Ritz Theatre
250 E. Main Street,
Bartow,
FL
33830
250 E. Main Street,
Bartow,
FL
33830
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: ABC Florida State Theatres
Architects: W.B. Talley
Previous Names: Emada Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The 736-seat Emada Theatre was opened on February 1, 1924 with Mary Philbin in “The Merry-Go-Round”. It was renovated in 1936 and was renamed Ritz Theatre. The former Ritz Theatre was destroyed in a fire in June 2005, by which time it had been converted into office space.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
News about the Ritz Theatre in Bartow from The Film Daily of September 12, 1936:
I’ve updated Street View to roughly match the location of this photo by Flickr user drewcjm, who says this is where the Ritz was.
CinemaTour gives the address of the Ritz as 250 E. Main, which is definitely in the block where drewcjm placed it.
First Known As The Ernada Theatre Which Opened Its Doors On February 5, 1924. Sound Was Installed On April 8, 1929. The Theater Changed Its Name To The Ritz Theatre In 1936. It Was Closed In December 1965.
The Ernada Theatre was opened ny Hugh Wear on February 1, 1924 with Mary Philbin in “The Merry-Go-Round.” Louise Gautier was the opening keyboardist. The architect was W.B. Talley and built by W.C. Robertson & Co. At its launch, Marquis Amusement Circuit operated the 736-seat venue.
Operator Vance Marquis proved himself a masterful political tactician when he was requested to equip the theater for sound i 1929. He said without Sunday screenings prevented by local blue laws, he couldn’t afford to do so. The town put that on the ballot and it passed. on April 14, 1929, the Ernada’s new Photophone sound system of North Vernon, Indiana playing, “The Broadway Melody” as its first talkie. The theater refreshed reducing seat count to 663.
New manager Leonard Bennett took on the house with a major streamlined moderne makeover in September of 1936 including a much improved Western Electric sound system. Now seating 600, the venue was rechristened as the Ritz Theater. Florida State Theatres operated the venue in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. But ads are discontinued in December of 1965 which may - or may not - be indicative of its closure.