This is where we had our first movie-date with my partner! It was very memorable. We love here since then. Every time we wanted to watch a movie, this is our go-to place. The cinema was clean and tidy, and their seats were customized and updated. Their surround sound was the best and we like the most here.
Best movie experience in Tampa. Most people have never heard of it. Try it, youll love it!
Absolutely beautiful. I was in awe of the detail of every square inch of the Tampa Theater. So much History behind it! Stunning theater. Had a movie screening at the Tampa Theater and it was truly magical. I will be making it my go to spot on the weekends, especially when they feature the Classic s in Silent Film and Casablanca!
The 1920s American motion-picture cathedral was a unique architectural phenomenon developed to capitalize on motion pictures as new, inexpensive entertainment for the masses. While we watch streaming services on our smartphones in the 21st century, people in the 1920s were blown away from the fact that photographs could be animated via a hand-crank silent film projector.Tampa Theatre opened in 1926 and was designed by legendary theater architect John Eberson who pioneered an atmospheric style of design, which treated his guests to an intimate moonlit Mediterranean sky dotted with stars....In the 1960s, changes in society and the film industry rendered large, single-screen theaters like Tampa Theatre economically obsolete. In 1973, Tampa Theatre was faced with demolition but because of its architectural and historical significance, Tampas civic and business leaders rallied to preserve the building in hopes that a revitalized theatre could also help revitalize a struggling downtown.Starting in the late 70s, restoration began and in 1978, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was declared an official City of Tampa Landmark Building in 1988. The theatre currently holds year-round programming to include public tours every so often. During the tour, youll learn all about the history and get an opportunity to listen to one of the few remaining fully functional pipe organs in the country.Dont let the exterior fool you. The interior is a sight to behold!
This venue us absolutely gorgeous! Its definitely a throw back in all the best ways. Go see ANYTHI G there, you will not regret it.
Saw stand up comedian Jim Jefferies here and the place was awesome. Has a very cool early 20th century luxury elite vibe. It looks almost like you can see the night sky on the ceiling and its pretty cool. Id recommend checking it out, they usually play old classic movies every once in a while. Good activity to do.
Every time I go to this theater, its like taking a step back in time! Built in the 1920s, the architecture is absolutely beautiful. Seeing a movie here is less expensive than your average movie theater, and its sooo much better. Its not just seeing a movie, its an event! Its nonprofit so thats an automatic draw. If you have the chance to attend something here, do it! And check out the creepy baby head while youre there.
Beautiful historic theater. Always such an excellent location to visit. They serve snacks, drinks and popcorn, and the service is always great.I just watched Parasite (highly recommend as well ) and my only observation about the experience is that I wish the popcorn was fresher. Other than that Im super happy with my visit.
Really enjoyed the Balcony to Backstage Tour. Also the best place to experience Its A Wonderful Life at Christmas time!
One of the greatest old theaters youll ever go to! This place is truly amazing!
I always love going to the Tampa Theater. I am a member and that helps with the ticket price however I would go no matter what. You see unique films that you wont see and regular theaters. This time I saw the Academy Award short films and they were so worthwhile. I love the oldest of the theater and also the renovations that have been done the seats are comfortable the theaters easy-to-navigate its just a pleasure to be there
I have only been here once but the venue was beautiful and the environment for the show was great. Hard to believe that this place is community funded because the professionalism of everyone involved was more than a community. Hope to eventually come back sooner than later. Thanks!
Best tour ever!!! I went on a tour with a group and Jill the marketing director told us all about the amazing history of the theater and how it is one of only six of its kind left in the United States. The inside is totally restored to look original and lots of it remains original. I would recommend a movie or tour to anyone thats interested in Tampas history!
Incredible history, local non-profit and staple of the Tampa community. Worth visiting on vacation, catch a ghost tour in the Fall or a classic movie during one of their series events. If nothings scheduled or matches your interest pop in for happy hour and see why Tampa Theatre was named to the National Register of Historic Places.
