Britton Cinema 8
3938 S. Dale Mabry Highway,
Tampa,
FL
33611
3938 S. Dale Mabry Highway,
Tampa,
FL
33611
4 people
favorited this theater
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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 36 comments)
tlsloews, It’s amazing that none of the theatres in your city were destroyed by dividing. I just assumed theatres in every city were suffering the same fate but apparently not. Locally there were three large theatres that received the split treatment: the Britton, the Loews, and the Hillsboro I. The Loew’s/Austin was one of the worst examples of this trend.
When the Britton was opened in the mid 1950s, it was described as the “largest theatre south of Washington, D.C.” I wouldn’t know how accurate that was, but I certainly remember that it was described that way.
thanks Nick for the article.
The Britton Theatre 8 in Tampa is run by what was called FIVE STAR THEATRES. They have now dropped that name. The India(n)s that run this theatre are associated with, although they will make no such claim, is: View link and they advertise their India(n) films at www.forindians.com Their website may say they are not affiliated with any other websites however this is clearly not true.
It’s been leaked in the plaza that the theatre sits that once again they are promising First Run features at the beginning of the year 2011.
I’d also like to point out that this theatre has never repaired theatre 5 since Zota vacated it in 2008 so you can actually call this the Britton Theare 7. The elevator has been “temporarily out of service” since they have opened.
The Plaza management has been alerted as well as the maintenance people on the grounds in case of theft of equipment when their carnival leaves town.
Well, after that rant I can honestly say they have had only two reputable owners lease this theatre and that is General Cinema and Regal Cinemas. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Pete, are you saying that the plaza owner wants the theater to go first run? Or the operator? There is no way in you know where that they could make money as a 1st run location without a gut-rehab. It is destined as a sub run for the rest of it’s life. I would not see anyone invesitng that much money in such an old location with too much new competition!
I am dissapointed to hear that they are not marketing, and operating the location as it could be a gold mine as a dollar house if someone came in and cleaned the crap out of it! The dust on the speakers was 3 inches thick when I was here this this time last year. If you are aware if this is a yearly lease, I know a successful operator with 9 locations (6 being discount houses) that has equipment who would love to come into Tampa!
Chuck
Now playing here April 7 1963 is “PHAEDRA"Adults only. no children or student tickets sold.
Well I don’t believe it, but late 2011 this theater went 1st run again with a matinee price of $3 and evening $6 with NO UPGRADES.. Do I see it closing again when the problem of a digital upgrade LOOMS?!
My name is Sam Roth and I was 1 of the managers at the Britton Plaza 8 in the Summer of 2006. At the time Zota were the owners and they didnt seem to care much about the Britton, especially after a major rainstorm hit Tampa the first week of June and one of the top theaters was flooded out and the rain water leaked into the Main theatre downstairs. There was 1 gentleman, John Petrey, who was responsible for maintaining the older model projectors-and he was very good at his job. No word on where he is now, but hopefully he is somewhere taking care of a movie theater. I am now in the St. Louis area after my late wife pasted while living in Valdosta, GA. Good Luck and Godspeed to the New Britton Cinema 8. I wish you well. Sam Roth. .
I like this theater strictly for the old school feel of it. When I first saw a movie there last year, I felt like I went back to 1985. If there’s a first run movie that I might have missed, I can go to the Britton and watch it for $5. Everything about the theater is outdated, they don’t even accept credit or debit cards (ATM inside), and the sound system is terrible. Nevertheless, it’s a fun place to catch a flick when you have nothing better to do.
Rofl Carlos as that is the death of the cinema… Britton will be a lost treasure soon!! Even the Ruskin Drive-in went Digital last year… The equipment at britton is ORIGINAL with the exceptions of the lamp houses. That elevator fixed yet? New owner in 2010 now 2013… Still broke.. I have seen several $1 theaters already convert to digital, they are very successful value locations that larger chains abandoned because of profit margin..
You can watch those same movies in the Bradenton mall 6 weeks later for .50 on Tuesdays in a multiplex built in the 80’s as a multi not a single screen split into 8 built in the 30’s .