JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Theatre celebrated its 90th anniversary Saturday night by going back to its roots.
In honor of the community’s continued support, from its opening in 1927 to the resurrection of the Florida Theatre in 1983, the public was invited to a free silent movie presentation of the Buster Keaton classic “Steamboat Bill Jr,” with live music orchestration conducted by Tony Steve. There was also a short movie by Jacksonville historian Wayne Wood reviewing the theatre's history.
Recommended Videos
Rich history
The Florida Theatre began construction in summer of 1926 by Southern Enterprises Inc., with R. E. Hall & Co. and Roy A. Benjamin as the architects. The theater was established as a seven-story concrete fireproof building with a roof garden and with an emphasis on showing movies and live performances.
The site of the Florida Theatre was previously occupied by a police station and jail that was demolished. Construction of the theater took only one year and was opened to the public on April 8, 1927. At the time of the opening the Florida Theatre was the largest theater in Florida. The opening night had several programs featuring fanfare of the American Legion Bugle Corps, a live stage show and the film "Let It Rain."
The Florida Theatre remains as one of only four remaining high-style movie palaces built in Florida during the Mediterranean Revival architectural boom of the 1920s (the other three being the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola, the Polk Theatre in Lakeland and the Tampa Theatre in Tampa).
It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on November 4, 1982. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the building on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
Florida Theatre's stage makes history
On August 10-11, 1956 Elvis Presley played two shows at the Florida Theatre to the dismay of Jacksonville's community's leadership. A committee was formed and Judge Marion Gooding prepared arrest warrants due to Presley's body movements and influence on the local youth. Gooding and Presley had a private meeting where Gooding threatened to execute the warrants if the signer disobeyed his orders. Presley performed the show with no action from the police or Gooding.
Decline, renovations and modern years (1960-present)
By the 1970s the Florida Theatre was in decline and on May 8, 1980, it was forced to close. The historical significance of the Florida Theatre and its architecture led to a $500,000 grant from the state of Florida and a $350,000 grant from the city of Jacksonville HUD Community Development Block Grant, with an additional $150,000 from fundraising.
On October 31, 1981, the Florida Theatre was purchased by the Arts Assembly of Jacksonville for $1 million. The Arts Assembly immediately began a $5 million restoration of the dilapidated building. The Florida Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places the following year.
One year later, on August 26, 1983, the renovated Florida Theatre was reopened to the public. On October 1, 1987 the Florida Theatre separated from the Arts Assembly as an independent entity governed by its own board of directors.
The Florida Theatre today is the permanent home of the Florida Ballet, Theatreworks, and the annual Community Nutcracker. It hosts more than 150 events each year attracting more than 150,000 people.
A more detailed history of the theater, visit FloridaTheatre.com.