Richey Suncoast Theatre
6237 Grand Boulevard,
New Port Richey,
FL
34652
6237 Grand Boulevard,
New Port Richey,
FL
34652
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Richey Suncoast Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Thomas Reed Martin
Functions: Live Performances, Live Theatre
Previous Names: Thomas Meighan Theatre, New Port Richey Theater, Vogue Theatre, Cinema Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
727.842.6777
Nearby Theaters
The Thomas Meighan Theatre opened on July 1, 1926 seating 500. The architect was Thomas Reed Martin. The first movie to be shown was Thomas Meighan in “The New Klondike”.
The theatre went on to sound films in 1930. On January 21, 1938 it reopened as the New Port Richey Theater with Carol Lombarde in “True Confession”. It was renamed Vogue Theatre on December 8, 1939. It is known as the Richey Suncoast Theatre today and still in operation as a community playhouse.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Historic & modern photos:
http://fivay.org/images/ghs2176.jpg
http://fivay.org/images/ghs2667.jpg
http://fivay.org/images/ghs366.jpg
http://fivay.org/images/ghs168.html
http://fivay.org/images/ghs559.html
http://fivay.org/images/ghs2524.html
More comprehensive history at this link:
http://www.fivay.org/meighan.html
Here is an October 1944 story about the sale of the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/6rqp9a
And another sale five years earlier:
http://tinyurl.com/6rkclh
I had the pleasure of getting my start as an actor on the stage and the beautiful and historic Richey Suncoast Theatre, appearing in Productions Of 1776,Cabaret,Three Penny opera and many others,Before moving to Hollywood Ca a few years back.
o
One of the most beautiful theatres in the Tampa bay area, i still love to just go and sit in the auditorium when i go back home to NPR for a visit. If you have never had the pleasure of taking in a live production at this theatre, you definately must.
Here are my pictures from February 2011.
Nick might have some info on this Theatre,Out there Nick?
1965 photo added courtesy of William Maytum.
June 25, 1926 image added credit New Port Richey Press, description courtesy of the West Pasco Historical Society.
Full-page advertisement in the June 25, 1926, New Port Richey Press announcing the naming and the opening of the new Thomas Meighan Theatre. An article in the same newspaper said: “New Port Richey’s beautiful new motion picture theatre has been named the ‘Thomas Meighan Theatre’ in tribute to the famous film star who has adopted New Port Richey as his favorite Florida city and who has been largely instrumental in interesting here some of the brightest stars of the screen and stage. … It was hoped that Mr. Meighan would be on hand to crack a bottle of champagne over the corner-stone of the theatre. It was found to be impossible for the famous screen star to be present in person, but the next best happening is announced with the statement that the picture house’s first attraction will be Thomas Meighan in ‘The New Klondike,’ a picture of Florida during the boom.”
This building is now the Richey Suncoast Theatre.
-Reopening ad as the New Port Richey Theater with “True Confession” on January 21, 1938 in photos.
-Reopening as the Vogue Theatre on December 8, 1939 in photos.
-Rebranding as Cinema Theatre with “Gone with the Wind” on April 29, 1961 with widescreen equipment to present CinemaScope titles in photos. The Cinema Theatre closed in 1968 likely at the end of a 30-year leasing cycle.
In May 1972 the Suncoast Young People’s Theater purchased the theater transforming it to live theater.