National treasure, anyone? The 1926 John Eberson-designed movie palace is a monument to smart historic preservation and smart movie programming: Tampa is lucky to have both, and our readers know it. Beyond that, the place is so damn fun: From the Moorish pleasure garden architecture to the Mighty Wurlitzer that disappears into the stage floor to the razzmatazz of all those blinking lights on the marquee — ya just can´t get that at the multiplex.
Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., Tampa, 813-274-8981.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.