Britton Cinema 8

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 .

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. .

Now playing here April 7 1963 is “PHAEDRA"Adults only. no children or student tickets sold.

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.

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.

Cool artical and photos Nick,I know it is hard to make them look good at least you have some old stuff to post I never kept any of my old stuff except one-sheets.Luckly none of my theatres were divited they just built as one screens even the Loews Melrose with 1000 seats including the balcony would have worked unless they were real small theatres,there was talk of it but it never happened. The Loews Crescent with 830 seats maybe could have been split but they would have been very long skinny theatres with small screens.And I just thought there were only exit doors on the left side of the house so the fire codes would not let this happen.

tlsloews, At least you remembered the film “Sleeper” and your $1.50 per hour when you began in the business. I can’t recall which films were playing my first night on the job at the Dale Mabry Drive-In. But I can’t forget my $5.00 per night pay that amounted to about .83 cents an hour!

Mike, I saw “Paper Moon” on my first visit. Afterwards I peeked in the shoebox cinema I to see how “The Sound of Music” was doing and it was crowded. I was standing at the back for a few minutes when suddenly the reel ended and the picture went off the screen making loud bleeping & popping noises as it ran completely through the projector and soundhead leaving a brightly lit screen for a few seconds. POOR SHOWMANSHIP! Where was the projectionist..?!

Nice ad Nick,1973 the first year I was in the business showing Woody Allens SLEEPER at the LOEWS MELROSE $1.50 an hour as a doorman.

Advertisement from 1994.

Nick, i try and cruise and see what you and TLSloew comment on. Was checking Robin’s theatres,but she’s sorta dropped out.Hope she puts Tlsloews Drive-in pictures on.

Sorry Mike…I promise to keep you more up-to-date in my postings! No, I guess I was too starstruck and intimidated to ask Mr. Marley about the horse’s head. What I said to him was, “I just wanted to say I saw you in The Godfather and Love Story and you did a great job in those two films and I also enjoyed this film as well.” Of course afterwards I was kicking myself for not asking him more especially about The Godfather and also about Ali McGraw and what she was like to work with. Guess I had my chance and blew it!

Forgot to include this bit of trivia in my prior posting. In 1974 the Britton Theatre held the world premiere of a little horror movie that has achieved somewhat of a cult status. The film was called “Dead of Night” (also known as “Deathdream”) and was shot entirely in Brooksville just north of Tampa. A portion of the film near the climax was also shot at the Brooksville 41 Drive-In Theatre.

It starred John Marley (of Godfather & Love Story fame) and the plot dealt with the homecoming of a soldier killed during the Vietnam war who somehow returns home as a sort of living dead vampire. It’s a creepy and well-made little shocker directed by Bob Clark who later did the “Porky’s” films and the holiday favorite “A Christmas Story.”

Mr. Marley made a personal appearance at the Britton and spoke on stage prior to the screening. Afterwards he remained in the theatre and chatted with several patrons including yours truly. There are many excellent reviews of the film posted on the Internet Movie Database.

2009 photo of the Britton cinema 8 courtesy ferret111'

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