The Tampa Theatre

711 Franklin Street (map)
Downtown Tampa
Box Office: (813) 274-8982
Driving Directions

With the bold headline “Magnificent New Tampa Theatre Opens Tonight,” The Tampa Morning Tribune celebrated opening night, October 15, 1926, with nine pages of coverage for the grand new “motion picture palace.”

It was as if the city was finally “on the map.” Tampa now boasted one of America’s most beautiful theaters designed by one of the most famous theatre architects, John Eberson.

Tampa Theatre set a new standard of excellence for entertainment in town with extravagant vaudeville shows, concerts by the Tampa Theatre Symphony Orchestra and silent films. It was the first public building with the new-fangled invention, “air conditioning.” (Newspapers reported that people were flocking to the theater from miles around to feel what “man-made air” felt like.) With the advent of sound pictures in 1929, Tampa Theatre presented all the latest Hollywood "talkies."

Changing Times Imperil Theatre

For decades, Tampa Theatre remained a jewel and the centerpiece of Tampa’s cultural landscape. People grew up, stealing first kisses in the balcony, following war news with weekly newsreels, and celebrating life by coming back to Tampa Theatre week after week.

By the 1960s and 70s, times had changed, and America’s flight to the suburbs was having a damaging effect on downtowns across the country. Hardest hit were the downtown movie palaces - like Tampa Theatre - which saw audiences dwindle and operating costs soar. Unfortunately, many of our nation’s finest movie palaces were destroyed because the land underneath them became more valuable as parking lots.

In 1973, Tampa Theatre faced the same fate. Fortunately, rather than let our city’s namesake theater be demolished, the City of Tampa stepped in and assumed its long-term leases and provides maintenance support. The Arts Council of Hillsborough County agreed to manage and program the theater. Citizens volunteered and chipped in to help make Tampa Theatre a model for how to save an endangered theater.

Featuring Films and Live Events

Today, Tampa Theatre is a remarkable success story. Open year-round with a full schedule of film, 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 1977, over 1.5 million people have attended film events, over 700,000 people have attended live concerts, and over 600,000 school children have attended cultural field trips.

Private support is provided through the Theatre’s foundation, Tampa Theatre, Inc. Funds for programming, maintenance and restoration are derived from ticket sales, concessions, rental fees, memberships and donations. Additional support is provided by grants from the City of Tampa and the Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Department of State.

Tampa Theatre is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a Tampa City Landmark, and is a member of the League of Historic American Theatres.

Driving Directions

From Hillsborough Community College

1. Go West on East Palm Ave. to North Tampa St., about 1 mile
2. At North Tampa St., turn South (left). Go about 2 miles into downtown Tampa
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3. At Zack St., turn East (left). Go one block to Franklin St. The theatre is South (right) of the intersection.

Parking is available on the street and in pay lots on the north side of Zack St.