Mike, Yes, it’s sad nearly all the downtown theatres are long gone. I never fail to remember them when I walk or drive by the location where they once stood.
I found out I will need to use a scanner to post photos. My printer also has a built-in scanner but it’s currently not functioning. Hopefully I can get it going soon. In the meantime go ahead and send me your photos and I’ll get ‘em up as soon as I’m able to. No I’m not doing this at work; there’s no way I could do it and get away with it!
AGR, That’s interesting. They used masking at the Palace although it was not automatic but was manually hung into place. For 70mm the full screen top to bottom was utilized less a few feet on either side where the masking was hung. 35mm scope was the same width as 70mm but the top portion of the screen was masked roughly 10-12 feet down. There was no masking at bottom since the screen sat on the raised floor. For 35mm standard projection the red curtains were used as masking and opened to the edges of the image.
Michael, Thanks for your “screen masking” explanation regarding the 1965 roadshow engagement at the Palace in Tampa. To this day I’ve wondered whether or not they were actually running a 70mm print. Although the screen had been masked I recall the film being projected from the Cinerama booth on the main level which would indicate it may have been 70mm. However, there was no mention of 70mm in the newspaper ads although Todd A-O does appear in the opening day ad. I assumed it was 35 due to the masking.
Here’s something else I could never figure out. After the first few months the film was no longer being projected from the Cinerama booth. It had been moved to the 35mm booth upstairs where it remained until the end of its run. And from this point on the soundtrack was no longer in stereo. Obviously they switched prints but why? If they were running a 70mm print then I would venture to guess the switch may have been monetary. Any other ideas?
Thanks for the tip Chuck. That’s just what I thought. I’ve been having problems with my printer/scanner but once that’s taken care of I’ll be ready to roll.
For all interested parties: I just posted photos of the Auto Park, Floriland, Fun-Lan and Hillsboro Drive-Ins. Also, the Florida, Garden, Palace and Ritz Theatres (in Tampa that is!) Check ‘em out.
Hey Guys, I just posted photos of the Auto Park, Floriland, Fun-Lan and Hillsboro Drive-Ins. Also, the Florida, Garden, Palace and Ritz Theatres. Check ‘em out!
Here’s a photo of the entrance dated August 21,1943. This screen was demolished in 1969 when the Hillsboro was renovated and a larger steel screen was erected. View link
The Garden Theatre was located at least one lot in from Nebraska Avenue on 20th Avenue which was and still is a residential area. Yep, the theatre is now long along. The empty lot sat vacant for several years. I believe a new building was built on the property fairly recently. Here are two photos:
And this one is dated July 30, 1945: View link
Looks like a completely different theatre! Evidently the building had been either added to or completely renovated by 1945.
Here’s a photo of the entrance dated 6/21/48 at the rear of the original screen. Years later a new screen was erected at the opposite end of the lot. More to come on this one. View link
Mike is right! When he visited Tampa we went to the Fun-Lan to see the new “Superman” movie. I figured it would be on the Fun-Lan’s orginal big screen. But can you believe this? They projected the film on the side fence where a section had been painted white. This makeshift screen was maybe 15 feet wide. It was just unbelievable. You know this is nothing but pure greed.
Mike, Those photos were already posted online so I just provided a link to them which was easier than I thought. But I still haven’t figured out how to post photos that I actually have. Not sure but I think you have to use a scanner. I need to check more into this.
Hey tisloews,thanks for checking the links! Now I can search online for photos of other area theatres & get ‘em up on CT. Hey Mike, what’s your bet on this lot holding 736 boats?
Thanks guys. Your comments are appreciated! I found 3 photos of the Dale Mabry Drive-In online. I’ll post the links below but since I’ve never done this before I’m not sure they’ll work.
Here are two aerial views of the Dale Mabry taken in 1950. The first photo is a better view of the landing strip to the left of the lot. Notice the aircraft sitting near bottom of strip. View link View link
This photo below was taken after the drive-in was demolished shows the ramps to the crosstown expressway on the property. The apartments below the ramps is where the drive-n was located. http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/fltsou4001.jpg
Yes I did and they’re great! Thanks for forwarding them to me. Talk about a coincidence. Whoever would have thought you’d end up with letters mentioning the Hillsboro Theatres in Tampa?!
