Jacksonville, FL

The Florida Theatre in Jacksonville

Address: 128 East Forsyth St., Jacksonville, FL 32202 - MAP
Phone: (904) 355-5661
Web: www.floridatheatre.com

The Florida Theatre first opened in 1927 and was Jacksonville's 15th movie theater. It was the largest and most lavish theater in the city, equipped with a rooftop garden, a nursery for patrons' children, air conditioning and vacuuming systems.

Over the next few decades, the theater was used as a venue for many different events. From movie screen bingo, "Screeno," to one of Elvis Presley's first performances and civic events like fashion shows to first-run film screenings, The Florida Theatre had it all for a long while. In the 70s things slowed down for the theater and it eventually closed in 1980.

It didn't take very long for the city to revive the Florida Theatre. By October of 1983, the theater was fully restored, remodeled and ready for a new chapter in Florida Theatre history.

Offering over 200 cultural and entertainment events each year, The Florida Theatre is recognized as one of the finest concert venues in the Southeast. From ballet and opera to contemporary pop, jazz, rock, country and blues, the theater's productions are for every taste and seen by over 250,000 people annually.