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If you have
a question that is not covered in this FAQ, please email gargoyles@tampatheatre.org or see our contact page for additional ways to reach us.
Who built Tampa Theatre?
Why is Tampa Theatre so elaborate?
Who designed Tampa Theatre?
Who owns Tampa Theatre today?
Besides films, what other events does
Tampa Theatre host?
Who books The Tampa's films?
Why can't the Theatre break-even? Why
does The Tampa need contributions to balance its budget?
Can a company rent out The Tampa for a special
event?
Is the Tampa Theatre financially sound?
Why doesn't the City just pay for everything
the Theatre needs?
How can I help?
Is the balcony upstairs?
1. Who built the Tampa Theatre?
Paramount Studios heavily financed the Tampa Theatre's
construction in collaboration with other private investors. It is rumored that financing assistance was provided by The Maas brothers, who wanted the most elaborate movie
palace in Florida to be next to their department store for
the same reasons that shopping malls today want multiplexes
in or next to them: theatres are people magnets and bring
potential customers to their doors. In the
1920's over 3,000 movie theatres were built all across America,
and about 300 of these were grand enough to be labeled a "movie
palace".
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2. Why is the Tampa Theatre
so elaborate?
In the 1920's, studios often owned or had major interests
in theatres. It is no coincidence that some famous movie palace
names of the 1920's were also studio names: the "Paramount",
the "Fox", and "United Artists". Because the young movie industry
had an almost total monopoly on popular entertainment, studios
were awash with cash and were able to finance and build ever
more elaborate palaces in which to showcase their products.
Marcus Loew, one of the movie palace moguls, summed it up
by saying, "We sell tickets to theatres, not movies."
The Great Depression of the 1930's effectively halted new
theatre construction, and when Congress forced studios in
1948 to divest themselves of theatres as part of major anti-trust
legislation, the age of the elaborate movie palace came to
an end.
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3. Who designed the Tampa Theatre?
Famed theatre architect John Eberson was commissioned to design
the Tampa Theatre. Eberson was considered one of the top movie
palace architects in America, an innovative pioneer who created
the "atmospheric" style of theatres -- the illusion that you
are outside in a romantic courtyard at night. His spectacular
theatres wowed patrons with their imaginative approach --
and delighted theatre owners with lower construction costs
than more traditional designs. To achieve the atmospheric
affect he used a smooth blue plaster domed ceiling with 10-watt
electric twinkling stars and projected clouds. He also created
whimsical and elaborate facades of plaster populated with
reproductions of famous statuary.
John Eberson designed scores of other theatres around the
world, and his atmospheric style was so popular that other
architects quickly adopted it for projects such as Atlanta's
Fox Theatre.
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4. Who owns the Tampa Theatre today?
The Theatre’s real estate had been a very complex and vexing problem which, if left unresolved, posed a threat to Tampa Theatre’s preservation.
Although the City stepped in during the 1970’s to rescue the building from an uncertain future, the City did not buy the real estate – it merely assumed the complex series of land and building leases that ran through the year 2023. These leases contained no options for renewal beyond 2023, so if unresolved there was the possibility that the Theatre could be lost. (Even though the Theatre is a Tampa City Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places, these designations do not provide absolute protection for the property.)
Three leases existed: a lease for the entrance and lobbies, and two leases with different owners for the land under the auditorium. The Theatre’s non-profit Tampa Theatre Foundation acquired ownership of one of the auditorium land leases in 2005 from the Scottish family which owned it.
To ensure the Theatre’s preservation, the Theatre Foundation negotiated a deal to purchase the lobbies, the flower shop and another ground floor space adjacent to the lobby. The City of Tampa supported the deal and provided a grant of $2,000,000 from the Community Investment Tax fund. In return the Theatre Foundation acquired the property and immediately conveyed the title of the property to the City. This deal was completed on September 30, 2009.
