Jack: Yes, Saturday Night Fever opened first-run here and played for several months in 1977. I believe it also opened at one other area theatre during the same time (either University Square Mall or Floriland Cinemas.) Unfortunately my search for a photo of the Austin/Loew’s has proven to be very elusive. If I do manage to locate one I’ll certainly post it here.
The other GCC theatre on Dale Mabry you’re thinking of was the single-screen Britton Theatre which became a triple-screener in 1973 and was renamed Britton Cinemas III. The twinning of the Austin followed soon after. Check the Britton on CT. I posted an article on the renovation which includes an interior photo showing a portion of the original large theatre after rennovation. The article mentions similiar plans are being considered for the Austin Cinema.
Thanks Chuck! Very nice coming attraction handbills. Since the late 1960s I’ve driven past this building many times never realizing it was the Palma Ceia Theatre.
Thanks Tlsloews but I mistook “Midway” for “Earthquake” on the marquee. Mike, I can’t believe I had forgotten Heston was also in “Midway.” Good thing I didn’t bet on it cause I would’ve easily put up my full paycheck that “Earthquake” was the advertised coming attraction and I would’ve lost big time!
Can’t keep me out either…LOL! Here are a couple other shots:
The marquee in the weeds: View link
Mike holding one really BIG reel next to a once beautiful brick fireplace inside the concessions building: View link
Here are some photos:
Exterior of building showing entrance & concessions: View link
Interior of cinema 2 (note foot already on back of new seats): View link
Manager Ray Rogers and Mike Rogers in booth: View link
Projector and reels all set to go…it’s showtime! View link
Concessions employee Cindy Muns serves customer in July 1976: View link
Rear of National Hills building. Mike Rogers & “Chewy” placing an old stump in the rear of theatre manager John Mackey’s car in July 1976. The stump had been in the furnace room so long no one knew who had placed it there. Mr. Mackey had plans for the stump: View link
Hot Potato! The Fire Department is called to the Imperial to investigate smoke reported by employees. Photo is not dated but it’s easy to guess by the coming attraction. Charlton Heston
and Sensurround spells “Earthquake!” which dates this in 1974: View link
Just saw your posting Andy. Great shots! You were lucky to have gotten inside. Nice shot of the proscenium arch…looks like the theatre had a nice-size screen. I drive down Florida Avenue at least once a week when I leave downtown. I always look towards the rear of the building as I pass by and see the faded “Rialto Theatre” lettering painted at the top rear. As much as I would love to see the interior I never had the nerve to park and walk to the building with all those unsavory characters lurking about in that area. I’m glad to hear the building is at least being used and not abandoned to deteriorate further. Thanks for the photos!
Dick: Your post on the Saturday morning shows of late 40s and early 50s sounds like great fun! I was around during the early 50s but unfortunately too young to be aware of movies and theatres. But I do remember the kiddie shows several theatres had every Saturday morning in the late 50s and early 60s. Fun times!
Your mention of these bring to mind the special appreciation shows the Palace Theatre occasionally had for kids who were school patrols. I think these shows were also on a Saturday morning. I was never a patrol but a friend of mine was and he invited me one Saturday. Made me feel sorta out-of-place since nearly everyone there was a patrol proudly displaying their badge except me. Following a special stage presentation they ran the feature film “Yellowstone Kelly” along with a cartoon or comedy. If kids today only knew what they missed!
Mike: Yes, once again I’m back. I don’t think I’ve been on CT since before Christmas. Time to catch up now so keep an eye out!
Here a little information from someone who’s familiar with these three drive-ins. Hopefully this will clear up at least some of the mystery. According to a friend who was a former projectionist (and who worked for 3 years at one of these drive-ins) these three drive-ins were located in fairly close proximity to each other. I don’t have the physical addresses for each but the names were Columbus, 40th Street, and East Buffalo.
The Columbus and East Buffalo were both segregated black theatres. My friend worked at both the Columbus and the 40th Street. According to him the Columbus was located at 29th Street off of Columbus Drive. The lot itself was not near Columbus Drive but was actually two or three blocks south of Columbus at 29th. This is the drive-in where Interstate 4 today runs over the property.
The photo in the first aerial link provided above by NYozoner shows a 28th Street Drive-In which may or may not be the Columbus. My friend says there was never a 28th Street Drive-in in Tampa although St. Petersburg did have a 28th Street D/I. But since the Columbus was located at 29th Street this could very well be the Columbus. In looking at the aerial it’s hard to say for certain without seeing any identifying buildings or other landmarks.
The East Buffalo Drive-In was located on the south side of Martin Luther King Boulevard a couple blocks west of 40th Street. The photo in the second aerial link above is most definitely the 40th Street which was exclusively white. This drive-in was located on the north side of 7th Avenue (Broadway) at 40th Street.
