Horizon Park 4
3978 W. Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33614
3978 W. Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33614
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The AMC Horizon Park 4 closed on September 30, 1997 with “Hoodlum,” “Fire Down Below,” “Money Talks” and “Kull: The Conqueror.” The AMC Twin Bays 4, which had opened the same day as the Horizon Park, closed two days prior on September 28, 1997.
August 26th, 1971 grand opening ad in the photo section.
Horizon Park 4 opened on August 26, 1971 and closed on September 29, 1997. Remember Twin Bays 4 in South Tampa right behind the Britton Theatre? It also opened on the same day as Horizon Park 4 and ironically closed just one month later on September 28, 1997. Both theatres were open for just over 26 years.
Nick,you outta see all the errors I make.LOL.
Sorry my error! I just checked and the Beach is still a single screen theatre. Don’t know how I figured it to be a twin. I was probably thinking of another older area theatre that was twinned several years ago…the Zephyrhills Home Theatre. How I confused this one with the Beach is beyond me. Sorry for the scare! I need to check facts before posting.
The Beach is a twin? I’ve been in there plenty of times and only saw the main auditorium. Unless, of course, there’s a balcony?
Mikeoaklandpark, Megaplexes are the only theatres that exist in Tampa now with the exception of the Tampa Theatre. I don’t recall any other single-screeners still operating in the area. Unless you count the twin-screen BEACH THEATRE in St. Pete Beach which is about as close to a single-screen as you’re gonna get today.
Yeah,Nick leave a comment on the BElmont.
I lived in Tamps from 1983-1996 and it is sad to think that all that is left of all those great theaters that eventuallu opened is AMC megaplexes. UGH
Great news about you theatre folks being honored! I’ll check out the Imperial site. Haven’t heard from Bill in months now. I’ll also take a look at the Belmont. I remember Mrs. Peggy…very nice lady. She gave us a complete lesson on process of booking films for the Belmont. I remember she ranted about Disney’s restrictions for drive-in showings. She wasn’t a happy camper about that!
Well,I was counting Augusta’s first run houses and really except for the MODJESKA all of them were pretty much First run, Not including the Drive-ins. I guess you read some of us theatre folks are going to honored May 29. It is on the IMPERIAL THEATRE site, Give it a look see. Tlsloews must be out tonight,Robin is reading these,but wants me to EMAIL her,I don’t have an Email. Great story on BELMONT DRIVE-in honoring Mrs.Peggy who we met it is on CT.
Mike, Appreciate the compliment. You’re right…CT is great therapy. Man did I goof up!! I can’t believe I made such a dumb mistake. I didn’t realize it until after I posted the story but I wasn’t able to get back on CT to make a correction until now. In 1971 I stated that Tampa had 4 first-run theatres. That’s incorrect. I can’t believe I forgot about the Hillsboro and the Loew’s which makes a total of 6 first-runs houses. Where has my mind gone? Nevertheless Tampa was still way under-screened with only 6 first-runs houses.
Nick, after what we discussed over the phone I think you getting back on CT is the best thing to do. I sure enjoy it. Never will believe you weren’t a theatre manager.
Pretty Good line up minus the Disney cartoon.It is hard to believe Tampa was behind most cities her size even Augusta’s population in those days maybe a little over 200.000 people had more First Run houses.
AMC opened Horizon Park 4 and Twin Bays 4 on the same day, August 26, 1971. Both theatres were the same style and design and were identical to each other. This was AMC’s initial entry into the Tampa market and was much praised and heralded by local moviegoers. The Tribune’s film critic stated, “the coming of the quads will hopefully relieve the bad theatre situation in Tampa.” At the time there were only four first-run theatres locally, the Tampa, Florida, Palace and Britton. The market was poorly under-screened for a city the size of Tampa in 1971. Smaller cities in fact had twice the number of first-run theatres.
Seeing as both theatres were identical and opened on the same day, the first portion of both postings will be the same for each theatre. The difference will be in my comments for each.
Two new theatres opening in the area was great news for local filmgoers. And what was even more thrilling was each theatre would feature not one or two but four screens under one roof for a total of eight new screens! At the time these four small theatres were a wonder to behold. Tampa had yet to receive its first twin theatre much less four.
These were the typical mini shoebox theatres with two large and two smaller auditoriums that probably seated anywhere from 125 to 225 per screen. They were always neat, clean, and well-maintained. Even today AMC theatres are among the cleanest.
AMC promoted the small quads with their creed:
*With smaller auditoriums patrons will not feel “lost” as they may feel in larger theatres on days with low attendance.
*Projection in smaller auditoriums provide for a shorter throw to the screen resulting in a sharper and brighter picture.
*The capability of showing a popular film in two auditoriums at the same time using a single print thus saving additional costs.
The opening day announcement advertised the theatre amenities:
Four Luxurious Motion Picture Theatres Under One Roof
Acres of Free Parking
Reduced Admission During our Exclusive Twi-Lite Every Evening
Discount Senior and Student ID cards that Offer One Year Disounts
Both theatres played the same attractions on opening day:
Pinocchio / A New Leaf / Ryan’s Daughter / The Andromeda Strain
One of the biggest attractions to play Horizon Park 4 was “The Poseidon Adventure” which bypassed the big first-run theatres. The film played in two auditoriums to capacity crowds. I saw many films here and never recall a bad or unpleasant experience. Although when I saw “Billy Jack” two boys seated at the front were arguing about something and began fist-fighting. The fight lasted only about 10 seconds and both sat back down afterwards. I remember thinking here’s a movie that promotes peace and love and here we have a fight going on.
Horizon Park 4 closed on September 29, 1997 and the final attractions were:
Money Talks / Krull / Fire Down Below / Hoodlum
The theatre was later gutted and the front of the building was expanded outward and made into a men’s clothing store which is now history. As of last week the building remains empty.
Glad you are back. See i am not watching 2001.
Glad you are back. See i am not watching 2001.
Saw many movies here. I believe Horizon Park 4 and Twin Bays 4 opened on the same day. More to come on these two.
O.K.
Nick, these guys are getting ahead of you.
Newspaper ad from 1990:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ferret111/2583561717/