Florida Theatre
2018 Hollywood Boulevard,
Hollywood,
FL
33020
2018 Hollywood Boulevard,
Hollywood,
FL
33020
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc.
Architects: Roy A. Benjamin
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
This terrific Art Deco style movie house was built in 1937. It was operated Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks. It lasted until January 14, 1964 when it was destroyed in a fire and torn down afterward. A parking lot is now located on the site of the Florida Theatre.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
Steven: When I read your “sister” post I thought I was about to read that the theatre at 30 East Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale was still open, but sadly you wrote……“It too was demolished….” :–(
Though the link is temporarily down, the hollywoodfl.org website has some photographs of downtown Hollywood and two photos include pictures of The Florida Theatre’s marquee with “April Love” on one photo and “Some Came Running” on the other. I’ll try and post the direct link as soon as the site is working again.
Okay, as promised here is the link to a December 30, 1957 picture of downtown Hollywood with the Florida Theatre marquee showing “April Love.” The title isn’t visible, but Pat Boone and Shirley Jones' names are. Enjoy!
View link
Nice to read that a parking lot is now where the Florida Theatre once stood and was enjoyed by so many theatre goers. Such a shame!
I wonder who takes the credit for being the architect for this specially designed art deco theatre?
The Florida Theatre address was 2018 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, Florida.
A correction to an old post I just read regarding the Hollywood Mall above (2004). The Hollywood Mall did in fact close years ago and reopened as a Target / Publix / shopping center. The Hollywood Fashion Center, another mall further west on Hollywood Blvd., also closed and subsequently reopened (partially) as a flea market type center.
The Florida was already open by 1941 according to the Film daily Yearbook.
The architect of the Florida Theatre was Roy A. Benjamin. The announcement that construction had begun appeared in Boxoffice, August 21, 1937. The house was being built for Sparks Theatres, already operating the 600-seat Ritz and the Hollywood Beach Theatre in Hollywood.
Yes, It Was Burned On January 14, 1964 With 2 Injuries To 2 Firefighters From The HFD. A Twin Theater Would Later Be Built In The City And Would Open A Year Later As The Same Name To This Theater.