Theatre Jacksonville, Art Deco theater in San Marco, Jacksonville, United States.
Theatre Jacksonville is a theater and movie venue built in Art Deco style in the San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida. The building features geometric ornamentation and vertical lines typical of 1930s design, and its interior holds a main auditorium with a fully equipped stage.
The Little Theatre company was founded in Jacksonville in 1919 and took the name Little Theatre of Jacksonville in 1926. Cigar magnate Carl Swisher financed its San Marco Boulevard building in 1927, but the first premiere, Boy Meets Girl, came only on January 4, 1938. Renamed Theatre Jacksonville in 1969, it was named the city's official theater by Mayor Hans Tanzler that year.
Theatre Jacksonville sits in San Marco, a neighborhood known for its local shops and restaurants, where the theater is a natural gathering point for residents. The stage is regularly used by local amateur and semi-professional groups who perform for a loyal, returning audience.
The theater sits on San Marco Boulevard, where street parking and nearby lots are available within walking distance. Performances and screenings run throughout the year, so checking the schedule ahead of your visit helps you catch a specific show.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 12, 1991, under the name Little Theatre. In June 1997 a $500,000 Harold K. Smith Playhouse Endowment was set up for facility maintenance, and in October 2000 the renovated facade was dedicated as the Harold K. Smith Playhouse.
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