Observations From Around the World: Historic Tampa Theater

"About Tampa Theater Architect John Eberson
Tampa Theater was created by architectural designer John Eberson, one of the most prolific and internationally renowned movie palace designers of his time. His movie palaces are in Miami; New York; Chicago; Canton, Ohio; Houston and Austin, Texas; Paris, France; Sydney, Australia and many other cities.  Eberson was born in Romania, attended The University of Vienna in 1893, and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. While his early theater commissions could be characterized as traditional, by the mid-1910s Eberson had clearly forged a new direction with the Dallas Majestic Theater (1917). His first truly atmospheric theater was the Houston Majestic (1923). 

John Eberson tells how Florida inspired his atmospheric theatre design:
"I have been wintering in Florida for the past several years, and it is from this state that I got the atmospheric idea.  I was impressed with the colorful scenes that greeted me at Miami, Palm Beach and Tampa. Visions of Italian gardens, Spanish patios, Persian shrines and French formal gardens flashed through my mind, and at once I directed my energies to carrying out these ideas."  -The Tampa Tribune, October 15, 1926

This theater has been beautifully maintained.  The domed ceiling beautifully painted  with twinkle lights added to give you the feeling that you are looking up to the night sky.
Every Sunday afternoon during the summer, they host classic movies.  It's so incredible to see old classics shown on the big screen in such an amazing theater.
I think one of my favorite Sunday afternoon experiences was a Sherlock Holmes double feature, complete with an intermission featuring music played on the antique pipe organ.

Here is the history of this theater from the Tampa Theater website:

Tampa Theater History 

"Like other new movie palaces around the country, the Tampa Theater was enormously popular. For the first time in history, the common person had access to opulence on a scale never before imagined. For 10 cents, they could escape into a fantasy land for two hours, see first class entertainment, and be treated like royalty by uniformed platoons of ushers and attendants. By the end of the 1920's, over 90 million Americans were going to the movies every week." 

"For several decades, the Tampa remained a jewel and the centerpiece of Tampa 's cultural landscape. People grew up, stole their first kisses in the balcony, followed the weekly newsreels, and celebrated life week after week by coming back to the Tampa."

"But by the 1960's and 70's, times had changed. America 's flight to suburbs was having a damaging effect on downtown business districts across the country. Hardest hit were the downtown movie palaces which dotted America's urban landscapes. Audiences dwindled and costs rose. Many of our nation's finest movie palaces were quickly demolished before anyone noticed because the land beneath them became more valuable than the theater operation."

"In 1973, the Tampa Theater faced the same fate. But in Tampa citizens rallied. Committees were formed. City leaders became involved, and soon a deal was reached to have the City rescue the Tampa by assuming its leases. The Arts Council of Hillsborough County agreed to program and manage the Tampa with films, concerts and special events. By the time the Theater reopened in early 1978, the Tampa had become something of a national model on how to save an endangered theater."

"Today, Tampa Theater is a remarkable success story, presenting and hosting over 600 events a year. With a full schedule of first run and classic films, concerts, special events, corporate events and tours, the theater is one of the most heavily utilized venues of its kind in the United States."

"Since its reopening, over 2 million guests have enjoyed film events, over 800,000 have attended concerts, and over 700,000 elementary children have enjoyed professional touring theater productions in the context of one of Tampa 's largest historic preservation projects"

"Tampa Theater was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, is a Tampa City Landmark, and is a member of the League of Historic American Theaters."