Garden Theatre
907 E. 20th Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33605
907 E. 20th Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33605
2 people
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Based on the movies advertised outside, this photo appears to be from the mid-1940s. When I went to it in the early and mid-1950s, there was a large banner hanging across the front that said “Cool Inside,” a reference to air conditioning…something that was still a novelty to most of us. I was 12 or 13 at the time, but it was still a thrill to go to the Saturday matinee.
Thanks for the nice photo Chuck. The house to the left of the theatre still stands today. The theatre was demolished years ago and the property sat vacant for several years. A building was constructed on the site just within the past few years. A friend tells me the Garden Theatre was originally a church. When the church closed the theatre opened with the church pews still in place and were used as seating for theatre patrons. They were eventually removed and replaced with theatre seating.
Love that ticket kios!
Chuck1231 and Nick, I notice an “Nobody’s Baby” poster. It came out in 1937.
thanks Chuck,hope Nick sees it.
This one may have stuck around until ~1995, but was gone by the end of the decade.
TLsloews, I figured you Too to be a FAMOUS MONSTER of Filmland fan.
Nice photos, I,ll check out the tribute page also.
Nick,go to my page,have a tribute to Forrest J. Ackerman.I know you know who I am writing About! And I thought you might like to add to it.
Nick,Talk to ME! those are some great pictures.WishI could get on the same time you do.
The Garden Theatre was located at least one lot in from Nebraska Avenue on 20th Avenue which was and still is a residential area. Yep, the theatre is now long along. The empty lot sat vacant for several years. I believe a new building was built on the property fairly recently. Here are two photos:
This one is dated March 16,1927:
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And this one is dated July 30, 1945:
View link
Looks like a completely different theatre! Evidently the building had been either added to or completely renovated by 1945.
20th Avenue is a residential street. This address would’ve been a few feet off Nebraska Avenue, which is a major neighborhood street. Doing a Google Street View, it appears that this theater, as well as the house next door, are long gone.
Lost: How did I know that you’d probably be the one who replied to my post! LOL! Have a beautfiul “garden” of a day!
Interesting to learn of another Garden Theatre in FL other than the one in Winter Garden FL.