Step back in time to the art deco era house theater with balcony an velvet drapes twinkling starlight ceilings to truly enjoy the big screen classic films I wish they would play Gone With The Wind that would be epicParking is about $12 across the street if you dont want to walk but if you dont mind doing the walk you can find garage parking close to $6.00. I enjoyed the 4pm matinee which let out about 7 so still time to get dinner nearby an not have to leave an drive to somewhere else find movie listings an gala events on their website
Amazing place a must see when in tampa
Probably one of the most beautiful places in all of Tampa Bay. Try and get there for Pause, a weekly happy hour with tours every 20 min. Its really nice just to enjoy looking at all the details & take the place in. The newer seats are great and more in keeping with the original design. The updated concession stand & digital projection are very nice updates that provide needed modern comforts but dont take away much from the vintage feel.
What a wonderful backstage / behind the scenes tour of #TampaTheatre this afternoon hosted by the fabulous Samantha Parisi on her fledgling guide experience. Learned quite a bit about this wonderful gem that I did not know. Built in the Roaring 20s a quarter could buy you admission for the whole day in air conditioned reprieve from the brutal Florida sun. Reconditioned in 2017/2018 to reflect more of the style of the original design.
Wow, one of the coolest theaters youll ever visit. Rivals the best of the old movie theaters from yesteryear. Great for live bands and old movies. Reminds me of one of the old Broadway theaters in NYC.
This place is a must see when visiting Tampa. I love watching movies here and the place is absolutely beautiful. love the alcoholic drink options.Also I dont know why but the popcorn just taste better here P.S take a tour. You learn so much!
I just had a most amazing tour of the Tampa theater. I had never looked at all of the architecture the way it was explained. It is truly an experience to take the tour and learn of all the special bits and pieces that make the Tampa theater such an amazing place to visit. I liked it so much, I would almost like to do the tour again.
We went to a Roy Orbison/Beatles tribute...great music in a super venue!
The place was wide enough to watch movies and very spooky vibes.
Walked in and looked around. Cute and antique
My first time at this theatre to see Love Actually. Beautiful architecture, lovely theatre. Before the show began we had an organist and organ appear from under the stage. Its a long time since I last saw this happen. A delightful way to spend a few hours.
This theatre is simply awesome. It was listed by the BBC as one of the 10 most beautiful movie cinemas in the world and certainly is the most beautiful I have ever been to. It was built in 1926 as one of America’s most elaborate movie palaces. It is an amazing piece of American history and we should support and preserve this unique building. When we showed up there was a pianist playing before the movie started which was a lovely touch. The decor is fabulously over the top. I loved the movie line up which is aimed at movie lovers. They seek standard snacks but also adult beverages. Movie tickets can be bought online or in person and are standard prices and they have paid parking. They have a great website where you can read about the venue. They occasionally run tours for $10 which you can book on their website.
A great place to share memories with family and friends. Also I really love their sing-a-longs movies! Mostly the way the Tampa Theatre shares our love story for them ♡
This place is just awesome, regardless of what your going to see. I won’t rehash what others have already posted but this was a great place. Drinks are expensive, but that’s like any theatre.
Gorgeous historic theater! A must see! The theatres programming could not be more varied and top notch.Some minor negatives, IMO: The seat gave me sciatic nerve pain, unfortunately. Also, it will be great if/when they get a grant to install a Surround Sound system for movies.
This theatre is such a gem!!! The beauty & historic charm of magnificent!!! The architecture is just jaw dropping!!! Love the concession stand that serves snacks, soft drinks & alcoholic beverages too! Do yourself a favor & take a backstage tour, schedule on their website!
This theatre is beautiful. I cant wait to come again.
Great place and atmosphere. was treated kindly
Absolutely loved being there for a night with Salman Rushdie. He was fabulous. Looking forward to seeing other very important artists and writers on that stage.
Beautiful old theater that has been well maintained. We are blessed that people care so much to save and share a treasure of history with all of us. I love this place and highly recommend you visit.
