David Falk Memorial Theater
428 W. Kennedy Boulevard,
Tampa,
FL
33606
428 W. Kennedy Boulevard,
Tampa,
FL
33606
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 21 comments
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.
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.
“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.
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.
The theater was renovated to show Windjammer as a roadshow competing with the Cinerama equipped Palace theater located five minutes and across the river.
thanks Guys,Great NEw stuff.
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.
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.
Here are my pictures from November 2010.
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
Beautiful theatre. CLINT EASTWOOD was in “TARANTULA”.
Nice evening shot shows a glowing marquee. This photo not dated but my guess would be the 1930s:
View link
The Park Theatre plays “The Vigilantes Return” in 1947:
View link
I drove by this theater yesterday on my way to pre-screen ‘Machete’ at the AMC Westshore 14…I knew it’d be listed on this great site with a bit of history!
You both are gentlemen and you are both welcome! tlsloews: I think I may have been misspelling your name as tisloews instead of tlsloews. If so my apologies. My eyesight isn’t what it once was even with eyeglasses. lol!
A little trivia: this is the theatre where my aunt saw “Tarantula” in 1955. At that time it was known as the Park Theatre. I never did see a movie here but Charlie worked here several times. He said it was a very nice theatre.
My Dad and Mom thought me that,thank them.
You are such a gentleman,always thanking everyone.The world needs MORE of it.
I did not know we were in a race.Thanks Nick!
I will beat TLSLOEWS and say Thanks Nick.
Here’s a photo dated 8/13/59 of the Park Theatre when “Love Is My Profession” with Brigitte Bardot was playing:
View link
Please provide any stories or information that you might have about this theatre (or any single-screen theatre in Tampa) here… http://historictheatresintampa.blogspot.com
This will assist us in preserving the history surrounding these theatres in Tampa. Thank you!!