Tampa Theatre
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Coordinates: 27°57′0″N 82°27′32″W / 27.95000°N 82.45889°W
![]() Exterior of venue (c.2006) | |
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Full name | Tampa Theatre Building |
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Address | 711 N Franklin St Tampa, FL 33602-4435 |
Location | Downtown Tampa |
Owner | City of Tampa |
Operator | The Arts Council of Hillsborough County |
Capacity | 1,252 |
Construction | |
Broke ground | April 12, 1925 |
Opened | October 15, 1926 |
Renovated | 1976-77; 1992; 2009; 2011-12; 2017 |
Construction cost | $1.2 million ($17.7 million in 2020 dollars[1]) |
Architect | John Eberson |
Website | |
tampatheatre![]() | |
Tampa Theatre | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 78000945[2] |
Added to NRHP | January 3, 1978 |
The Tampa Theatre is a historic U.S. theater and city landmark in Downtown Tampa, Florida. Designed as an atmospheric theatre style movie palace by architect John Eberson, it opened on October 15, 1926.
The theatre features a wide range of independent, foreign, and documentary films. It is Tampa's only non-profit movie palace, and operating costs are supported by its members, donors and corporate sponsors, as well as by ticket and concessions sales. It has often been used as a backdrop for movies, music videos and local programming.[citation needed]
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Tampa_architectural_photos_229.jpg/200px-Tampa_architectural_photos_229.jpg)
Tampa Theatre was the first commercial building in Tampa to offer air conditioning, which provided appeal during Florida's sweltering summer months. The theatre's interior resembles romantic Mediterranean courtyard replete with old world statuary, flowers, and gargoyles. On the ceiling is an artificial nighttime sky featuring twinkling stars.
A movie palace, it features an opulent interior and uniformed ushers and attendants. By the end of the 1920s, more than 90 million Americans were going to the movies every week. For several decades, the theatre remained a jewel and the centerpiece of Tampa's cultural landscape.
By the 1960s and 70s, times had changed. America's flight to suburbs was having a damaging effect on downtown business districts across the country. Hardest hit were the downtown movie palaces which dotted America's urban landscapes. Audiences dwindled and costs rose. Many American movie palaces were demolished because the land beneath them became more valuable than the theatre operation.
In 1973, the theatre faced the same fate. But the citizens rallied and committees were formed. City leaders became involved, and soon a deal was reached to have the City rescue the Tampa Theatre by assuming its leases. The Arts Council of Hillsborough County agreed to program and manage the Tampa Theatre with films, concerts and special events. By the time the Theatre reopened in early 1978, the Tampa Theatre had become something of a national model on how to save an endangered theater.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Tampa_architectural_photos_226.jpg/200px-Tampa_architectural_photos_226.jpg)
In 1992, restorations efforts were led by the Tampa Theatre Foundation after the building caught fire in 1991. The theatre presents and hosts over 600 events a year including a full schedule of first run and classic films, concerts, special events, corporate events, tours and educational programs. The Theatre is one of the most heavily utilized venues of its kind in the United States.
Since its rescue in 1978, the theatre has welcomed over five million guests including over one million school children for school field trips and summer camps in the context of one of Tampa's largest historic preservation projects.
Community support and contributions are critical to the Theatre's continued success and viability. In spite of its successes, the theatre only earns about 60% of its annual operating budget through earned income.
It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, is a Tampa City Landmark, and is a member of the League of Historic American Theatres.
The theatre has undergone many restoration projects to maintain its original splendor as well as equipment upgrades to provide a modern movie-going experience. The most recent restoration project was the replacement of the marquee which includes the vertical blade sign and the canopy. The completion of this major facelift was marked by the Marquee Lighting Ceremony which took place on January 16, 2004.[citation needed]
The theatre operates The Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ and the instrument is played before nightly films. The organ is played and maintained by a team of volunteer organists from the Central Florida Theatre Organ Society.[3]
In the spring of 2013, during its 86th year of existence, efforts began to convert to digital picture and sound (with the exception of productions that are only available in the movie reel format) and screened a free showing of Samsara to celebrate the transition. The switch to digital—in anticipation of an industry change whereby all new releases will only be available in digital format—occurred at a cost of $150,000.[4]
In late 2017, the Theatre closed for six weeks to complete the first phase of its long term restoration plan, a $6 million renovation that updated the electrical systems, re-seated the auditorium with seats designed to match the original look from 1926, added a new and expanded concessions stand and bar, installed a new emergency power system, and protected the building from storms by installing new storm rated windows and doors on the Florida Avenue side of the building. The seating capacity was reduced from 1,446 to 1,238 to improve comfort and leg room. New carpet, designed to match the original 1926 design, was installed, as well as a new grand drape and valance for the proscenium arch also designed to match the original.
