It lives, at least, in the memory and imagination of many of us. And, of course, it could live (again), maybe…
The historic theater on Corey Avenue has been closed since 2012, a victim of changing technology and personal frailty, but it is still possessed of a certain power over peoples’ imagination, based on its rich history and very special place in local residents’ lives. We’ve spoken to people whose parents went on their first dates there and others who worked at the theater as teenagers.
The Beach Theater opened in 1940, when Corey Avenue itself was just 3 years old. The Art Deco theater has shown a great many first-run movies over the years, ran Marx Brothers’ movies for a time, and, in the years before the most recent owner, screenwriter Michael France purchased the theater in 2007, the theater had gained a reputation for showing independent and foreign films.
France shook things up, hosting Bob Dylan tributes, concert films and even showed free family films on Saturday mornings. When he showed “The Big Lebowski,”
France served white Russians – the “Dude’s” signature cocktail. Shark sandwiches were the order of the day when “Jaws” was on the marquee. “It was more than just a theater,” said Lee “Flee” Courtney, the music director at WMNF radio, which held numerous benefits at the Beach Theater. “He was happy just to make the popcorn, soda and beer money back.” The theater was packed for benefits (and midnight screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”), but the crowds dwindled on regular nights.
Although France passed away in 2013, title to the property is still held in the name of France’s company, St. Pete Beach Theater, LLC.
He was not able to achieve his ambition of making the theater a non-profit, to help garner community financial support for keeping the theater going and there has been litigation preventing any forward motion.
France’s vision was a worthy one, and remains so even now, but there are challenges to realizing it. There is some modest debt, including 2015 real estate taxes. The main obstacle, however, appears to be the substantial cost of updating the projection system to digital, which is how movies are distributed now. The seats are in pretty bad shape, too, and the building needs attention.
There doesn’t appear to be a lack of people possessed of the desire to see the Beach Theater continue its historic role in the community, but it takes more than love, it takes leadership, as well as a bit of philanthropy.
Story by Thomas A. Brodersen, Esq., Anderson & Brodersen, P.A.
350 Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach
(727) 363-6100
www.PropertyLawGroup.com