Hillsboro Eight Cinemas
3306 W. Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33614
3306 W. Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33614
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing 18 comments
“The Phantom” was presented at the Hillsboro 8 Theatre beginning on Friday June 7, 1996 (the film’s US nationwide release date).
Reopened as a stadium seating cinema on May 7th, 1999. Another ad in the photo section.
This opened on March 11th, 1988. Grand opening ad in the photo section and below.
Found on Newspapers.com
This ad’s design was used a lot.
It was Tampa’s most beautiful theater when it opened. Beautiful purple drapes on all walls and purple crtians that coved all the screens. I hate Carmike cinemas I think they are one of the worst theaters chainsin the business.
I missed out on the theater’s “beautiful” years and instead saw its slide into ignominy firsthand. I worked there during summer vacation in 1996 and have memories of the opening day line for Independence Day wrapping all the way around the building, Twister being shown on an impossibly small screen, and that infectiously awful Eric Clapton/Babyface song from Phenomenon being piped into the lobby on a seeming loop. The idea that the area, and by extension the theater, was in decline is probably best illustrated by the fact that we had two ushers who sold crack out of the bathrooms. I wish I were joking.
It had a lone pinball machine in the lobby, which always struck me as random but charming. So, in one trip you could see Bill Pullman give a monumental speech to a ragtag group of fighter pilots, eat some Junior Mints, play a game of pinball, and enjoy some freshly purchased crack in the parking lot after the show.
I worked here for a couple of years with Cineplex Odeon, my first job as an assistant manager, I started as a projection manager. I also worked at Cineplex Odeons other Tampa locations before they were taken over by Carmike(University Collection 6 and the Main Street 6).I also attended opening day but as a customer, saw “Hairspray” and “Broadcast News”. Really had a nice experience there both as a customer and manager, still remember those fancy purple curtains in the showcase theatres… :)
Thanx for the photo. The Hillsboro 8 was a beautiful and plush theatre when first opened. Yes, I believe the ad did have the tagline “Return of the Elegant Theatre” or something very similar. Matter of fact I remember copying the opening day ad. Will post it here if I can find it.
Welcome back Mike! Nice to see you on CT once again. Hardly ever see you on the site anymore.
thanks rivest 266,hope Nick sees it.
I also uploaded an photo. Typical Cineplex Odeon “Jewelbox” design from Toronto.
BY the 90’s theatre ads,real theatre ads were long gone.
Advertisement from 1994.
Carmike was in Columbus,Ga. You guys might have them now.
THATS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET THE CONNCESSIONS PEOPLE RUN THE SHOW.WHEN I WORKED FOR LOEWS IT WAS HARD EVEN FOR A MANAGER TO GET IN THE BOOTH UNLESS IT WAS FRIDAY AND YOU HAD THEIR PAY!i BELIEVE CARMIKE IS OUT OF THE NASHVILLE MARKET NOW ALTHOUGH I MIGHT BE WRONG.
A paying customer should not have to even think about having to walk upstairs. Hey. it was CARMIKE.
Mike, You’re right about that. It was the popcorn kids running the booth! Had I known the location of the stairs to the booth I would’ve gone up and focused the picture myself! A film out of focus for a few seconds is excuseable but not through nearly 4 minutes of credits!!
Jorgito2001, I remember the college across the street but I can’t remember the name. Was it Tampa College? The last time I drove past the former theatre building I didn’t look in that direction so not sure if the college is still there. There’s an apartment complex nearby that I believe has expanded in that direction but not sure how far.
I used to go to College right across the street from this theater. I always wondered why it got “revamped” considering MEGA theaters (of 20 screens & more) were opening all over the area. What a waste of resources. Oddly enough, I never went to see a movie here…never had a desire to + the neighborhood was indeed “run down”.
Nick, if you get a chance could you go to FOREST HILLS DRIVE IN, someone has a link to look at pictures of the old drive in.If you are able,Could you make me a copy of the picture since the only one i have is in my mind.We tried to do it,but it would not work.
I tell you Nick Firsthand after seven years in the business CARMIKE is a second rate player. I know they must have had kids running the booth.NO union projectionists i knew would stand for such shabby film presentation. Sean was born March 28 1988.What else can you do? Managers in my time never would have allowed such film presentation. NATIONAL HILLS THEATRE? very seldom did i have to go to the booth to tell Mr,Pete a film was out of focus.DID NOT HAPPEN. WOULD NOT HAPPEN.