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If you have
a question, please email tara@tampatheatre.org
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?
Why
are the blade lights and marquee lights different colors?
1. Who built the Tampa Theatre?
Paramount Studios heavily financed the Tampa Theatre's
construction in collaboration with other private donors. 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 Tampa's real estate picture is complex. The original theatre
operators built the theatre on leased land. To prevent the
theatre's demise, the City of Tampa assumed those long-term
land leases in 1977, and they will expire in 2023. The City
did not actually buy the theatre or the office tower.
Eight individuals formed a partnership and purchased the lobby
and the 10-story office building rising above the main entrance
in 1980. The partnership stabilized the office tower, renovated
the building and now leases the lobby to the City. Two separate
ownership parties lease the land underneath the auditorium
to the City.
Ultimately, The Tampa's non-profit foundation hopes to acquire
and consolidate all of the various real estate pieces so that
the theatre is saved in perpetuity.
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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.
13.
Why are the blade lights and marquee lights different colors?
The marquee and
canopy lights are standard incandescent bulbs, but we opted
to install diamond bright LED bulbs in the vertical "Tampa"
sign because of their extraordinary expected life span (10
years or more). As you can imagine, changing the blade
bulbs is an expensive undertaking, requiring the presence
of a crane. And, its super brilliance satisfied
our desire for the blade to be a dazzling visual
icon for our city. We wanted a warmer glow on the
canopy ceiling to provide a more welcoming tone for patrons
arriving at the street level.
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