Nice view NYozoner! I remember driving by the lot & seeing the screen tower many times after the drive-in had been closed. But seeing the lot from road level apparently obscured the figure “8” roadway in the center as I don’t recall seeing this before. Looks like a racetrack. Cypress Drive-In capacity was 270.
Also, if you scroll upwards slightly you’ll see a huge parking lot on the left and a cluster of 4 buildings towards the front. The first builing at the bottom is the brand new Loew’s Theatre recently just opened in December of 1968. It was later renamed Austin Cinema.
Thanks for the link NYozoner!! Thought I’d never again see the 20th Century…very nice.
Dick: You’re right. The east-west roadway entrance from Dale Mabry still exists today as the entrance to the apartment complex although it’s now dressed with medians & trees. There was also a second entrance to the drive-in from Columbus Drive which is visible in the image.
Thanks for the link Andy! I hadn’t heard of Historic Aerials before. It took me a couple minutes to figure out how to navigate before realizing you need to input address & city. Clicking in the dots at the bottom right of image then brings it into focus. My search for a photo of the Sundown proved fruitless so this is great.
This photo is from the collection of Henry Fontanills. Here’s a great shot of several young boys standing onstage in front of the screen during an Optimists Club event in December 1937. Click
on photo and “view all sizes” to enlarge to super size: View link
Mike: Yes, that bit of trivia came from Charlie who was manning the booth that day. And now that I think about it I also remember some foot stomping during one of my visits. The program that day was a Spanish language double feature. The projectionist had accidently threaded up a reel from the first feature and made a changeover right in the middle of the second feature! When the picture hit the screen the audience howled and the foot stomping began. Apparently stomping was a regular occurence whenever something went wrong or the audience was excited.
Here are three more photos:
The National Hills Crew on opening night November 18, 1966: View link
Projection booth with 35/70mm projectors and operators from local 518: View link
Projectionist Mr. Albert Peters “Mr. Pete”: View link
Jack: Yes, Saturday Night Fever opened first-run here and played for several months in 1977. I believe it also opened at one other area theatre during the same time (either University Square Mall or Floriland Cinemas.) Unfortunately my search for a photo of the Austin/Loew’s has proven to be very elusive. If I do manage to locate one I’ll certainly post it here.
The other GCC theatre on Dale Mabry you’re thinking of was the single-screen Britton Theatre which became a triple-screener in 1973 and was renamed Britton Cinemas III. The twinning of the Austin followed soon after. Check the Britton on CT. I posted an article on the renovation which includes an interior photo showing a portion of the original large theatre after rennovation. The article mentions similiar plans are being considered for the Austin Cinema.
Thanks Chuck! Very nice coming attraction handbills. Since the late 1960s I’ve driven past this building many times never realizing it was the Palma Ceia Theatre.
Mike, But of course you put it back…I think!
Thanks Tlsloews but I mistook “Midway” for “Earthquake” on the marquee. Mike, I can’t believe I had forgotten Heston was also in “Midway.” Good thing I didn’t bet on it cause I would’ve easily put up my full paycheck that “Earthquake” was the advertised coming attraction and I would’ve lost big time!
Can’t keep me out either…LOL! Here are a couple other shots:
The marquee in the weeds:
View link
Mike holding one really BIG reel next to a once beautiful brick fireplace inside the concessions building: View link
Photo of booth with Mike Rogers and Manager Ray Hutto:
View link
Here are some photos:
Exterior of building showing entrance & concessions:
View link
Interior of cinema 2 (note foot already on back of new seats):
View link
Manager Ray Rogers and Mike Rogers in booth:
View link
Projector and reels all set to go…it’s showtime!
View link
Mike & Nick exploring the closed University 6 in the hall by the booth and concessions:
View link
Concessions employee Cindy Muns serves customer in July 1976:
View link
Rear of National Hills building. Mike Rogers & “Chewy” placing an old stump in the rear of theatre manager John Mackey’s car in July 1976. The stump had been in the furnace room so long no one knew who had placed it there. Mr. Mackey had plans for the stump:
View link
Yep, “E.T.” sure had ‘em weeping just about everywhere it played…certainly made plenty guys happy…the perfect date movie!
Hot Potato! The Fire Department is called to the Imperial to investigate smoke reported by employees. Photo is not dated but it’s easy to guess by the coming attraction. Charlton Heston
and Sensurround spells “Earthquake!” which dates this in 1974:
View link
Here’s Mike all set to explore the long-closed concessions & booth!
