Beat the Heat at a Tampa Landmark

The Tampa Theatre has been a cultural and artistic center for the city since its opening in 1926. Originally opened as a “movie palace”, the interior of the venue is opulent and highly decorative, and for more than 90 years it has boasted air conditioning strong enough to defeat Tampa’s summer temperatures. To this end, the theatre is currently running its annual Summer Classics Movie Series.

This summer, the classics series boasts hits across genres and decades spanning from the 1910s to the 1990s. Highlights include the Marilyn Monroe vehicle Some Like It Hot, a Grease Sing-Along, George Cukor-directed The Philadelphia Story, and the 1994 dramatic thriller The Shawshank Redemption. The jewel in this seasons’ crown though, is the compilation of shorts starring the comedy kings of the 1910s and 20s. Some of these shorts were shown at the theatre during its inaugural year, and they will have proper accompaniment on the theatre’s original 1926 Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ.

The Summer Classics Series shows every Sunday at 3:00 pm. Professors from the University of South Florida and University of Tampa, as well as film critics from Tampa Bay Times host post-film discussions and audience Q & A sessions at most of the showings.

If you are unable to make the Sunday movies, the theatre has other films that it shows. Additionally, on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11:30 am, the theatre offers 90-minute tours, which includes a demonstration of the original 1926 organ. The guides are all Tampa natives who can recommend locals’ favorite restaurants – just in time for lunch.