Ritz Theater
1503 E. Seventh Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33605
1503 E. Seventh Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33605
2 people
favorited this theater
The Ritz Theater in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida was built in 1917 as the Rivoli Theater, expanded in the 1930’s as the Ritz Theater.
After closing as a movie theater in 1982 (screening adult movies), it became The Masquerade concert venue and nightclub, but this eventually closed in early-2006. On June 26, 2008 it re-opened as the Ritz Theater and is now used for concerts and special events.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 46 comments)
For the first time in nearly 28 years The Ritz will be showing a movie! A costume party and screening of “THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW” along with a live cast will take place on October 22, 2010 at 11:00 PM. As far as I’m aware no movies have been shown since the theatre closed as an adult house in 1982. I contacted the Director of Marketing and was told that theatre seating will be placed in The Grand Ballroom although it will be limited seating on a first-come-first-serve basis. I asked if the movie will be on film or DVD projection and the answer was, “I believe it’s on DVD.” Just as I suspected since all film projection equipment was stripped out years ago. Nevertheless it’s nice to know a movie (even though it isn’t film) will be shown on a screen in the former theatre auditorium.
Yeah, Nick THE IMPERIAL is using DVD’s projected on the big screen.I saw a bit of a movie and it didn’t look so bad,just no bell ringing in the booth to warn the projectionist{Bill} a change over is coming.“what’s A change over!” Lol. Hey, some folks on CT probably don’t know.
Ah yes! The changeover warning bell…something you’ll never hear in today’s multiplexes. The Ritz had a bell on each projector that was loud and clear. Whenever I heard the “ding!” I’d get set to look for the cue marks and anxiously watch the changeover. I also loved hearing the flap flap flap of the film as the reels ended their rewind. Now everyone on CT will know I’m nuttier than a fruitcake.
This photo is from the collection of Henry Fontanills. Here’s a great shot of several young boys standing onstage in front of the screen during an Optimists Club event in December 1937. Click
on photo and “view all sizes” to enlarge to super size: View link
Great Shot.You ain’t nuttier than a fruit cake.Sending a letter down.Thanks again for all the great pictures,ihave one FRAMED.
Here are my pictures from December 2010.
thanks Andy,Nick put a book together on this Theatre and ,well, you would probably go crazy like I did when he ran me off a copy, did he did some hard work reserching as only Nick could do.
Oh man, I’d love to get my hands on that book!
Mike, Thanx for the plug & the thumbs up, I can use the extra publicity…LOL! Remember you also did a great job on the National Hills book! Andy, if you’re reading this and are interested in a copy I can send you one if you’d like. It’s just a booklet listing all the films I saw here along with some history of the theatre and several anecdotes that I recall from years ago. Just email me your address at and I’ll mail you a copy.
Nick. it was 100 times better than what I did on National Hills.heck, I stole your Idea.LOl.