Florida Theatre
710 Franklin Street,
Tampa,
FL
33602
710 Franklin Street,
Tampa,
FL
33602
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Showing 1 - 25 of 39 comments found
Nick ALL THe AUGUSTA theatres Closed that day and part of the next.
Here’s some trivia that took place on a horribly tragic day. In looking through the theatre ads for 1963 I noticed BLOOD FEAST opened at the Florida Theatre on Friday, November 22, 1963. President Kennedy was assasinated at 12:30 PM, and the first showing began at 1:00. Shortly after the news hit the air many theatres nationwide closed down for the remainder of the day and the following day as well. Not certain if the Florida or any other local theatres closed or remained open. More than likely they ran the first afternoon showing (since tickets had already been sold) and cancelled all other showings.
Although BLOOD FEAST is well known as an extremely low budget drive-in programmer, it actually opened in several first run theatres nationwide before hitting the drive-in circuit. I remember seeing the trailer at the Florida the week before it opened. Audiences that had come to see THE LEOPARD with Burt Lancaster were totally grossed out!
Nick.More power to you,the only musical I ever liked was “OLIVER”.I guess I not much of a music movie watching guy.BUt we both like 2001.
The Exclusive West Coast Engagement of “WEST SIDE STORY” reopens the remodeled Florida Theatre on April 4, 1962. Admission of $1.25 to $2.00 makes this the most expensive movie ticket in town for 1962:
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“WEST SIDE STORY” runs for 10 weeks and is followed by a 3-week run of “STATE FAIR” which I sat through twice the first weekend, twice the second weekend, and twice the third weekend. One of my guilty pleasures and yes, I loved every minute of it!
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Click on image and “view all sizes” to enlarge.
Now showing April 7 1963 was “THE LONGEST DAY” two shows only at 2:30 and 8:15 pm.You even order by Mail for these tickets.
Yes,Nick,You don’t think of the Tampa going the X-rated route.I wonder if Atlanta’s FOX played X-rated movies,I sure do not recall any.
Yes, I remember the Florida did play several X-rated attractions during that period. Many of these were foreign films. I remember seeing a black and white Swedish film called “Inga” which was not much more than soft-porn. Most of these films were not the typical triple-X porno films that would play at adult theatres but more of the mainstream variety. I never saw “Fuego” although I seem to recall the ad about the makers having to flee! I also remember seeing “DeSade” “Heronimus Merkin” and “Clockwork Orange” which were all major attractions rated X. But what shocked me more than these films was when the Tampa Theatre broke its long standing traditon of playing family films and ran the X-rated “Killing of Sister George” and “The Stewardesses.” I’ve always thought the Florida Theatre would have been better suited to play these two.
There is an entire genre of films missing from the list of films that played at the Florida. In the late ‘60’s, after the rating system came into existence (1968) the Florida Theater went through a period of showing 'X’ films. I was stationed at MacDill and saw my first (and pretty much only) X’s there. My favorite (because of how bad it was) was “Fuego”. The advertising claimed that the makers of the film had to flee their home country. Maybe they snuck out under cover of darkness because the film was so lousy.
Thanks,Nick.
Yes, it was the Tower. I haven’t scanned it yet since my scanner is out of commssion once again but should be up again soon.
Did you print those movie ads i sent down from the Drive-in in Tampa.Can’t remember the Drive-in was it the Tower Drive-in.
Photo of entrance with box office and very nice poster displays dated July 14, 1942 when the double-feature of the day was “THE WIFE TAKES A FLYER” and “REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR."
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Great pictures Nick.Told Bill his “JAWS” ad was on that special commentary on the movie.He was impressed and wished he could see it.
Thanks again for the photos,I noticed in the March 6th post, Butler Shoes sign we had one of these stores in Nashville also on Church street near all the theatres,I guess Butler Shoes used to be in most cities as I have seen there signs in many theatre photos on C.T.
The Florida is demolished. I took these with a small polaroid so my apologies for the quality.
Front and side views. Note balcony outline etched in side wall.
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Portion of balcony with part of booth still standing in upper center of photo. The proscenium was hidden for many years when new wide screen was installed.
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Thanks tlsloews. Sadly all buildings on the right side of photo are long gone along with the Florida.
Nice shot of both theatres Nick.
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:
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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:
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Chuck, Although I can’t be certain as to the exact year I believe the new facade was placed on the building either just before or right after 1950. I base this on two photos I saw at the library. One
is dated late 1940s and shows the original facade with windows, and the second photo dated 1952
shows the building with the new modern facade along with the new “Florida” vertical signage which
was removed in the early 1960s. I distinctly remember this date. I was riding in my aunt’s car and
as we passed the Florida I recall the movie playing was “Psycho” and the verticle had already been
taken down.
Thanks for the photo ken mc! Yes, this is the Florida. As you can see the building on the right has already been demolished and the Florida was next. So photo must’ve been taken just weeks or days before demolition. Nice angled shot.
This is supposed to be the Florida in 1978. I’m not sure it gibes with the description at the top of the page, however.
http://tinyurl.com/y9aolub
ONE reason 2001 lost out on MAKE UP with the Oscars is the ACADEMY members thought it was real apes. True Story.
Mike: Yep, I saw “Planet of the Apes” here first-run. It was one heck of a popular film too. I remember the newspaper ads: HELD OVER FOR THE 4TH WEEK – TAMPA WON’T LET IT GO!
It was showing at the Florida at the same time “2001: A Space Odyssey” was playing one block away at the Palace in 70MM Cinerama. I remember comparing the ape make-up from the two films. They were both very realistic and well done for their time.
That minor tornado sounds scary enough. Glad it passed over without damaging the Miller!
Nick,did you PLANET OF THE APES at the Flordia? I saw it at the Miller.A minor Tornado came through town and we didn’t even notice it until we got West of Town.It never knocked the power off.I remember my 5th grade teacher telling us about the movie.
NICK, let me know when you get those theatres i sent you on CT. I have been looking.