With the completion of this deal, there now remains only one remaining ground lease in place, which is the privately owned 50% undivided interest in the land under the auditorium. This lease also expires in 2023, but because the City and the Theatre Foundation control the other 50% interest, the existence of this lease does not pose a preservation threat to the Theatre.
The public can be assured now that the Theatre is here to stay, because it is now owned and controlled by the community that loves it.
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5. Besides films, what other
events does The Tampa host?
Many famous performers, celebrities and politicians have appeared
at The Tampa over the years. Modern day artists such as Annie
Lennox, David Byrne, George Thorogood, Ray Charles, B. B.
King, Aimee Mann, Joan Baez, Bright Eyes, and Harry Connick,
Jr., have performed. Comedians such as Roseanne Barr, Carrot
Top, Sinbad, and Sandra Bernhard have appeared. Speakers such
as Nobel Prize winner Elie Weisel and scientist Jane Goodall
have graced our stage, as have political leaders such as former
president George Bush, Bob Dole, and Jesse Jackson, and writers like David Sedaris.
Less celebrated but just as important are scores of performances
for school children each year that are part of Hillsborough
County's Theatre Field Trip Program. This program brings an
average of 35,000 school children a year to The Tampa to see
educational children's theatre in the context of a major historic
preservation project.
Performers love playing The Tampa for the same reasons audiences
love seeing them here: Tampa Theatre is a very intimate venue
that puts the audience and the artist close to each other
in a spectacular setting.
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6. Who books The Tampa's films?
For our contemporary, first-run features film, The Tampa contracts
with a film booker who negotiates with film distributors and
book films. Our film program
manager books our classic film events.
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7. Why can't the Theatre break-even?
Why does The Tampa need contributions to balance its budget?
Simply put, the economic conditions that existed in 1926 no
longer exist in today's marketplace. Tampa Theatre is a very
large, complex, and aging facility, and the overhead and maintenance
costs are substantial. With a single screen, the theatre cannot
realize the economies of scale enjoyed by modern multiplexes.
Tampa Theatre's plight is not unique. America's downtown movie
palaces have been disappearing at an alarming rate over the
past 30 years. Because of the economic pressures facing theatres
like the Tampa Theatre, the National Trust for Historic Preservation
has named downtown single-screen theatres to its annual "most
endangered places" list.
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8. Can a company rent out The Tampa
for a special event?
Yes. The theatre already hosts many corporate events each
year. Companies such as Verizon, SouthWest Airlines, SunTrust,
the Tampa Tribune, Bank of America, and HBO have created memorable
events for their employees and clients using The Tampa as
the centerpiece. Click here for rental rates, policies, specifications, and contact information.
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9. Is the Tampa Theatre financially
sound?
Yes, but the theatre's future is not yet guaranteed. Although
The Tampa's management team keeps the theatre active with
films, concerts and special events, the Tampa needs private
sector support to fund restoration projects, build audiences,
and guarantee the Theatre's financial stability in the future.
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10. Why doesn't the City just pay
for everything the Theatre needs?
Without the City of Tampa, the Tampa Theatre would be a parking
lot today. But while city governments can do many things well,
being fully responsible for operating an entertainment enterprise
in a highly competitive environment is not one of them. The
City provides basic maintenance support, but support for programming,
major restoration projects and creating an endowment for long-term
financial security are best accomplished with private sector
leadership and involvement.
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11. How can I help?
There are many ways you can help support our efforts. Memberships
for individuals and corporations are available that offer
a variety of attractive benefits. Your company could sponsor
a Tampa Theatre special event, or you can make a contribution
to the Theatre's Restoration Fund.
Finally, don't forget that one of the best ways to support
the Tampa is simply to buy a ticket and attend an event!
For more information on memberships, sponsorships and the
Restoration Fund, contact the business office at 813-274-8286,
visit our website at www.tampatheatre.org or email garoyles@tampatheatre.org.
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12. Is the balcony upstairs?
Yes.
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