Tampa Theatre Kicks Off Month-Long Halloween Events

This October starts Tampa Theatre's "Lucky 13th" Nightmare on Franklin Street series, bringing ghost tours and scary movies to this downtown landmark.

From October 2-31, the historic theater offers two-hour PG-13 walking tours through its historic halls. Tour guides tell stories of ghost sightings while guests climb steps and explore dark corners of the building.

Standing for almost 100 years, this 1,000-seat movie house is one of the busiest historic venues in America. Movies play on its screen while concerts fill its halls, hosting around 1,000 events each year.

When it opened in 1926, Tampa Theatre made history as the first building in the city with air conditioning. Back then, 25 cents got you out of Florida's brutal heat under a fake night sky made to look like a Mediterranean courtyard.

John Eberson's design created this atmospheric wonder. Even after many updates, fake stars still twinkle above moviegoers, keeping the magic of the 1920s alive.

The 1970s were rough as fewer visitors almost meant the end. But in 1973, local people pushed the city to save this architectural gem - a key moment for Tampa's history.

A fire hit in 1991, leading to needed fixes. By 1977, new renovations had restored the space, adding a small screening room for special shows.

Today's Tampa Theatre blends modern movies with historic beauty. Their year-round education programs teach kids about film while keeping local history alive.