This is a beautiful piece of old Tampa History. . Certain times of the year they play Classic Movies. Its an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
I would give it 10 stars, if I could. Check out a screening of a Fungi movie while enjoying tasty concessions. The historic building is gorgeously restored and the chairs are comfy. The majesty of day far gone whisper through every corner
Beautiful and unique theater unlike anything out there. Went to see a classic there and it was a fantastic time.
Incredible experience while working at a wedding ceremony. The front of house representative was so kind and informative. I could spend a day just looking around, one day would love to come for a showing. The ceremony was stunning on the stage. Concessions was prompt and friendly.
Just had my sons school show there, the theater is absolutely breathtaking. A couple audio glitches in the beginning, but that is to be expected. I am an audio engineer by trade so I listen for those types of things. Cannot wait to go see a private show there again soon.
If I could give it 10 stars I would. Incredible interior, like a time capsule to the old Lowes theatres. Recently renovated with comfy seats. My jaw never shut.
This is an amazing place. The theater has been refurbished back to its 1920s original state (except for the modernized consession stand). If you appreciate nostalgia and a bygone era atmosphere...you will love, love, love this theater!
This place is awesome!! We saw Maiden there this weekend and everything was perfect!
What a wonderful venue and place if historical significance in Tampa! Non-profit and serves the community very well! If you get the chance you need to go to an event there.
The Tampa Theatre is a true Tampa treasure. With its storied history,and a classic interior, the patron feels as if they have been transported back to a 1920s theater. While most of The Tampa Theatres schedule consists of classic and modern films, a variety of concerts from pop to jazz is offered as well. The concerts that I have attended had superior acoustics. However, the movies still need to improve the sound quality. Yes, the Wurlitzer organ player before each film showing, makes for that nostalgic experience. A must-Tampa-see.
Went there for a lecture a couple of weeks ago. Convenient location but the neighborhood is a little sketchy. The inside and staff are really nice. Reminds me of a smaller version of the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Would definitely attend other events.
Beautiful theatre and an excellent show! Seats seemed a little tight but it made for a more personal experience
Beautiful venue for movies and concerts, every seat has a great view of the stage /screen.
Beautiful layout and detail in the building and walls, great seating arrangements. love the events here.
Its so pretty inside. Very iconic!!
Such a cool theater! We saw the Jay ans Silent Bob show ans it was alot of fun.
Breathtaking piece of history preserved for us to all enjoy with current and past movies. The sing a long to The Greatest Showman should be a monthly event!
I have only been here once but the venue was beautiful and the environment for the show was great.
Beautiful! Around the holidays they do holiday movie sing-a-longs. We saw White Christmas, what a great time. Sound was good, movie quality was good and the theatre is Beautiful!!! Go support this gorgeous Tampa treasure.
I love this place. I have seen movies, plays and live shows here and every time I am utterly thrilled just to be there.
I love Tampa Theater. Its a beautiful 1920s movie palace. The ambience is amazing. They also serve alcohol! Gotta love it. Catch an old movie or an alternative film. Take the tour, its worth it.
I love coming here to watch movies when they show random old greats! They also hosted the HBO Hard Knocks Premiere party for the Bucs 2 years ago and they have really kept this historic Tampa Staple in great shape. You can instantly feel the history when you walk into this theatre!They also have comedians here and I can’t wait to see how that is when I make it that way for a show. I can’t imagine it’s anything less than great!
Ive been to Tampa twice, so Ive been here twice and will return every time I climbed back to Tampa. This place is gorgeous! From the architecture to the paint to the lighting, it is stunning. Id love to request recliners, but then the historical feel would be lost. The balcony has some cushier seating options with little tables to set your drinks on, though. The films are also well-chosen and promote the kind of community and world that I want to be a part of. Good vibes live here.
What an amazing surprise, the first time I set foot in this theater. Surrounded by a true historic feel of the stage and the lights, all the voices, echoing off the sound insulated curves and crevices of the walls... I went to a premiere of Casey Afflecks directorial debut with Light of my Life and couldnt have been happier. I saw the sets, the ceiling looks like a start night sky... This theater looks classic to me for a Midsummers Night Dream, or Romeo and Juliet. Theres lots of statues and fountains, even the bathrooms downstairs have a grand Greek feel... Youll just have to find some excuse after parking across the street to walk into this theater...its truly magical.
