David Falk Memorial Theater

428 W. Kennedy Boulevard,
Tampa, FL 33606

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc., Wometco Theatres

Functions: Live Performances, University

Styles: Spanish Baroque

Previous Names: Park Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 813.253.6243

Nearby Theaters

David Falk Memorial Theater

The Park Theatre was opened on December 22, 1928 with Jaqueline Logan in “Nothing to Wear” on the screen plus vaudeville on the stage. It was equipped with a master Page Twin organ. During the 1940’s it is listed as being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks. By the early-1950’s, it is shown as being part of the Wometco chain.

Since 1962 it has been taken over by the University of Tampa as a live performance facility.

Contributed by John Evans, Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 21 comments)

Nunzienick
Nunzienick on November 28, 2010 at 9:27 pm

The description of this undated photo reads: “Auditorium at the University of Tampa.” This is almost certainly the auditorium of the David Falk Memorial Theatre when it was known as the Park Theatre. The absence of a CinemaScope screen probably dates this in the 1940s or early 1950s.
View link

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on November 30, 2010 at 7:55 am

Here are my pictures from November 2010.

Nunzienick
Nunzienick on December 2, 2010 at 9:31 pm

Nice photos..thanks Andy. Would have loved to have gone to The Park in it’s heyday. I wonder if the booth is still equipped for 35mm and if the university ever runs movies here.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on February 22, 2011 at 1:35 am

A recent article about this theater with a picture from 1963, a year after it was taken over by the University of Tampa and renamed:View link.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 7, 2011 at 10:32 am

thanks Guys,Great NEw stuff.

RRF
RRF on July 7, 2013 at 4:22 pm

The theater was renovated to show Windjammer as a roadshow competing with the Cinerama equipped Palace theater located five minutes and across the river.

Nick DiMaggio
Nick DiMaggio on July 9, 2013 at 8:13 am

RRF: Thanks for this info. This is very interesting. I had no idea the Park had ever been renovated to compete with the Palace. I didn’t think the Park was large enough for the 3-projector process but maybe it was. “Windjammer” was in presented in Cinemiracle, a process very similar to Cinerama. I’d like to find the ad for “Windjammer” when it played here which should mention if the film was presented in Cinemiracle.

Nick DiMaggio
Nick DiMaggio on July 10, 2013 at 6:10 pm

“Windjammer” did in fact play at the Park Theatre in Cinemiracle. It premiered on December 25, 1959 and ran through February 7, 1960 for a total of 6 weeks and 2 days. It played as a roadshow attraction with two showings daily and reserved seating. Similar to Cinerama, the showings required 3 projectors, a stereophonic sound system, and a large wall-to-wall curved screen.

Cinemiracle did not compete with Cinerama at the nearby Palace Theatre. The Palace opened with Cinerama in April 1962. By this time the Park had closed as a commercial movie theatre and soon became the property of the University of Tampa.

Just posted some ads for the “Windjammer” opening under the photos tab.

Nick DiMaggio
Nick DiMaggio on July 17, 2013 at 8:38 am

In June of 1960 the Park had the exclusive Florida west coast showing of “Can-Can” in Todd-AO requiring the installation of 70mm projectors and a giant 60' by 30' screen. The film played for 10 weeks. Ad posted under the photos tab.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on October 9, 2024 at 10:46 am

The actual opening date is December 22, 1928 with Jacqueline Logan in “Nothing To Wear” along with an unknown comedy and a newsreel plus music from an orchestra named after the theater itself and the Master Page Twin organ. It was managed by A.C. Thornton and was the first movie theater to operate in North Hyde Park since the short-lived Belle-Air Theatre in May 1919.

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