Florida Theatre, Movie theater and concert venue in Downtown Jacksonville, United States.
The Florida Theatre is a movie theater and concert venue in downtown Jacksonville built in Mediterranean Revival style. The building holds roughly 1,900 seats spread across multiple levels and features mosaic tiles and decorative interior details.
The theater opened on April 8, 1927, during the golden age of American cinema when grand movie palaces were being built across the country. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The theatre is the permanent home of the Florida Ballet, Theatreworks and the annual Community Nutcracker. Its name comes from the state, and the marquee still reads "Entertaining Jacksonville Since 1927". Elvis Presley played two shows here on August 10–11, 1956, after Judge Marion Gooding warned him about his stage movements.
The theatre stands at 128 East Forsyth Street in downtown Jacksonville, and the marquee faces the street. The building has several levels, so allow time to find your section before the show. Parking is on nearby downtown streets and lots; arriving early helps on show nights.
The site once held Jacksonville's police station and jail before Southern Enterprises built the theatre in a single year, opening it on April 8, 1927. On August 10–11, 1956, Elvis Presley played two shows here; a judge prepared arrest warrants over his stage movements but never acted.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,610 contributors worldwide.
