Tampa Theatre is the work of architect John Eberson, who also designed the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas.
Highlights include a 900-pipe Wurlitzer organ and 99 bulbs embedded in the ceiling to resemble twinkling stars.
It was regarded as one of the world’s most elaborate theaters when it was built in 1926 and the interior — a somewhat garish explosion of flowers and angry gargoyles — resembles a Mediterranean courtyard.“The simplistic beauty of the Paramount Theatre confirms that Eberson was a genius at designing vaudeville houses,” remarks Ken Stein at the League of Historic American Theaters.
“But when you see the Tampa with its complexity and elaborate atmospheric design, you realize Eberson was also a mad genius.”
Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St., Tampa, Florida; +1 813 274 8981
Source: Tamara Hinson, for CNN
