Jacksonville, Florida is home to the historic Florida Theatre, an old-school cinema that has played host to many Hollywood productions. It opened in April 1927, and in November 1982 it was included in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The building was included in Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places, a book published by the AIA Florida Chapter on April 18, 2012. During the 1920s, the Mediterranean Revival style was popular in Florida, and this theater is one of only four that were erected in this opulent design.
In the summer of 1926, Southern Enterprises, Inc. commissioned architects Roy A. Benjamin and R. E. Hall & Co. to begin work on the Florida Theatre. The theater was designed as a seven-story concrete, fireproof building with a rooftop garden with a focus on presenting both films and live performances. The Florida Theatre was designed by R. Hall and Roy A. in the Mediterranean Revival style.
The Florida Theatre was built on the site of an old police station and jail that had been torn down. The theatre was built in just a single year, premiering in April 1927. The Florida Theatre opened as the state’s largest theater. A live stage production and the world-class film “Let It Rain” were just two of the many events that took place on opening night. From eleven in the morning until eleven at night, patrons could watch a film, newsreel, or live performance at the Florida Theatre. As early as 1938, the roof garden was paved over to make way for rentable office space.
The Florida Theatre began a steady decline during the 1970s, culminating in its forced closure in May of 1980. The Florida Theatre’s architectural and historical significance resulted in grants totaling $1.5 million: $500,000 from the State of Florida, $500,000 from the City of Jacksonville’s HUD Community, and a Development Block Grant plus an extra $150,000 through fundraising. The Arts Assembly of Jacksonville paid $1 million in October 1981 to acquire the Florida Theatre.
The Arts Assembly invested $5 million immediately to restore the aging structure. In December of 1982, the Florida Theatre was also included on the National Register of Historic Places. The Florida Theatre closed for renovations in August 1982 and reopened to the public in August 1983. In October 1987, the Florida Theatre broke away from the Arts Assembly to become a separate organization with its own board of directors. These days, the Florida Theatre is home to the Florida Ballet, Theatreworks, and the yearly Community Nutcracker.
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