Name/Title
The Florida TheatreEntry/Object ID
2016.019.034Description
The Florida Theatre
SW corner of E Forsyth and Newnan
Architect: R.E. Hall & Co. and Roy A. Benjamin
Opened on April 8, 1927, the Florida Theatre was the fifteenth, and most lavish, movie house in Jacksonville. The interior of the building had a Moorish courtyard, fountains, dramatic balconies, coffered ceilings and a gand proscenium arch. It also had an open-air rooftop garden, overlooking the city lights and riverfront (closed in 1938).
The building outside had a Mediterranean Revival style facade was designed with a central Baroque parapet framed by twin towers. The ground floor was faced with polished limestone and featured several retail storefronts as well as an entrance to the nearly 20,000 feet of upstairs office space.
The theatre was fully air-conditioned at the time of its opening and had central heating and a central vacuuming system.
The Florida Theatre survived the Great Depression by using innovative features such as "Screeno", a bingo game projected on the great screen, and "Bank NIght".
In 1956, Elvis Presly made his first appearance on an indoor stage at the Florida Theatre.
In 1980, the Florida Theatre closed after dwindling attendance, however the Arts Assembly of Jacksonville purchased the building in the fall of 1981 and reopened in 1983.Collection
Woodward Photo CollectionMade/Created
Studio
The Woodward Studio, Inc.Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Photograph, Black-and-WhiteNomenclature Primary Object Term
PhotographNomenclature Sub-Class
Graphic DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication Objects