I thought your rip on the problems the little ladies were causing when Sound of Music played was amusing. I never thought about it but that same situation probably occured in many other cities as well.
Mike, My fault…I jumped the gun! I submitted the Dale Mabry last night and figured it would post today but it hasn’t. I guess it’s still with the CT editors. This morning under “new theatres” the newest one was dated 2/28. I submitted mine on 3/1 so it should turn up soon…keep watching.
Great informative article! Thanks Michael. I’m one of those who fell in love with the film the first time I sat through it. I saw the roadshow version when it opened at Tampa’s Palace in 1965 and went back repeatedly for a total of seven times. And I still have the torn reserved seat ticket stubs.
The Palace ran the 35mm stereo format on the curved Cinerama screen which had been masked for 35mm scope. I also saw the 1973 re-release in 70mm and the image was stunningly sharp, clear, and larger. Amazingly after playing for more than a year the crowds were still linning up down the block.
Wow! Those are some really great shots of Columbia Square…thanks Robin!! I especially like the National Hills opening day group photo…and the shot of the Imperial with “Closed” being placed on the marquee is very sad. And Mike… your “Revenge Of The Pink Panther” marquee is now immortalized forever on CT!
Mike, Yes, it’s sad nearly all the downtown theatres are long gone. I never fail to remember them when I walk or drive by the location where they once stood.
I found out I will need to use a scanner to post photos. My printer also has a built-in scanner but it’s currently not functioning. Hopefully I can get it going soon. In the meantime go ahead and send me your photos and I’ll get ‘em up as soon as I’m able to. No I’m not doing this at work; there’s no way I could do it and get away with it!
AGR, That’s interesting. They used masking at the Palace although it was not automatic but was manually hung into place. For 70mm the full screen top to bottom was utilized less a few feet on either side where the masking was hung. 35mm scope was the same width as 70mm but the top portion of the screen was masked roughly 10-12 feet down. There was no masking at bottom since the screen sat on the raised floor. For 35mm standard projection the red curtains were used as masking and opened to the edges of the image.
Michael, Thanks for your “screen masking” explanation regarding the 1965 roadshow engagement at the Palace in Tampa. To this day I’ve wondered whether or not they were actually running a 70mm print. Although the screen had been masked I recall the film being projected from the Cinerama booth on the main level which would indicate it may have been 70mm. However, there was no mention of 70mm in the newspaper ads although Todd A-O does appear in the opening day ad. I assumed it was 35 due to the masking.
Here’s something else I could never figure out. After the first few months the film was no longer being projected from the Cinerama booth. It had been moved to the 35mm booth upstairs where it remained until the end of its run. And from this point on the soundtrack was no longer in stereo. Obviously they switched prints but why? If they were running a 70mm print then I would venture to guess the switch may have been monetary. Any other ideas?
Thanks for the tip Chuck. That’s just what I thought. I’ve been having problems with my printer/scanner but once that’s taken care of I’ll be ready to roll.
For all interested parties: I just posted photos of the Auto Park, Floriland, Fun-Lan and Hillsboro Drive-Ins. Also, the Florida, Garden, Palace and Ritz Theatres (in Tampa that is!) Check ‘em out.
I just posted photos of the Auto Park, Floriland, Fun-Lan and Hillsboro Drive-Ins. Also, the Florida, Garden, Palace and Ritz Theatres. Check ‘em out!
Hey Guys, I just posted photos of the Auto Park, Floriland, Fun-Lan and Hillsboro Drive-Ins. Also, the Florida, Garden, Palace and Ritz Theatres. Check ‘em out!
Here’s a photo of the entrance dated August 21,1943. This screen was demolished in 1969 when the Hillsboro was renovated and a larger steel screen was erected.
View link
The Garden Theatre was located at least one lot in from Nebraska Avenue on 20th Avenue which was and still is a residential area. Yep, the theatre is now long along. The empty lot sat vacant for several years. I believe a new building was built on the property fairly recently. Here are two photos:
This one is dated March 16,1927:
View link
And this one is dated July 30, 1945:
View link
Looks like a completely different theatre! Evidently the building had been either added to or completely renovated by 1945.