1st time at Tampa Theatre. Nice atmosphere. Would really enjoy watching some scary or classic movies here.
This was my first time going. I went to see Eric Andre but after seeing the amazing stage I am wanting to go back for a play. It was a great experience and I will be going back soon!
A living part of Tampa history. The best way to be in a movie theater. It has a rich and vibrant ambiance, like no other.
Beautiful venue!!! Super intimate!! Wonderful to see big names come in!!
Just a cool venue to go catch some Christmas movies go see a concert just enjoy a few things and see culture kind of throw yourself in the throwback to the old days about theaters were very much the centerpiece of each Community youll really enjoy the Tampa theater and its a crown jewel of our city we should always keep it running made it up.
Awesome setting to watch classic movies and attend special events. Only issue with this venue is parking. Lone tip would be to arrive early at this venue because of limited parking spaces available.
Saw my first show there tonight. Post Modern Juke Box. Show was amazing.Theatre was fantastic. Beautiful. Staff was excellent!
I love this place. Great, unique shows and films that dont run in the main theater chains. Staff is awesome. Atmosphere is beautiful and unlike anything Ive seen in the area. Cant recommend enough.
Beautiful intimate venue. Historical building. Amazing! It was the icing on the cake for a special night
My favorite theatre...always a great time
Are you a burger lover? From fries to chicken nuggets with a delicious sauce to customer service they provide, then definitely Id say this is the place to be! The best of all the best!
Great venue for a concert. Really enjoyed Joe Jackson live here.
I love the nostalgic feel of this theater. It has such a nice charm to it. Definitely one of the coolest spots in Tampa!
This place is such a hidden gem! You MUST, I repeat, MUST visit this theatre for a show. Its a classic. Breathtakingly beautiful inside with so much history. And the ushers are always happy to tell you a bit about that history. They show classic movies throughout the summer - Casablanca is a personal favourite.
The aesthetics of this building are truly captivating. So many films and events to enjoy! I suggest eating some local pizza with extra mushrooms before your viewing experience!
Historic, beautiful and some of the kindest humans volunteer their time here. Im always thrilled when we get tickets to something here and am always super proud when musicians or comedians notice how magical this place is. Drinks are pricey so pre-game and Uber over.
This is a review of the Tampa Theatre only and not the show or performance. Ill start at the beginning, outside of the theatre, and work my way inside. First, the security screeners (blue polo shirts) were friendly and personable but highly ineffective or untrained on how to properly use the wands (metal detectors) they were operating. Even when the wand gave its audible alert (set off by a prohibited item), there was no further check to confirm what set the wand off. Just a friendly enjoy the show.The ticket takers at the door were very friendly, as were all of the staff that our group encountered. The employees all were helpful, from the initial purchase at the box office, to the end of the show. Inside the theatre the seats are really, really small. They do tell you this on the web site, but I really didnt expect them to be this tight. Its about as comfortable as siting in a modern economy aircraft seat. Same width, maybe less legroom, and not as much padding. I cold be wrong but I think that we may have even been in the orchestra seating that boasts six inches of extra leg room, but I may be wrong.While being walked to our seats, our usher sternly warned us not to take out our phones during the performance as any video or photos would be immediate ground for ejection. I am good with that and was hopeful that this would be enforced on the inconsiderate drunks and trashy people that usually feel the need to ruin other peoples night with their phones. Wrong. As if showing up late, after the performance started and talking loudly to arrange who should sit by who, the inconsiderate people around us were never once addressed for overtly and blatantly taking video and photos of the performance with their phones. Even when one of them forgot to turn their flash off and lit up the entire area with the bright LED light, not once did anyone from the staff attempt to warn against or stop the people from filming.The temperature of the theatre was really hot and uncomfortable. Yes, it was a cool night for Tampa, but I was wearing a very thin shirt and almost left just to walk outside to cool off, but that would mean stepping on other people while trying to leave the economy airplane seats. One thing of particular concern was the amount of junk piled up in the exit tunnel/walkway we had to exit the theatre through.The exit we used on the west side of the theatre was not only very dark and lit with dim red lights, but stacked with large folding tables piled up against the wall (five or six deep) as well as a large ladder laying up against the wall. I am not a fire marshal, but given how long it took just to exit in a normal fashion, I would hate to see the problems this would have caused in an emergency.While the theatre is beautiful and a small and intimate venue, we will not be returning. There are much better places to see shows where the staff do actually enforce the rules and are much more comfortable to sit for a couple of hours. Our last visit to the Straz we noticed that they held the late people outside with the doors closed until there was a break that permitted them to come in without disturbing others. I dont remember being miserably hot and the seats provided plenty of room. I get it, it was built in the 1920s and its historical. I can now say that I have been and do not see a reason to ever return.
