The Ritz Ybor

Last updated

The Ritz Ybor
The Ritz New.jpg
Exterior view of venue (c.2010)
The Ritz Ybor
Former namesRivoli Theatre (1917-31)
Ritz Theatre (1931-87)
Masquerade (1992-2006)
Address1503 E 7th Ave
Tampa, FL 33605-3713
Location Ybor City Historic District
OwnerCapitano and Garcia LLC
OperatorSunset Events
Capacity 1,114
Construction
Opened1917
Renovated
  • 1929
  • 1931
  • 1961
  • 1983
  • 2006-08
  • 2013
Architect Bonfoey and Elliott
Website
Venue Website
Building details
The Ritz Ybor
General information
Renovation cost$2 million
($2.9 million in 2022 dollars [1] )
Renovating team
Architect(s)Alfonso Architects
Main contractorDPR Construction

The Ritz Ybor (originally the Rivoli Theatre) is an events venue located in the historic Ybor City, within Tampa, Florida. Opening in 1917, the theatre catered to the Afro-Cuban community in the emerging neighborhood. Throughout the years, the venue was served as a cinema, adult movie theater, nightclub and concert venue. The theatre was transformed into its current incarnation in 2008; becoming one of Tampa's premier live music and events venue. [2]

Contents

History

In 1958 The Ritz Old.jpg
In 1958

In 1917, the building opened as the Rivoli Theatre, [3] a red brick building with a silent movie theater on the first floor and various apartments on the second floor. It was the first theater of its kind in the United States. [4] In 1931, the building underwent an expansion and reopened as The Ritz Theatre. [5] It continued to show a variety of standard films until December 31, 1965, when it transitioned to nude shows and XXX-rated films. [5]

In September 1983, developer William E. Field purchased the building and remodeled it once again. [5] Field’s ambitions never materialized, and a bank foreclosure in 1987 forced him to close his doors. [5] That same year, the building was leased to The Masquerade nightclub. [6] As Masquerade, the venue saw the performances of a variety of rising alternative acts. [6] In 1988, the Capitano family purchased the building as an investment property. [3] In 1973 and 1989, Ybor City was listed on the National Register of Historic Places [7] and the National Historic Landmark District, [8] respectively. This building was listed as a contribution in both entries. In 2006, the Masquerade tenants were evicted. [6] The building underwent a $2 million renovation and on June 26, 2008 opened its doors as The Ritz Ybor, a special events and live music venue. [9]

The building is located in the heart of historic Ybor City. The Ritz Ybor is a short trolley ride away from the Channelside district, two to three miles from downtown Tampa and a 15-minute car ride from Tampa International Airport. It is located within walking distance of the Centro Ybor Entertainment Complex and the Hillsborough Community College Ybor City campus.

Venue

The venue counts with over 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2), three distinct rooms, a grand foyer, full-service bars, a state-of-the-art lighting system and a caterers prep kitchen that allows for outside licensed and insured catering. The three rooms inside the venue are the Royal Room, the Rivoli Room and the Theatre Ballroom. The Theatre Ballroom has a 25-by-44-foot (7.6 m × 13.4 m) theatrical stage. The Grand Foyer, which connects all three rooms, houses the original terrazzo floors, Art Deco mirrors and wall sconces. [9]

Noted performers

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampa Theatre</span> Theater in Tampa, Florida, United States

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolina Theatre (Durham)</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altria Theater</span> Theater in Richmond, Virginia, part of CenterStage complex

The Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, United States is a theater at the southwest corner of Monroe Park on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, and is the largest venue of Richmond CenterStage's performing arts complex. Formerly known as The Mosque and the Landmark Theater, the Altria Theater was originally built for Shriners of the Acca Temple Shrine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramount Theatre (Austin, Texas)</span>

The Paramount Theatre is a live theatre venue/movie theatre located in downtown Austin, Texas. The classical revival style structure was built in 1915. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts</span> Performing arts center in Jacksonville, Florida

The Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts (JCPA) is a performing arts center located in Jacksonville, Florida. Situated along the Riverbank, the venue is known as the First Coast’s "premiere riverfront entertainment facility". Originally opening in 1962, the facility was renovated beginning in 1995 until 1997; with a grand re-opening on February 8, 1997. The center consists of three venues: a theatre; concert hall and recital hall. It is home to the Jacksonville Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the FSCJ Artist Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The NorVa</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Masonic Temple</span> Masonic building in Detroit, Michigan

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kravis Center for the Performing Arts</span>

The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit, professional performing arts center in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympia Theater (Miami)</span> Historic theater in Miami, Florida

The Olympia Theater is a theater located in Miami, Florida. Designed by John Eberson in his famed atmospheric style, the theater opened in 1926. Throughout its history, the venue has served as a movie theater, concert venue and performing arts center. In 1984, it received historical designation by the NRHP. The Olympia Theater and its sister venue, the Tampa Theatre are the only remaining atmospheric theatres in Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proctor's Theatre (Schenectady, New York)</span> Historic theatre in Schenectady, New York

Proctor's Theatre is a theatre and former vaudeville house located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Many famous artists have performed there, including Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Hal Holbrook, Ted Wiles, and George Burns, as well as many others. It has one of the largest movie screens in the Northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Tampa</span> Neighborhood in Hillsborough, Florida, United States

Downtown Tampa is the central business district of Tampa, Florida, United States, and the chief financial district of the Tampa Bay Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riviera Theatre</span> Music venue and former movie theater in Chicago, Illinois

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bijou Theatre (Knoxville, Tennessee)</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alumni Hall (University of Pittsburgh)</span> United States historic place

Alumni Hall at the University of Pittsburgh is a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark that was formerly known as the Masonic Temple in Pittsburgh. Constructed in 1914-1915, it was designed by renowned architect Benno Janssen of Janssen & Abbot Architects. Other buildings in Pittsburgh's Oakland Cultural District designed by Janssen include the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, Mellon Institute, and Pitt's Eberly Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aztec Theatre (San Antonio)</span> Theatre

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ace Hotel Los Angeles</span> Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Performing Arts Center</span>

The Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC), originally the Broadway Theater and Community Theatre, is located on Broadway in Kingston, New York, United States. A Classical Revival building built in 1926, it is the only unaltered pre-World War II theater left in the city, and one of only three from that era in the Hudson Valley. It is also the largest proscenium theater between Manhattan and Albany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Opera House (Philadelphia)</span> Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

The Metropolitan Opera House is an historic opera house and current pop concert venue located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has been used for many different purposes over its history. Now known as The Met, the theatre reopened in December 2018, after a complete renovation, as a concert venue. It is managed by Live Nation Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orpheum Theatre (Madison, Wisconsin)</span>

The Bilheimer Capitol Theatre is a historic theater in Clearwater, Florida. It is one of the six venues that compose the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts. The theater has a seating capacity of 750 people.

References

  1. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "The Ritz Ybor: Special Events". Smugmug. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Lansing, George (November 8, 2009). "Ritz Theater, Ybor City, Tampa, FL". Digital Commons. University of North Florida. Retrieved November 16, 2015.[ dead link ]
  4. ↑ "Ritz Theater (Rivoli Theater)". AIA Tampa Bay. American Institute of Architects. July 26, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hawes, Leland (June 3, 2001). "The Ritz". The Tampa Tribune . Media General . Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Cridlin, Jay. "Life after the Masquerade: Where's Ybor heading now?". Tampa Bay Times . Times Publishing Company . Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Ybor City Historic District". National Register of Historic Places . August 28, 1974. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ybor City Historic District Tampa, Florida". National Park Service . Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Venue". The Ritz Ybor Official Website. Retrieved November 16, 2015.

27°57′37″N82°26′34″W / 27.96016°N 82.44276°W / 27.96016; -82.44276

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.