Hi Kelly, I did some research on the Main Street address but thus far I haven’t been able to determine whether or not a theatre was ever located at that address. The building that currently sits at the site is very old and appears to have had many uses over the years. However, there may be another way of finding out more about that address. I haven’t given up as yet!
Nice story Ken. Always love hearing when an old theatre that may be facing the wrecking ball is rescued and reborn. Hearing about a theatre that’s been saved and rennovated as a muti-purpose facility is always great, but it’s especially exciting to hear that films are once again being screened as well. We’ve lost far too many theatres that could have been saved.
Interestingly Miami Beach was the only city in Florida to play the original reserved-seat engagement in 70MM. Tampa’s Britton Theatre and St. Petersburg’s Center Theatre were both equipped for 70mm although they were probably not yet open when the the film premiered. Tampa more than likely played the 35MM version.
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.
Dick, This drive-in was actually called the Auto Park although when it first opened it may have been known as the Causeway. I can’t be positive about this but I seem to remember seeing an ad for a Causeway Drive-In at the same location while researching area theatres on microfilm.
I need to find the opening day ad. If this is the case (which I suspect it is) then CT’s editors can consolidated the two pages with “also known as” to reflect Causeway Drive-In. Will try and verify the opening name shortly and post the findings here.
Dick: Thanks for the nice trip down memory lane! By the time I began going to the Hillsboro on my own, most of the forested and swamp land had disappeared. I would usually drive north on Himes Avenue which was also a two-lane country-like road at the time (from Columbus Drive all the way to Hillsborough Avenue.) After passing Jeusit High School I’d began seeing short glimpses of the screen in the wooded area on the right as I was approaching Hillsborough Avenue. Yes, it was very exciting! When I travel down Himes today and look towards that area all I see are apartment buildings where the drive-in once was. Thank goodness we have our memories!
I never had a chance to visit the Cypress Drive-In as it had closed before my movie-going days had begun. I remember seeing the cinder block screen still standing in the empty lot up until sometime towards the mid-1960s. The drive-in was located near Cypress and Westshore but not near the corner. If you were traveling south on Westshore (say you were coming from Boy Scott Blvd) you would turn left onto Cypress Street, go down one block and the drive-in was on the right. Today Thomas Jefferson High School sits directly across the street from the former drive-in lot.
The Doubletree Hotel (formerly Holiday-Inn) occupies the site. A large clump of tall trees sits between the hotel parking lot and Charley’s Steak House restaurant next door. These are the same trees that were on the property when the drive-in was open. The screen sat directly in front of these trees and faced west (towards Westshore Blvd.) The screen was demolished and the lot cleared when construction of the hotel began in the early 1970s.
Thanks Dick! It’s great to know someone else from this area also remembers the 20th Century. The lack of comments from the locals amazes me. You would think with the thousands who frequented these theaters there would be at least a few more comments.
Punk trees…so that’s what they’re called! I see them just about every day when driving down Beach street. I think there are also several along the property bordering Himes Ave. They sure do bring back memories of the 20th Century whenever I see them.
Thanks for remembering Biff Burger. I wasn’t certain what it was but now I can envision the Biff Burger sign on Dale Mabry. I also recall a playground directly behind the burger stand. You had a nice view of the screen from there!
Here’s a photo after it was renamed BIG TEX DRIVE-IN. The landscape behind the screen looks really desolate. This drive-in is apparently long gone. http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/txtbigt001.jpg
I just now verified the address which shows the Carver at 1605 N. Boulevard. I wonder which theatre was at 2104 W. Main St. that Chuck mentions above? Time for some research on this one.
The theatre was located on North Boulevard about a block south of Main Street. Main Street dead ends at N. Boulevard so if you turned right from Main onto N. Boulevard the theatre was on the left side about a block down. The I-275 overpass runs right over the property.
I’d like to go back again and see a movie on the original large screen. The problem is the two smaller ones on either side with one on a fence no less! It’s not easy concentrating on a movie with two other images off the sides distracting your vision (for me anyway.) But maybe parking up close to the front just might block my view of the side screens. Then there’s that drive-in junk food I haven’t had in ages that lately I’ve been craving. Certainly not the healthiest food but still good.
