.)
Oct. 25: Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (7:30 p.m.); Poltergeist (10 p.m.)
Oct. 26: The Omen (10 p.m.)
Oct. 28: Shock Treatment (7:30 p.m.); The Rocky Horror Picture Show (10 p.m.)
Oct. 29: Ghostbusters (3 p.m.); The Haunting (6 p.m.)
Oct. 31: Hotel Transylvania (10 a.m.); I Drink Your Blood (7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 30: The Nightmare Before Christmas (2:30 p.m.); Carrie (5 p.m.); Misery (7:30 p.m.); Creepshow (10 p.m.)
$6 million restoration project announced; new seating will be a highlight. Tampa Bay Times story here.
1958 photo added courtesy of Jeff Davies.
Upcoming “JFK In Tampa” showing and event at the Tampa Theatre.
http://tampatheatre.org/movies/jfk-in-tampa/
Grand opening ad:
Found on Newspapers.com
Pictures:
Found on Newspapers.com
The grand opening ad ran over 20 pages with half of the space promoting the office space.
Via my friend Ross who portrayed Santa.
“3 years ago, during restoration construction at the Tampa Theatre, we made this short (with an in-side joke build into the script, to promote Christmas-in-the Park Movies from the historic Tampa Theatre. We never dreamed the house would be darkened by a pandemic.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW19lSbjZug&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1Q6Erb1RI3cQYxeL4oBTJsH1bGr2Eq2QJ-2iwEhow1Du45yK4K4X-ZANw