Florida Theatre
118 N. Monroe Street,
Tallahassee,
FL
32301
118 N. Monroe Street,
Tallahassee,
FL
32301
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Kent Theatres Inc., Paramount Pictures Inc., Talgar Theatre Company
Architects: Roy A. Benjamin, Theodore C. Poulos
Functions: Office Space
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Cinema N' Drafthouse, Movie Pub
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This Streamline Moderne style movie house opened November 20, 1940 with Tyrone Power in “The Mark of Zorro”. It featured a sleek facade with a large vertical sign, a marquee with the theatre’s name in bold stylized lettering, and glass brick decoration. This stunning theatre sat on N. Monroe Street between E. Park Avenue and E. Call Street. By 1957 it was operated by the Talgar Theatre Company.
In 1960, the Florida Theatre was heavily damaged in a fire. The theatre was rebuilt to the plans of architect Theodore C. Poulos, albeit much more simple in style than the Moderne style original look. The large vertical sign was retained, however. By 1968 it was operated by Kent Theatres Inc.
The Florida Theatre was closed on April 19, 1979 with “Richard Pryor: Live in Concert”. It stayed vacant until August 21, 1983 when it reopened as Cinema N' Drafthouse with Burt Reynolds in “Stroker Ace”. In November 1987 it was renamed The Movie Pub but closed in December 1987. Later, the building was converted into office space.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
Here is a picture of the former Florida Theatre that I took in October 2010.
thanks for the pictures,guys.July 20,1950 has A Double Feature,“TAKE CARE OF MY LITTLE GIRL” and “SEALED CARGO”.During those years Double Features were showned almost every day.
I’ve been unable to identify the original architect of the Florida Theatre, but the architect for the rebuilding after the 1960 fire was Theodore C. Poulos. It is listed among his works in his biographical entry in the 1962 AIA Architects Directory.
Interior, 1963, after reconstruction: View link
This opened on November 20th, 1940. Grand opening ad in the photo section and
Found on Newspapers.com
The newspaper page rivest266 linked to features a courtesy ad placed by architect Roy A. Benjamin, which indicates that he designed this house for E. J. Sparks.
Was showing Made in Heaven, December 9th, 1987 and calling itself The Movie Pub. That’s the last listing I can find.
Might as well list this as demolished. The shape of the building is completely different. Maybe some of the side wall still exists with windows knocked into it?
Comparing current Google satellite view and historic aerial photos, going back to 1967 during the theater’s second period, the Current building occupies the same footprint as the historic structure, but it is now three stories tall. This was its original height, but after the 1960 fire it was rebuilt with only two stories. While the current top floor of the building was never part of the theater, I’m sure the shell of the old building is still there, however greatly altered by its conversion for office space.
The Florida Theatre once sat abandoned for four years after closing on April 19, 1979 with “Richard Pryor In Concert”. On August 21, 1983, the Florida Theatre reopened as the Cinema N' Drafthouse with Burt Reynolds in “Stroker Ace”. It was renamed “The Movie Pub” in November 1987 and closed the following month.