Tampa Theatre
711 Franklin Street,
Tampa,
FL
33672
711 Franklin Street,
Tampa,
FL
33672
44 people
favorited this theater
Showing 151 - 170 of 170 comments
Last fall (2004), I had the pleasure of watching the original Phantom of the Opera, accompanied on the Mighty Wurlitzer by Rosa Rio herself! There were children there in awe of the experience, squealing with delight at the film and the sounds of the organ!
An awesome experience, since I listened to my Mother’s Rosa Rio recordings while growing up! I shall return to this magnificent theater
Norelco: Next January I will make the Tampa trip!
Patsy, you are into theatres now, so a trip down there to see this beautiful theatre may very well be worth the time.
Your Friend
Norelco
“Eberson’s magic lives on.” What a wonderful quote to read and bears repeating! Congrats to Tampa and all who cared enough!
I used to live in FL and over the years went to Tampa, but wasn’t into theatres then or I would have made a special trip across the state just to see this Eberson/atmospheric cinema treasure!
My son and I saw “The Blair Witch Project” in 2002 at the Tampa Theater. The setting made the movie, rather than vice versa, and the full house had a great time. I will note, however, that the first seats we tried in the balcony had about 12 inches of leg room (we found better seats ASAP). Were folks so much smaller in 1926? Anyway, the Tampa Theater is an experience not to be missed.
I’ve been to the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles and the Ziegfeld in New York. Both theaters combined would not be nearly as beautiful as the shimmering Tampa Theatre. Simply stepping inside is itself an event. The selection offered in the lobby, which includes beer on tap, is as dazzling as the twinkling night-sky ceiling, which is as marvelous as the working Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ, demonstrations of which precede Sunday Classics screenings. I’ve driven up to Tampa from Fort Lauderdale for showings here, in the past, and would do so again in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately, the screen itself is not properly masked, and so there are blank patches of screen depending upon the aspect ratio for the given film. Considering the very experience of watching a movie at this venue, however, it’s a nominal qualm.
I worked here in 89-90, and it still holds an important place in my heart. To walk into that beautiful space every evening was heaven.
I’ve seen a movie here while on vacation in Florida. I highly recommend a visit to this treasure.
Two modern photos can be found on the Library of Congress website.
StarrBar: Congratulations on your plans to be married on the grand stage! What a neat idea and best wishes to you and your bride!
This theater is amazing. I remember going on class trips here as a child and being so mesmerized by the interiors. I often go here to see films or go on the tours (I could probably give them myself). I always dreamed of getting married on that grand stage, and very soon I will be doing just that.
I’ve seen several concerts at the Tampa Theater and the acoustics are phenominal!!!
Another great theatre that I was recently told about at an organ society dinner party. These ‘atmospheric’ theatres that have been saved and renovated are a jewel to their communities and are such cinema treasures!
Every time I think of the Tampa theater I keep recalling the comment in Ben Hall’s book, “The Best Remaining Seats..” where he says..it is replete with a statue of Christopher Columbus discovering the orchestra pit!
The Tampa Theatre boasts a phenomenal organ that really rocks the house and even in increadibly bright Florida it’s always dim and cool inside. The real hit is the twinkling stars in the ceiling and clouds that pass over it!
The theatre serves up an unique mix of movies that you won’t find at your local cineplex as well as concerts. You haven’t REALLY experienced Echo & The Bunnymen until you’ve done it Tampa Theatre style…also caught Thomas Dolby, Howard Jones, David Byrne and many other concerts there. It’s also home to the annual Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (used to serve on the board). One year the ancient abandoned YMCA building right next to it caught fire…a total loss! The whole town was horrified the theatre would go too, but thanks to the TFD they saved it. The show had to go on two days after the fire and the theatre reeked of smoke, but worse still they were using a wrecking ball to take down sections of the old YMCA. Throughout the movie “Passion” (which is already a VERY tense movie) all you could hear was the constant pounding of the wrecking ball and the theatre shaking ever so slightly. Everyone’s nerves were totally wrecked by the end of the movie and fled accross the street to The Hub for some of their wickedly strong cocktails.
The Tampa Theatre is also working on adding some pipes to the Awesome Wurlitzer Pipe organ.
I think that somebody said that the organ plays itself sometimes. Perhaps it’s the old Projectionist ghost! HA HA
As a movie theatre the Tampa seated 2134 people.
This theatre showcases Eberson in a very unique way, namely because Eberson had about half the actual space he was used to working with (namely because the railroad is right behind backstage. Eberson simply put all his decoration in half the space, making for a very dense, rococco effect. Imagine all the statues and gargoyles of, let’s say, the Majestic in half the space.
The Tampa Theatre is currently renovating it’s marquees; this is exciting as both the Vertical AND Horizontal Marquees will be done.
Beautiful theater. This theater is rumored to be haunted by the original projectionist. I remember going there to see Fantasia on a field trip from elementary school. I had never heard the ghost stories, yet I felt an uneasy presence. Recently, I was allowed to enter after hours to explore while the janitors were cleaning up. One of them described several events of toilet paper rolls flying out of the bathroom, doors slamming, and lights turning on or off after hours. This was one of the first buildings with air conditioning in tampa, and it features 10 stories of office space above it.