Swap Shop Fun-Lan Drive-In
2302 E. Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33610
2302 E. Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33610
10 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Floyd Theaters
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Fun-Lan Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Fun-Lan Drive-In opened on January 10, 1950 with Cary Grant in “I Was a Male War Bride”. It had a capacity for 700 cars. Admission price that day was 48 cents. By 1957 the Fun-Lan Drive-In was operated by Floyd Theaters. A second screen was added on December 16, 1983, a third screen added later, and in 2006 a fourth screen was added.
Since the installation of digital projectors the theatre has only operated two screens. It was closed on December 2, 2021
It was demolished in 2025 and housing has been built on the site.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 60 comments)
The article about the Fun Lan’s closing was reprinted in the Orlando Weekly. No one’s sure who bought the place, since the City of Tampa denies rumors that it was the purchaser. “On Thursday, Dec. 2, they were told in person that Sunday would be the last business day. Their last day with a job and a paycheck is Friday (Dec. 10). In the meantime, they are assigned to work on the property and keep anyone from trespassing.”
Well that’s it for Tampa’s drive-ins. The Fun-Lan was the last one in operation within the city having survived all the others now long gone. I saw many films here during the 60s & 70s. The Fun-Lan was a nice, clean and well-managed single screen drive-in during this time under Tampa Bay Theaters Inc. and later Floyd Theaters. The one drawback was the standard-size screen which was never widened for CinemaScope projection. Evidently management wasn’t interested in investing a little extra for a wider screen.
For several decades the swap shop was a weekly destination for flea market lovers so I’m surprised they closed it as well. I would have thought the swap shop (supposedly still drawing decent crowds on the weekends) would have remained open at least for some time following closure of the drive-in.
Nick I am surprised digital projection didn’t at least have some scope capabilities
Mike, As I recall the last time I visited, the digital image projected for scope films contained black bars at the top and bottom of the screen displaying a slightly wide image but not true scope.
I thought that might be the case. It’s sad they closed.
Can anybody confirm the films shown on the Fun Lan’s final night of operation?
A May 2022 Google Street View shows the property to be empty save for the screens. All structures have been removed.
It’s officially over 😭😭😭
Now Marquee Square apartments.
Everything has been removed. No trace left! RIP FUN LAN!
The Fun-Lan was officially demolished in mid-2022. The projection booth and Swap Shop buildings were demolished first, followed by the screens that October. The traces were removed the following year.
The New Marquee Square pays homage to the Fun Lan in their “about page”
When Fun-Lan opened in January 1950, admission was just 48 cents, and moviegoers gathered to watch The Story of Seabiscuit, starring Shirley Temple. With room for nearly 700 cars, an on-site restaurant, and the popular “Kidde-Lan” playground, it quickly became more than a night at the movies. Families could enjoy dinner delivered right to their car while children played before the show, creating an experience that brought people together long before the opening credits rolled.
https://www.marqueesquare.com/marquee-square-fun-lan-history
Fox 13 story on the abrupt closing is from Dec of 2021
https://www.fox13news.com/news/funlan-drive-in-and-flea-market-closes-with-little-warning-for-employees-faithful-customers