Gompertz Theatre
1247 1st Street,
Sarasota,
FL
34236
1247 1st Street,
Sarasota,
FL
34236
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Related Websites
Gompertz Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Florida State Theaters Inc., Paramount Pictures Inc.
Functions: Live Performances
Styles: Mediterranean Revival
Previous Names: Park-Seventh Theatre, Garden Theatre, Art Theatre, Palm Tree Playhouse
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
941.366.9000
Nearby Theaters
The Park-Seventh Theatre was built in 1925 and operated by the Levinson family. In 1934, the E.J. Sparks circuit assumed ownership and changed the name to the Garden Theatre. By 1941, the theatre changed names yet again and became the Art Theatre, operated by Florida State Theaters Inc.
By the late-1940’s or early-1950’s, the theatre stopped showing movies and became the Palm Tree Playhouse, a live performance hall. The theatre received its fifth name, the Gompertz Theatre, and is now affiliated with the Florida Studio Theatre, a live performance organization.
Tracking down this theatre was difficult, as Sarasota initiated a massive street renaming and renumbering scheme in the early-1950’s, causing the intersection nearest the theatre to have two completely different intersecting streets.
Contributed by
Andy
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
There’s a small nighttime picture on their website. I’ll drive down there this December or so and get some pictures of the Florida, Ace, Burns Court, and Gompertz.
WEBSITE:
www.floridastudiotheatre.org/theatre-gompertz.php
PHONE:
941.366.9000
If you go to the Website and go to Space Rentals you can see an interior photo of the theater.
In 1935 it was called the Gardens Theater.
I THINK it opened on December 25, 1948 as the Art Theater? At that time it had 400 seats and its first film was THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. Or is this a different theater??
It was open at least till ~1951? Anyone care to verify the exact dates?
Anyone have more info or more photos?
No, it was open as the Garden Theatre in the 30s and as the Park-Seventh as far back as 1927.
The Art Theatre opened around 1941 and lasted until about 1951-52. The Garden (singular) was operating in 1934 at least, and the original incarnation as the Park-Seventh was operating in 1927 for sure.
Photos from April 2011 of the theatre: 1, 2
Here is a picture I took in July 2011.