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A "Catapult for the Imagination Since 1926," Residents Saved Tampa Theatre:
In the 1970s, Tampa Theatre was in serious trouble. Designed by architect John Eberson and opened in 1926, the theater had fallen on hard times as residents moved away from the city center toward the suburbs.
Fortunately, Tampa citizens recognized the rundown theater's historical significance as well as its potential. The city assumed the lease and the Arts Council of Hillsborough County accepted the chore of managing the theater, scheduling films, concerts and special events.
Built during the heyday of elaborate movie palaces, Tampa Theatre offers a unique experience to movie-goers. Inside the theater, audiences are transported to a romantic Mediterranean courtyard featuring classical statuary, flowers and looming gargoyles. Overhead, a starry nighttime sky completes the grand illusion.
Tampa Theatre's successful renovation has become a blueprint for saving old movie houses around the country. The miracle of its rebirth is captured in the theater's mission statement: "A catapult for the imagination since 1926, the Tampa Theatre is a symbol of our city's glorious past and bright future. Tampa Theatre is a fiercely protected landmark and one of America's best-preserved examples of grand movie palace architecture." The nonprofit Tampa Theatre Foundation continues to provide funding and strives to preserve as a cultural institution.
Today, Tampa Theatre showcases independent, foreign and documentary films. The establishment also hosts intimate concerts, comedy stars and speakers. Musicians Annie Lennox, George Thorogood, Joan Baez and Harry Connick Jr. have all performed at the theater. Audiences have also welcomed comedians Roseanne Barr, Carrot Top, Sinbad and Sandra Bernhard.
Tampa Theatre was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is a Tampa City Landmark. In 2007, Life named the theater to its list of "America's 21 Wonders."
To get to Tampa Theatre from Interstate 275, take the 45A exit. Then:
- Follow Ashley Drive to Zack Street.
- Turn Left onto Zack Street
- Follow Zack Street two blocks to Franklin Street
- The Tampa Theatre marquee will be on the left.
Guests may be dropped off at the Tampa Theatre entrance. The parking meters near the theater are free after 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday. On weekdays before 5 p.m., most meters are limited to two hour parking and take quarters.