View link
Here’s a 1948 photo of 3 girls standing on the sidewalk with the Patricia Theatre marquee in the background:
View link
Photo of Weis Cinema/Peach Orchard Cinemas just before closing in the spring of 1990:
View link
Mike & Nick in front of box office: View link
Just saw your posting Andy. Great shots! You were lucky to have gotten inside. Nice shot of the proscenium arch…looks like the theatre had a nice-size screen. I drive down Florida Avenue at least once a week when I leave downtown. I always look towards the rear of the building as I pass by and see the faded “Rialto Theatre” lettering painted at the top rear. As much as I would love to see the interior I never had the nerve to park and walk to the building with all those unsavory characters lurking about in that area. I’m glad to hear the building is at least being used and not abandoned to deteriorate further. Thanks for the photos!
Dick: Your post on the Saturday morning shows of late 40s and early 50s sounds like great fun! I was around during the early 50s but unfortunately too young to be aware of movies and theatres. But I do remember the kiddie shows several theatres had every Saturday morning in the late 50s and early 60s. Fun times!
Your mention of these bring to mind the special appreciation shows the Palace Theatre occasionally had for kids who were school patrols. I think these shows were also on a Saturday morning. I was never a patrol but a friend of mine was and he invited me one Saturday. Made me feel sorta out-of-place since nearly everyone there was a patrol proudly displaying their badge except me. Following a special stage presentation they ran the feature film “Yellowstone Kelly” along with a cartoon or comedy. If kids today only knew what they missed!
Mike: Yes, once again I’m back. I don’t think I’ve been on CT since before Christmas. Time to catch up now so keep an eye out!
Here a little information from someone who’s familiar with these three drive-ins. Hopefully this will clear up at least some of the mystery. According to a friend who was a former projectionist (and who worked for 3 years at one of these drive-ins) these three drive-ins were located in fairly close proximity to each other. I don’t have the physical addresses for each but the names were Columbus, 40th Street, and East Buffalo.
The Columbus and East Buffalo were both segregated black theatres. My friend worked at both the Columbus and the 40th Street. According to him the Columbus was located at 29th Street off of Columbus Drive. The lot itself was not near Columbus Drive but was actually two or three blocks south of Columbus at 29th. This is the drive-in where Interstate 4 today runs over the property.
The photo in the first aerial link provided above by NYozoner shows a 28th Street Drive-In which may or may not be the Columbus. My friend says there was never a 28th Street Drive-in in Tampa although St. Petersburg did have a 28th Street D/I. But since the Columbus was located at 29th Street this could very well be the Columbus. In looking at the aerial it’s hard to say for certain without seeing any identifying buildings or other landmarks.
The East Buffalo Drive-In was located on the south side of Martin Luther King Boulevard a couple blocks west of 40th Street. The photo in the second aerial link above is most definitely the 40th Street which was exclusively white. This drive-in was located on the north side of 7th Avenue (Broadway) at 40th Street.
Nice view NYozoner! I remember driving by the lot & seeing the screen tower many times after the drive-in had been closed. But seeing the lot from road level apparently obscured the figure “8” roadway in the center as I don’t recall seeing this before. Looks like a racetrack. Cypress Drive-In capacity was 270.
Also, if you scroll upwards slightly you’ll see a huge parking lot on the left and a cluster of 4 buildings towards the front. The first builing at the bottom is the brand new Loew’s Theatre recently just opened in December of 1968. It was later renamed Austin Cinema.
Thanks for the HistoricAerials link NYozoner! Nice view of the Auto Park lot.
Thanks for the link NYozoner!! Thought I’d never again see the 20th Century…very nice.
Dick: You’re right. The east-west roadway entrance from Dale Mabry still exists today as the entrance to the apartment complex although it’s now dressed with medians & trees. There was also a second entrance to the drive-in from Columbus Drive which is visible in the image.
Thanks for the link Andy! I hadn’t heard of Historic Aerials before. It took me a couple minutes to figure out how to navigate before realizing you need to input address & city. Clicking in the dots at the bottom right of image then brings it into focus. My search for a photo of the Sundown proved fruitless so this is great.
This photo is from the collection of Henry Fontanills. Here’s a great shot of several young boys standing onstage in front of the screen during an Optimists Club event in December 1937. Click
on photo and “view all sizes” to enlarge to super size: View link
Mike: Yes, that bit of trivia came from Charlie who was manning the booth that day. And now that I think about it I also remember some foot stomping during one of my visits. The program that day was a Spanish language double feature. The projectionist had accidently threaded up a reel from the first feature and made a changeover right in the middle of the second feature! When the picture hit the screen the audience howled and the foot stomping began. Apparently stomping was a regular occurence whenever something went wrong or the audience was excited.
Here are three more photos:
The National Hills Crew on opening night November 18, 1966:
View link
Projection booth with 35/70mm projectors and operators from local 518:
View link
Projectionist Mr. Albert Peters “Mr. Pete”:
View link