The lobby paint and plaster was painstakingly restored to its original palette by crews from EverGreene Studios, in New York, including the replication of four tapestries to replace the faded and worn tapestries from 1926. The original tapestries were transferred to the Tampa Bay History Center for preservation.
In popular culture[]
The glam metal band Sleeze Beez filmed the music video for the song "Stranger Than Paradise" at the theater.[5][6]
Noted performers[]
- Gregg Allman Band[7]
- Tori Amos (3 times)
- Blondie
- Lindsey Buckingham
- David Byrne[8]
- Colbie Caillat
- Ray Charles
- Chris Cornell
- Miranda Cosgrove
- Elvis Costello
- Jamie Cullum
- Ani DiFranco[9]
- Dr. John
- The Dresden Dolls
- Drive-By Truckers
- Steve Earle
- Jimmy Fallon
- Genesis
- Gov't Mule (3 times)
- Arlo Guthrie[10]
- Buddy Guy
- Emmylou Harris
- Iron Butterfly
- Albert King
- B.B. King (9 times)
- Kris Kristofferson
- Ray LaMontagne
- Amos Lee
- John Legend
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Darlene Love
- Love and Rockets
- Shelby Lynne
- Aimee Mann
- Dave Mason
- Matisyahu
- Jessica Lea Mayfield
- Delbert McClinton
- Pat Metheny Group
- Randy Newman
- Nickel Creek
- Night Ranger (3 times)
- New Order
- Old Crow Medicine Show[11]
- The Police
- Iggy Pop
- Postmodern Jukebox
- Psychedelic Furs
- Queensrÿche
- Ramones
- Damien Rice
- Todd Rundgren
- Leon Russell
- Joe Satriani
- Boz Scaggs
- Sister Hazel
- Phoebe Snow
- Spyro Gyra
- Tegan and Sara
- Third Eye Blind
- George Thorogood
- Wilco
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
- Warren Zevon
- Andrew Dice Clay[12]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ^ 1634 to 1699: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy ofthe United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700-1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How much is that in real money?: a historical price index for use as a deflator of money values in the economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Todd Beck (15 August 2009). "Tampa Theatre Mighty Wurlitzer organ" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ Dalia Colon (1 May 2013). "After 87 Years, Tampa Theatre Goes Digital". WUSF News. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ applesandgrits (19 May 2009). "The Tampa Theatre" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ donvanspall (30 December 2007). "Sleeze Beez - Stranger Than Paradise" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ https://www.setlist.fm/venue/tampa-theatre-tampa-fl-usa-23d6cca3.html?page=12
- ^ Leilani Polk. "David Byrne at Tampa Theatre Review".
- ^ MaxSenn (12 March 2008). "Ani DiFranco - The Atom (03.11.2008) Tampa" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ Shelley Renee Perfect (9 March 2009). "Arlo Guthrie Tampa Theatre March 2009" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ alpine1985 (12 February 2009). "Old Crow Medicine Show with The Felice Brothers" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ http://www.tbnweekly.com/diversions/museums_theater/article_29ed6f4d-cd34-53a8-bcc9-5851c18bd5cd.html
External links[]
- Official website
- Maps and Aerial Photos on Google Maps
- 360° Virtual Tour of the Tampa Theatre from TBO.com
- Tampa Theatre at flheritage.com
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. FL-386, "Tampa Theatre, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL", 2 color transparencies, 1 photo caption page
- Tampa Theatre at Cinema Treasures
- Cinemas and movie theaters in Florida
- National Register of Historic Places in Tampa, Florida
- Movie palaces
- John Eberson buildings
- Music venues in Florida
- Theatres in Tampa, Florida
- Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Florida
- Historic American Buildings Survey in Florida
- Atmospheric theatres
- 1926 establishments in Florida
- Nonprofit cinemas and movie theaters in the United States
- Public venues with a theatre organ