Monday, September 1, 2008
Maceo Theatre
One of several African American theatres in Tampa, the Maceo Theatre was located at 1310 Central Avenue. The first mention of this theatre is in 1913 and the last mention in 1929.
Grand Theatre (Downtown)
The Grand Theatre opened on December 21, 1914 at 510 Franklin Street and closed in April of 1928. The space that housed the theatre is now the 1895 Kitchen Bar Market.
December 20, 1914
1920
1932 (Outlet Store)
September 2017
Photo taken by Marty Kledzik, featuring Nick DiMaggio
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Park/Falk Theatre (Downtown)
Location: 428 West Kennedy Boulevard (formally 428 West Lafayette)
Status: Currently the David Falk Theatre (operated by the University of Tampa)
Website: http://www.ut.edu/arts-and-culture/
Circa 1930's
Circa 1930's
February 1945
1947
Date Unknown
August 13, 1959
+Front+Post+1962.jpg)
1962
2010
(Photo Credit: drewcjm)
View more current photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48215832@N07/sets/72157624056527004/
Royal Theatre (West Tampa)
El Centro Espanol de Tampa in West Tampa (The West Tampa Palace) is one of two Spanish mutual aid society buildings in Tampa (the other is located in Ybor City). The building opened on January 11, 1913 and contained a theatre, ballrooms, and a social hall. The theatre (originally known as the Spanish Casino Theatre) became the Royal Theatre in 1931. The building still stands at 2306 Howard Avenue and is currently occupied by Centro Espanol de Tampa and the Hillsborough Education Foundation.
Photo from Centro Espanol de Tampa
Photo from 1979 Royal Theatre Feasibility Study by Centro Espanol de Tampa
December 2018
Carver Theatre (West Tampa)
Location: 1605 North Boulevard
Status: Demolished
July 6, 1958
July 7, 1959
Springs Theatre (Sulphur Springs)
1943
2009 (Springs Theatre, Inc - Audio and Video Production)
2009 (Springs Theatre, Inc - Audio and Video Production)
Casino Theatre (Ybor City)
El Centro Espanol de Tampa in Ybor City is one of two Spanish mutual aid society buildings in Tampa (the other is located in West Tampa). Built in 1912, the building contained a central lobby, theatre, cantina, and ballroom. The theatre (also known as El Gran Teatro Espanol and Spanish Casino Theatre) was initially used for operas and other live performances. By 1914 motion pictures were shown, and by 1922 it was known as the Casino Theatre.
November 12, 1912
January 12, 1922
Greeson/Tampa Theatre (Downtown)
The Greeson Theatre opened as a playhouse on June 9, 1910 and was located at 309 Tampa Street. The theatre sat 1,600 guests between the lower floor and two balconies. By 1911 the Greeson was showing motion pictures. On October 26, 1914 the Greeson became Tampa's first "Tampa Theatre" presenting mainly vaudeville and some motion pictures. In 1917 the building was converted to an auto garage.
August 16, 1913
January 16, 1915
Greeson/Tampa Theatre Building
February 25, 1926
Lincoln Theatre (Central Avenue)
Seats: 700
Status: Demolished
Courtesy of Nick DiMaggio:
July 6, 1958
January 1969
"The Lincoln Theatre was one of two Negro movie houses located in the segregated business district on Central Avenue near downtown Tampa. The first listing in the city directory appears in 1944 although it may have opened towards the latter portion of 1943. Ads for the Lincoln Theatre did not appear either in the movie listings nor the theatre time clock listings of the Tampa Tribune until 1958 making it nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact opening date.
I recall seeing the building many times over the years although it was from a distance of about two blocks away. The building was approximately a half-block long as best as I can remember so it was a good-sized theatre. Unfortunately I have no resources available for number of seats and who the owner/operator may have been.
Photos of the building are practically non-existent. In the two photo archives for the Tampa area there are just a few shots of various buildings in the Central Avenue business district including a couple shots of the Central Theatre which was located one block north of the Lincoln Theatre. Elusive as it may be I’ll continue searching and I’ll post any photos I’m able to find.
In a published interview with a local who had grown-up in the Central Avenue area during the 1950’s and 1960’s, a story emerges about how excited the kids were when they would bring in the gorilla on Saturdays at the Lincoln Theatre. For about 15-cents admission they would get to watch several local guys wrestle the gorilla! Whether the gorilla was real or a man in a costume was never revealed. He also mentioned many musicians both local and famous performed on the Lincoln’s stage over the years.
The very first ad published in the Tampa Tribune appeared in the generic theatre time clock listings on July 6, 1958. Double features were the standard programs along with cartoons and serials. Based on the ads Westerns appeared to be especially popular and played frequently.
Then in January 1969 the Lincoln Theatre began running ads for X-rated films. These films ran through February of 1969 and afterwards disappeared from the listings for good. No further ads were published beyond this date.
The adult film ads were published daily as a small boxed-ad in the general listings along with other theatres evidently in the hopes of attracting a wider audience in addition to the locals.
The last year the Lincoln Theatre appeared in the city directory was 1970. More than likely it closed shortly afterwards. The building was demolished along with the entire Central Avenue business district in the early-1970’s as part of urban renewal. Several buildings in the area had also been burned or damaged during the riots that took place in the late-1960’s.
Today the area is a wide open grass field with a small portion used as park with a cement ramp for skateboarding. Central Avenue itself no longer exists within the few blocks that were once the former business district. The street was covered over and absorbed as part of the large grassy field. A portion of the land is currently being cleared for future development."
Additional Info:
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/34278
Additional Info:
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/34278
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