Florida Theatre Jacksonville

The palace on Forsyth Street

The theatre opened on April 8, 1927, as a vaudeville and movie house, and at the time it was the largest theatre in Florida. R. E. Hall & Co. and Roy A. Benjamin designed it in the Mediterranean Revival style. It is one of four 1920s movie palaces of that kind still standing in the state, along with the Tampa Theatre, the Polk Theatre in Lakeland and the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola.

Closed, then saved

Attendance faded in the 1970s and the doors closed on May 8, 1980. The Arts Assembly of Jacksonville bought the building in 1981, former Mayor Jake Godbold and arts advocates raised money for the restoration, and the theatre reopened on August 26, 1983. It went onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and became its own organization in 1987. The city owns the building, and a performing arts nonprofit leases and runs it.

The house

It holds about 1,900 seats. The calendar runs from touring singers and bands to comedy, and the theatre is home to the Florida Ballet and the annual Community Nutcracker.

Parking downtown

The theatre has no lot of its own. It points guests to the Yates Building Garage, which you can see across the Forsyth and Newnan intersection, with its entrance behind 200 East Adams Street. Other downtown garages and metered street spots are within a few blocks. Give yourself time if the Jaguars or the arena have an event the same night.

Make a night of it

Downtown dinner is a short walk. For a smaller, louder room across the river, try Jack Rabbits in San Marco, or browse everything in Jacksonville and St. Augustine.