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
4 comments:
Listed in the 1950 Film Daily Yearbook...720 seats.
I wonder, if this is at centro Ybor, does that mean that this is where the Improv currently is. Juding from the looks, the top blacony seems to be where samurai Blue is, the bottom is the improv.
In the 1950s, when I went there, the Casino showed mostly Cuban-made films (this was pre-Castro). So much fun!
This is a great site, BTW. I grew up in Tampa and went to many of these movie houses, and also the drive-ins, such as the Dale Mabrey and the Hillsborough, all I'm sure long gone. (I left the Tampa Bay area in 1966.)
I am looking for any information you may be able to give me on El Centro Espanol De Tampa and La Reina De Tampa Pageant. My son’s grandmother won this contest many years ago and I am looking for a copy of the portrait that hung in the old El Centro Espanol De Tampa building in Ybor City. I have reached out to USF Collections and the City of Tampa but no one is able to inform me where this collection can be found. If you are unable to help would you please point me in the right direction?
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