Tarpon Theatre
118 E. Tarpon Avenue,
Tarpon Springs,
FL
34689
118 E. Tarpon Avenue,
Tarpon Springs,
FL
34689
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Charles Richelieu purchased the Taylor Arcade, he remodeled it for the 600-seat New Tarpon Theatre. It opened on July 28, 1939 with “The Romance of Limberlost.” He was competing against Floyd Theatres' long-standing Royal Theater in town. The Vogue Theatre opened in December of 1939. Floyd Theatres purchased it in 1940 to put pressure on Richelieu’s Tarpon Theatre. At the end of the 10-year leasing period, Richelieu sold the Tarpon Theatre to Floyd Theatres. Richelieu’s son took over as manger of the Vogue Theatre.
The Tarpon Theatre received a shocking makeover in 1961 including a green, white and yellow tiled front and new lobby that changed the Mission style of the Arcade. Long after the Tarpon closed, the remodeling work was removed restoring the original front. The building was used by. multiple owners including a long-running restaurant.
April 7 1963 has “GIANT” playing here.
Boxoffice of April 22, 1939, ran this item, datelined Tarpon Springs: “Construction has started on an 800-seat theatre in the Taylor Arcade.”
I’ve found the Tarpon Theatre mentioned in Boxoffice at as late as January 7, 1956, when the manager was a fellow named Paul Lycan.
Here is a picture of the former Tarpon Theatre, taken in February 2011.
Thanks Andy.
Here is a picture of the arcade building.
Open till 1965?
All the times I’ve gone by this place, and I never knew, darn!