Believe it or not The Fun-Lan was at one time A VERY NICE DRIVE-IN AS A SINGLE SCREENER! Here are two aerial views taken in 1954:
View link
View link
Here’s the sharp-looking marquee which was identical to the marquee at the Dale Mabry Drive-In. This photo is dated 1950.
View link
Aerial view dated 9/5/58 taken from a slight distance:
View link
Screen and portion of playground near exit taken on 10/8/57:
View link
Playground looking towards lot taken on 10/8/57:
View link
Here’s a photo of the entrance dated 6/21/48 at the rear of the original screen. Years later a new screen was erected at the opposite end of the lot. More to come on this one.
View link
Here are some extra shots I found. Click on photos to enlarge.
Exterior view dated 5/18/20 probably taken just after building was completed: View link
Another exterior view dated February 1925:
View link
Entrance w/posters of current and coming attractions dated 8/21/43:
View link
Smaller images of these two photos are included in the link above titled Historic Theatres in Tampa…these are slightly larger.
Here’s a 1932 photo of the auditorium packed with kids. Sorry about the “property of” emblem!
View link
A 1958 exterior shot:
View link
Here are some shots of the Florida. Click on photos to enlarge.
Exterior shot dated 2/26/25 when theatre was known as the Franklin:
View link
Interior shot of auditorium dated 2/15/24 when theatre ran silents: View link
Nice Franklin Street shot dated 9/18/53 showing the Florida on the
right and the Tampa on the left:
View link
Mike is right! When he visited Tampa we went to the Fun-Lan to see the new “Superman” movie. I figured it would be on the Fun-Lan’s orginal big screen. But can you believe this? They projected the film on the side fence where a section had been painted white. This makeshift screen was maybe 15 feet wide. It was just unbelievable. You know this is nothing but pure greed.
Mike, Those photos were already posted online so I just provided a link to them which was easier than I thought. But I still haven’t figured out how to post photos that I actually have. Not sure but I think you have to use a scanner. I need to check more into this.
Hey tisloews,thanks for checking the links! Now I can search online for photos of other area theatres & get ‘em up on CT. Hey Mike, what’s your bet on this lot holding 736 boats?
Thanks guys. Your comments are appreciated! I found 3 photos of the Dale Mabry Drive-In online. I’ll post the links below but since I’ve never done this before I’m not sure they’ll work.
Here are two aerial views of the Dale Mabry taken in 1950. The first photo is a better view of the landing strip to the left of the lot. Notice the aircraft sitting near bottom of strip.
View link
View link
This photo below was taken after the drive-in was demolished shows the ramps to the crosstown expressway on the property. The apartments below the ramps is where the drive-n was located.
http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/fltsou4001.jpg
Yes I did and they’re great! Thanks for forwarding them to me. Talk about a coincidence. Whoever would have thought you’d end up with letters mentioning the Hillsboro Theatres in Tampa?!
I thought your rip on the problems the little ladies were causing when Sound of Music played was amusing. I never thought about it but that same situation probably occured in many other cities as well.
Super photos! Thanks for posting them Robin!
Mike, the screen at the Weis Drive-In is nearly identical to the 20th Century screen. Is the Daniel Village building gone or still standing?
Mike, My fault…I jumped the gun! I submitted the Dale Mabry last night and figured it would post today but it hasn’t. I guess it’s still with the CT editors. This morning under “new theatres” the newest one was dated 2/28. I submitted mine on 3/1 so it should turn up soon…keep watching.
Great informative article! Thanks Michael. I’m one of those who fell in love with the film the first time I sat through it. I saw the roadshow version when it opened at Tampa’s Palace in 1965 and went back repeatedly for a total of seven times. And I still have the torn reserved seat ticket stubs.
The Palace ran the 35mm stereo format on the curved Cinerama screen which had been masked for 35mm scope. I also saw the 1973 re-release in 70mm and the image was stunningly sharp, clear, and larger. Amazingly after playing for more than a year the crowds were still linning up down the block.
Mike, I will! And the Dale Mabry is now finally up.
Wow! Those are some really great shots of Columbia Square…thanks Robin!! I especially like the National Hills opening day group photo…and the shot of the Imperial with “Closed” being placed on the marquee is very sad. And Mike… your “Revenge Of The Pink Panther” marquee is now immortalized forever on CT!