A Gem in Tampa

For those of you in the greater Tampa Bay area, you may or may not know about the jewel of the City - The Tampa Theatre. Even if you don't live in Tampa, as a fellow movie fan, you need to check out their website http://www.tampatheatre.org.
Opening in 1926, the theatre provided many, many years of entertainment to Tampa. The ceiling of the theatre boasts stars that twinkle and the lobby has over 200,000 pieces of tile. In the 60s and 70s though it fell on harder times and eventually closed. With the possibility of the wrecking ball looming, the City of Tampa bought this classic for $1 and it is now maintained mostly by donations. When AMC did their "Movie Palace Memories" movie series they premiered it from the Tampa Theatre. There are not many like her left in the country and the experience is unique. The theatre features art films, festivals, foreign films, classic films and concerts. I don't know anyplace else that you can sit enjoy such performers as George Thorogood, Johnny Lang, Lindsey Buckingham and Annie Lennox (to name just a few) in such stunning locale. I also don't know anyplace else where an organist comes up through the stage while playing the organ. And when the lights go down and the ceiling twinkles...I get goosebumps!
For more info on the history and architect of this gem go to their website.
If you are in town...
Summer Classic Movie Series The Summer Classic Movie Series schedule is set with the addition of a second silent film screening with the legendary Rosa Rio! You won't want to miss seeing these films in the grand setting they were meant for. All films are on Sundays at 3pm.
May 27: Beach Blanket Bingo, June 3: Silent Film Special Event - Silent Clowns Comedy Shorts, June 10: Rope, June 17: Top Hat, June 24: The Thin Man, July 1: Pal Joey, July 8: Touch of Evil, July 15: Gone With the Wind, July 22: The Great Gatsby, July 29: A Hard Day's Night, August 5: Blazing Saddles, August 12: Casablanca, August 19: Bedknobs & Broomsticks, August 26: Silent Film Special Event: Thief of Baghdad.