It may sound like the biggest cliché in the book, but every time we bring someone to Tampa Theatre for the first time and see their eyes light up with that inevitable burst of pure pleasure, we experience the magic of the place all over again. From the fabulous facade (including that nifty marquee that's currently MIA while it undergoes extensive restoration) to the ever-regal lobby, to the mighty organ rising from the stage pit, to the star-studded canopy ceiling, Tampa Theatre is one of our few genuine treasures. You can feel the history oozing from the building's pores (you can also feel the ghosts, according to Mistress-of-All-Things-Tampa-Theatre Tara Schroeder), and every little nook and cranny seems to tell a story. Even the water fountains have ornate hands and heads for fixtures, and the balcony, while saddled with the dubious distinction of offering the worst acoustics in the theatre, is still just about the coolest place on the face of the earth (well, in Tampa, anyway). Oh, and the movies are mighty fine, too.
Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-274-8286.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2003.