An evening event photograph by Alexis Thompson showing two people outside Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 15, 2026. Captured in a medium shot beneath the illuminated marquee of the historic Tampa Theatre, a smiling couple in formal black attire stands posing together at night; the woman (left) wears a black dress, headpiece, and long pearls, while the man (right) wears a dark jacket, hat, and bow tie. Bright marquee lights overhead spell "CENTENNIAL" and "OCTOBER 15 2026," with a crowd of attendees gathered in the background.
Revelers outside Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 15, 2026. Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Time travel was real last night on Franklin Street as Tampa Theatre staged the finale in a weeklong unveiling for its $24.5 million centennial restoration, which kicked off last March.

After not getting to set foot inside the venue’s historic Duncan Auditorium for seven months, Tampeños admired the work that has the atmospheric movie palace looking just like it did on opening night, Oct. 15, 1926.

After and in between comments from theater leadership, donors, boardmembers, the 1924 silent film “Sherlock Jr.” screened, soundtracked by the theater’s mighty Wurlitzer and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. The ensemble then closed the evening with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” accompanied by surprise projection mapping that illuminated the details that architect John Eberson built into what is considered one of the most beautiful movie houses in the world.

An outdoor evening crowd photograph by Alexis Thompson showing Revelers outside Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 15, 2026. Captured in a wide horizontal shot facing the entrance of the historic Tampa Theatre, a large crowd of event attendees fills the outdoor space at night; toward the center, a young girl wearing a light dress and black headband with feather accents sits atop someone's shoulders facing the camera, while a grey-haired man in a dark suit jacket stands turned in profile in the foreground under warm marquee overhead lights.
Revelers outside Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 15, 2026. Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

And for all the rah-rah, the real star of last night was the old lady herself, repainted as Eberson imagined, with every architectural and aesthetic detail allowing visitors to imagine the humanity involved in creating such a spectacular venue.

As Tampa Theatre house photographer Jeff Fay re-created the famous opening night crowd photo outside the venue, it was hard not to think about all of the movies, performances and memories the walls inside, and out, have seen.

It was impossible not to think about people like Andy Huse, the late Tampa historian, librarian, author and archivist whose last work was the definitive history of the Tampa Theatre (a seat now bears his name, so he always has a place there).

Not lost on anyone last night was the political will it took—and the continued effort it takes—to save something that many consider a lost cause, or too expensive, and how sometimes we have to do hard things so that our kids, grandkids and neighbors can have a chance to experience beauty in such close proximity.

Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Alexis Thompson/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

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This article appears in Oct. 15 – 21, 2026.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...