One of the best evenings I ever had here was around 1970 when the Fun-Lan was still a single screener. The program that night was a triple horrorthon: THE CONQUEROR WORM, TERROR CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE, and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Great memories…
Mike, Still trying to finish up the story on the Springs Theatre. I found this photo of the Palma Ceia in USF library’s collection of Tampa scenes. They’ve added several very nice photos of local theatres to the collection that I hadn’t seen before so I linked them to CT: Palace, Florida, Ritz, State, Park, Hillsboro 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." View link
Gary, Thanks for your story! How lucky you were to see Castle’s films on a big theatre screen again and with the gimmicks no less! Any idea if they ran 35mm prints or DVD projection? I missed seeing “House on Haunted Hill” and “The Tingler” on their first run. The first Castle film I saw in a theatre was “13 Ghosts” and later “Homicidal” “Straight-Jacket” and “I Saw What You Did.” Kids pummeling the skeleton with cups & boxes must have happened in nearly every city the film played. A friend who saw it locally in 1959 told me the kids were throwing popcorn boxes and one landed upside down on the skeleton’s head.
It’s great whenever we see today’s young people enjoy the same films we did as kids, and to see them again in a theatre makes it extra special. Sounds like everyone young and old had a great time which is nice to hear. My only disappointment is that I wasn’t there! Thanks again for sharing.
Two photos of the gala premier of Warners' “King of the Carnival” at the State in 1955: View link View link
Harry Lauter and Fran Bennett, the stars of the film make an appearance: View link View link
Fran Bennett looks pleased with her crown: View link
Here’s an absolutely beautiful full shot of the Palace marquee and entrance dated 1947. Theatres do not get much better than this! I often dream about this theatre: View link
Hi Kelly, I did some research on the Main Street address but thus far I haven’t been able to determine whether or not a theatre was ever located at that address. The building that currently sits at the site is very old and appears to have had many uses over the years. However, there may be another way of finding out more about that address. I haven’t given up as yet!
Nice story Ken. Always love hearing when an old theatre that may be facing the wrecking ball is rescued and reborn. Hearing about a theatre that’s been saved and rennovated as a muti-purpose facility is always great, but it’s especially exciting to hear that films are once again being screened as well. We’ve lost far too many theatres that could have been saved.
Interestingly Miami Beach was the only city in Florida to play the original reserved-seat engagement in 70MM. Tampa’s Britton Theatre and St. Petersburg’s Center Theatre were both equipped for 70mm although they were probably not yet open when the the film premiered. Tampa more than likely played the 35MM version.
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.
Dick, See the Causeway Drive-In page. I posted a comment. I think it was renamed the Auto Park Drive-In.
Dick, This drive-in was actually called the Auto Park although when it first opened it may have been known as the Causeway. I can’t be positive about this but I seem to remember seeing an ad for a Causeway Drive-In at the same location while researching area theatres on microfilm.
I need to find the opening day ad. If this is the case (which I suspect it is) then CT’s editors can consolidated the two pages with “also known as” to reflect Causeway Drive-In. Will try and verify the opening name shortly and post the findings here.
Dick: Thanks for the nice trip down memory lane! By the time I began going to the Hillsboro on my own, most of the forested and swamp land had disappeared. I would usually drive north on Himes Avenue which was also a two-lane country-like road at the time (from Columbus Drive all the way to Hillsborough Avenue.) After passing Jeusit High School I’d began seeing short glimpses of the screen in the wooded area on the right as I was approaching Hillsborough Avenue. Yes, it was very exciting! When I travel down Himes today and look towards that area all I see are apartment buildings where the drive-in once was. Thank goodness we have our memories!
I never had a chance to visit the Cypress Drive-In as it had closed before my movie-going days had begun. I remember seeing the cinder block screen still standing in the empty lot up until sometime towards the mid-1960s. The drive-in was located near Cypress and Westshore but not near the corner. If you were traveling south on Westshore (say you were coming from Boy Scott Blvd) you would turn left onto Cypress Street, go down one block and the drive-in was on the right. Today Thomas Jefferson High School sits directly across the street from the former drive-in lot.
