Florida Theatre

118 N. Monroe Street,
Tallahassee, FL 32301

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Kent Theatres Inc., Paramount Pictures Inc., Talgar Theatre Company

Architects: Roy A. Benjamin, Theodore C. Poulos

Functions: Office Space

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Movie Pub

Nearby Theaters

Florida Theatre

This Streamline Moderne style movie house opened November 20, 1940 with Tyrone Power in “The Mark of Zorro”. It featured a sleek facade with a large vertical sign, a marquee with the theatre’s name in bold stylized lettering, and glass brick decoration. This stunning theatre sat on N. Monroe Street between E. Park Avenue and E. Call Street. By 1957 it was operated by the Talgar Theatre Company.

In 1960, the Florida Theatre was heavily damaged in a fire. The theatre was rebuilt to the plans of architect Theodore C. Poulos, albeit much more simple in style than the Moderne style original look. The large vertical sign was retained, however. By 1968 it was operated by Kent Theatres Inc.

The Florida Theatre operated into the 1980’s and by December 1987 was operating as The Movie Pub. Later, the building was converted into office space.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 23, 2009 at 6:48 pm

From Boxoffice magazine, April 1960:

TALLAHASSEE-The first-run, downtown Florida Theater, valued at $500,000, was completely gutted by a fire after closing the night of Friday, March 25. The cause of the blaze was not determined.

The Florida had been the favorite entertainment center for generations of lawmakers, their families and students and facult members of Florida State University in the state’s capital city. Managed for many years by Tommy Hyde, who indicated that rebuilding plans may soon be set in motion, the Florida was the flagship of Kent Theaters, owned by Fred Kent of Jacksonville.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on October 29, 2010 at 10:33 am

Here is a picture of the former Florida Theatre that I took in October 2010.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on February 1, 2011 at 12:24 pm

thanks for the pictures,guys.July 20,1950 has A Double Feature,“TAKE CARE OF MY LITTLE GIRL” and “SEALED CARGO”.During those years Double Features were showned almost every day.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 23, 2011 at 4:14 am

I’ve been unable to identify the original architect of the Florida Theatre, but the architect for the rebuilding after the 1960 fire was Theodore C. Poulos. It is listed among his works in his biographical entry in the 1962 AIA Architects Directory.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on May 13, 2012 at 5:22 pm

Interior, 1963, after reconstruction: View link

rivest266
rivest266 on January 14, 2017 at 9:03 am

This opened on November 20th, 1940. Grand opening ad in the photo section and

Found on Newspapers.com

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 18, 2017 at 4:02 pm

The newspaper page rivest266 linked to features a courtesy ad placed by architect Roy A. Benjamin, which indicates that he designed this house for E. J. Sparks.

Tony Sullivan
Tony Sullivan on February 2, 2018 at 11:25 am

Was showing Made in Heaven, December 9th, 1987 and calling itself The Movie Pub. That’s the last listing I can find.

SethG
SethG on February 1, 2023 at 5:37 am

Might as well list this as demolished. The shape of the building is completely different. Maybe some of the side wall still exists with windows knocked into it?

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 1, 2023 at 12:29 pm

Comparing current Google satellite view and historic aerial photos, going back to 1967 during the theater’s second period, the Current building occupies the same footprint as the historic structure, but it is now three stories tall. This was its original height, but after the 1960 fire it was rebuilt with only two stories. While the current top floor of the building was never part of the theater, I’m sure the shell of the old building is still there, however greatly altered by its conversion for office space.

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