TAMPA, Fla. — There’s a century celebration coming for the Tampa Theatre, which opened on Oct. 15, 1926.
“My first trip to the Tampa Theatre was a field trip in junior high. I fell in love with the building the first time I walked into it,” said Jill Witecki, vice president and director of marketing and community.
Witecki was only able to visit the theater back then because the city of Tampa saved it from demolition in 1973.
As part of a 10-year restoration project, the theater closed its main auditorium in March for renovations.
And now we see the original splendor, but with modern technology. Backstage older equipment is now juxtaposed with modern rigging.
In 2023, Witecki showed Bay News 9 the third floor, which was old office space and a small apartment that were being used for storage.
Fast forward to present day, it is now the theater’s education wing.
This phase of restoration saw more than $20 million invested and included the installation of an elevator.
Witecki said it’s a privilege to be part of this Tampa institution, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
“It’s amazing. It’s emotional because the city loves this building,” Witecki said. “They rescued it 50 years ago, and now they are supporting this amazing transitional period in time.”
The public is invited to see the completed renovations on Sunday, Oct. 11, along with classic movies throughout the week.
The theater’s Oct. 15 celebration is sold out.
Next up for the theater: restoring its mighty Wurlitzer organ and creating a lounge with unused office space.