This was my first time going to Tampa Theatre and I was so amazed at how beautiful it was inside. So much detail.
Gasparilla film Festival tonight had a ball with Dawn Reese Hollywood Connections.
Im a native of Tampa and have always loved this theatre. They take such great care of it and offer so many different films and shows. Best documentary and foreign films in my opinion.
The historical atmosphere is just stunning!
I love Tampa Theatre. ️ This historic venue is not too be missed for whatever event.
We saw Government Mule here and it was the best experience ever! Great architectural lay out and atmosphere and the staff and management are great! Come by real soon with your friends and family!
Find a reason to go. The theater itself is the star. We saw The Irishman and were happy to have gotten there earlier enough to take it all in. One of a kind place.
We dressed 40s costumes to enjoy the entire Casablanca experience.
Saw a movie Elf for a work party, kind of lame, but the movie was funny. The theatre had not changed much, still very pretty with the original woodwork and painting. They do have a newer snack bar that features popcorn and movie snacks along with adult beverages!
Such a beautiful theater. The staff is lovely and accommodating, and they offer a wide range of films, guests and other entertainment events. I come as often as I am able!
Its cool
Who doesnt love this awesome theater? Amazingly preserved Tampa landmark. Theyre always showing a variety of films and just walking around the circa 1926 building is really cool!
Coolest theater in town. Nice architectural feature including the drinking fountain is awesome. If you have seen many picture of the theater, experience yourselves with your own feeling is much better.The theater has some rich history. Please visit their website for full history cover. I am glad the people of Tampa save this endanger theater from close down. Now it has hosted many events, music venue, and play.I can imagine the people watch the movie in this theater must have great experience in late 1920. Now the theater retrofit with air condition and they are comfortable. The best seat may be the second floor balcony middle three front rolls. It is very close to the stage. You can see the action of the show.
This place is iconic. Been around since the early 1900s and smacked in the middle of bustling old downtown Tampa. Locals and tourists can enjoy plays and showings here with a dreamy ceiling that creates a magical atmosphere for viewers. I am so happy the city has preserved this theater, it truly is a must see.
A step back in time. Always love visiting.
Architectual Gem Iconic to Downtown Tampa! My Neighbor ;)
Great old theater with wonderful architecture and spectacular detailing.
What a beautifully historic theater. Went with friends and watch a classic movie there. Will definitely go again some day.
Scheduled to be demolished, it was purchased and renovated in the 70s. Its ajaw dropping experience entering for the the first time. You almost expect silent movies. Great place for special movies ora Christmas movie with the family.
First time here with best friend, came to see rocky horror picture show. So much fun we had.
Tampa Theater is a great place to see movies and live performances. The ornate detail in the building is amazing. The staff was very friendly. I will definitely go back.
5 out of 5 just for how historic and beautiful it is. They also show many foreign and independent films you cant see at other local theatres. Unfortunately weve been spoiled by larger screens, seats, and prices at newer theatres. Drinks and food also arent competitive with other theatres. But these are minor gripes and everyone should go support this historic theatre.
I loved it here! BF and I saw the shape of water a while back and it was fantastic! The place is gorgeous and feels like a well kept secret. Would recommend to anyone!