The Doubletree Hotel (formerly Holiday-Inn) occupies the site. A large clump of tall trees sits between the hotel parking lot and Charley’s Steak House restaurant next door. These are the same trees that were on the property when the drive-in was open. The screen sat directly in front of these trees and faced west (towards Westshore Blvd.) The screen was demolished and the lot cleared when construction of the hotel began in the early 1970s.
Thanks Dick! It’s great to know someone else from this area also remembers the 20th Century. The lack of comments from the locals amazes me. You would think with the thousands who frequented these theaters there would be at least a few more comments.
Punk trees…so that’s what they’re called! I see them just about every day when driving down Beach street. I think there are also several along the property bordering Himes Ave. They sure do bring back memories of the 20th Century whenever I see them.
Thanks for remembering Biff Burger. I wasn’t certain what it was but now I can envision the Biff Burger sign on Dale Mabry. I also recall a playground directly behind the burger stand. You had a nice view of the screen from there!
Here’s a photo after it was renamed BIG TEX DRIVE-IN. The landscape behind the screen looks really desolate. This drive-in is apparently long gone.
http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/txtbigt001.jpg
Mike, Here’s the drive-in that was featured in “Midnight Cowboy.” It’s located in Big Springs, Texas: /theaters/16626/
Thanx for the Fonda drive-in trivia. Now THAT’s a coincidence!
I just now verified the address which shows the Carver at 1605 N. Boulevard. I wonder which theatre was at 2104 W. Main St. that Chuck mentions above? Time for some research on this one.
The theatre was located on North Boulevard about a block south of Main Street. Main Street dead ends at N. Boulevard so if you turned right from Main onto N. Boulevard the theatre was on the left side about a block down. The I-275 overpass runs right over the property.
Mike, My scanner should be working soon so send me the photos and I’ll post them here.
I’d like to go back again and see a movie on the original large screen. The problem is the two smaller ones on either side with one on a fence no less! It’s not easy concentrating on a movie with two other images off the sides distracting your vision (for me anyway.) But maybe parking up close to the front just might block my view of the side screens. Then there’s that drive-in junk food I haven’t had in ages that lately I’ve been craving. Certainly not the healthiest food but still good.
One of the best evenings I ever had here was around 1970 when the Fun-Lan was still a single screener. The program that night was a triple horrorthon: THE CONQUEROR WORM, TERROR CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE, and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Great memories…
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.
Mike, Still trying to finish up the story on the Springs Theatre. I found this photo of the Palma Ceia in USF library’s collection of Tampa scenes. They’ve added several very nice photos of local theatres to the collection that I hadn’t seen before so I linked them to CT: Palace, Florida, Ritz, State, Park, Hillsboro 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."
View link
Here’s a photo dated 1942 when the Palma Ceia played the double-feature “KISS THE BOYS GOODBYE” and “BLONDIE GOES LATIN."
View link
Nice evening shot shows a glowing marquee. This photo not dated but my guess would be the 1930s:
View link
Gary, Thanks for your story! How lucky you were to see Castle’s films on a big theatre screen again and with the gimmicks no less! Any idea if they ran 35mm prints or DVD projection? I missed seeing “House on Haunted Hill” and “The Tingler” on their first run. The first Castle film I saw in a theatre was “13 Ghosts” and later “Homicidal” “Straight-Jacket” and “I Saw What You Did.” Kids pummeling the skeleton with cups & boxes must have happened in nearly every city the film played. A friend who saw it locally in 1959 told me the kids were throwing popcorn boxes and one landed upside down on the skeleton’s head.
It’s great whenever we see today’s young people enjoy the same films we did as kids, and to see them again in a theatre makes it extra special. Sounds like everyone young and old had a great time which is nice to hear. My only disappointment is that I wasn’t there! Thanks again for sharing.
Great bird’s eye view of The Ritz marquee in 1958 showing an interesting double feature program:
View link
Two photos of the gala premier of Warners' “King of the Carnival” at the State in 1955:
View link
View link
Harry Lauter and Fran Bennett, the stars of the film make an appearance:
View link
View link
Fran Bennett looks pleased with her crown:
View link
The Park Theatre plays “The Vigilantes Return” in 1947:
View link
Here’s an absolutely beautiful full shot of the Palace marquee and entrance dated 1947. Theatres do not get much better than this! I often dream about this theatre:
View link