Ritz Theatre
22 N. Fort Harrison Avenue,
Clearwater,
FL
33755
22 N. Fort Harrison Avenue,
Clearwater,
FL
33755
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Additional Info
Functions: Restaurant, Special Events
Styles: Spanish Renaissance
Previous Names: Fort Harrison Theatre, Palace Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Fort Harrison Theatre was opened in the 1920’s. It was renamed Palace Theatre in 1928. Later it was renamed Ritz Theatre. It became an adult theatre in the 1980’s.
The building is now an Italian restaurant and special events venue.
Contributed by
Andy
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Andy, good for you, finding this one. All the times I’ve been in Clearwater since I was a kid and I’ve never noticed this one. I know I’ve been on Fort Harrison Avenue, cause south of here is the old Fort Harrison Hotel. Now the hotel, along with the, as far as I know still incomplete Super Power Building, across the street, is part of the, big FLAG Service Organization Scientology Complex.
Anyway I could not find anything about the theater, I hope someone else does!
Not a problem. I think I noticed it sitting in traffic one day. It might’ve still had the marquee then. I was downtown a few weeks ago taking pictures when I spotted it again; I took a picture of the building.
The building in May 2010.
After some investigation, this theater was known as the Ritz Theatre while it was open. The earliest mention of the theater was in 1932. It was ordered to stop showing X-rated films in 1980 and closed sometime before May 1983.
If it is near TAMPA,Nick down there should help you.
Yep, right on the other side of Tampa Bay. Also apparently called the New Ritz from time to time.
Andy, The old Ritz Theater at 22 N. Ft. Harrison Ave. is now The Sage, which a Restaurant/Event Venue. You need to change the Google Map picture to a bit further south and across the Street. When it was built it was very nice inside and it showed first run Movies. Alas, it was an XXXRated Theater in the 80’s. It is really nice inside now. But, alas it is no longer a Movie Theater.
Celeste, Thanks for the update. I had wondered what had become of this theatre. By placing your cursor over the image and sliding it towards the left you’ll see down N. Ft. Harrison. The theatre building is the second building from the corner on the right side painted either light brown or dark beige. I also followed the Google arrows down the side street to the rear of the building and the theatre exit doors are still visible at each end.
As I recall by the 1960s this theatre was under the same ownership as the Ritz in Tampa (Floyd Theatres as Chuck stated above) and both theatres were playing similar programs: double and triple features during the weekends. And both eventually became triple-X adult theatres.
As this theatre was not the Majestic the heading should be changed to Ritz Theatre.
This was originally the Fort Harrison Theater built in 1920’s. It was renamed the Palace in 1928 and then The Ritz.
My mother, who is now 83 and grew up in Largo, the town next door, said that the man that ran the Ritz had a little terrier type dog that was always with him and was very loved by everyone who came to the movies. When the dog passed away, someone put a statue of a dog that looked like his just outside the door of the theater. I remember seeing this when I was young, but never knew the story until recently.