Lost Jacksonville: The Theater District

[avonjax]

first, I went to many of thos theaters as a child and it was tragic to see them go, one by one.
The saddest thing of all is what replaced them.
and mtraininjax your constant "difference of opinion" apparently just to rouse us is a complete bore.

A quote from your post...."Good idea, but where is the bleeding heart over the Kent Theatres? Forget them?"
This is about downtown and if I recall the Kent Theatres were not torn down and turned into parking lots.

[slyle]

   I must say, I remember almost all of the theaters on Forsyth.  I remember going to the Palace for, I believe, Cinderella, the Imperial and the Empress for horror movies, the Arcade(or Center) for many movies although seeing Ben-Hur there stands out, the newer(relatively) St Johns theater  for the Lone Ranger (among others).  I am sure older Jacksonvillians remember the other theaters even before my baby boomer memories.  It is indeed a shame they are gone but more of a shame by what they were replaced with.....nothing (in all actuality)  Maybe the revival of the downtown will bring progress.  Let's hope so.

[coredumped]

Those Lone Ranger photos are great examples of the "Block Buster"

[DavidWilliams]

My parents tell me great stories of a vibrant downtown in the early 50's. It was the go to (and I guess only) location for movies as you can tell from the photos. My memories are a bit different. I grew up in the 70's-early 80's and it was becoming and became a craphole. I have worked downtown for the last 12 years and would love to see it return as a destination (after work). 

[Coolyfett]

If it make anyone feel better, Atlanta tore down many of their downtown theaters like Jacksonville did. Maybe it was white flight/US trend that was the cause. I don't think Jacksonville is the only place this happened.

[deathstar]

All you need to see is how vibrant and alive Downtown Jacksonville was, as opposed to today, to understand why they had it made back then.

[DavidWilliams]

If it make anyone feel better, Atlanta tore down many of their downtown theaters like Jacksonville did. Maybe it was white flight/US trend that was the cause. I don't think Jacksonville is the only place this happened.

It is the cycle of things I suppose. My last trip to downtown Atlanta (I stayed at the Hyatt on Peachtree which is core downtown) was about 4 years ago and their late night scene reminded me of Jax (pretty dead). We shot some pool and had a few drinks at a couple of establishments and all was good but there was NO bustling nightlife. They are in a state of suburbia as well I suppose.

[heights unknown]

I used to go to the Center Theatre as a Child (downtown); I wasn't allowed much to go outside of our neighborhood which was in LaVilla, so, I mostly attended the Ritz, Roosevelt, and the Strand Theatres which were totally black/African American.  The Center, when I attended as a Child, the blacks had to sit in the balcony, and the whites sat down below; blacks were not allowed down below.  But in the black Movie Theaters we could sit anywhere we wanted.  The Roosevelt did not have a balcony, the Ritz and Strand did if I remember correct.

We moved from Jax in 1968 and by the time I came back to Jacksonville in 1974, most all of the Movie Theaters downtown were gone for the exception of the Center and the Florida.  The Roosevelt and the Strand were gone also.

I rarely went to any Movie Theaters downtown because of the racist problem and my Mother did not allow me to go to any of the other Movie Theaters downtown; this was in the mid to late 60's.

Heights Unknown

[stjr]

Looking at the pix for this article, I would say Jax is a SMALLER city today than it was 50 or 60 years ago!  We may have more people in Duval County or the First Coast, but, in every other way we are SMALLER AND SMALL-MINDED.

This is why quality of life counts for more than population and growth bragging rights.  When will people here get it?

Downtown today looks like a back water compared to downtown of old.  And, don't think residents and visitors can't perceive the difference.  Want to fix our self image?  Get Downtown back to these glory days.  Historic and street friendly buildings with retail, restaurants, and entertainment at ground level, not parking garages, city and other government offices, empty lots, suburban style office buildings and unapproachable and detached edifices (e.g. new courthouse, Modis, CSX, and BBT buildings).

[Doug San Diego]

It is very sad to see all the historic fabric that has been lost. It is very important, in my opinion, that you bring these planning disasters, in their entirety, to the attention of the citizens and the powers that be so they can learn how and why your formerly vibrant downtown has been so damaged.

Your work is very important. Don't lose faith.

Your site came to my attention a year or so ago when I was researching a topic on San Diego, my hometown. You have some commentaries on San Diego which I read.

It is very interesting to read the comments of others about the place one calls home.

One thing San Diego has that I think might help Jacksonville are city recognized community planning groups elected by the citizens in each planning area. Projects for a said community are vetted by the citizens. A vote is held to recommend denial or approval. (These are projects that do not conform to the adopted community plan.) City planning liaison staff are available to provide information at the meetings which are held monthly in each planning area. If a project fails to pass muster, it is returned to the city to be re-worked. The city council can over ride, but I have not heard of this happening for many years. I believe there are approximately 54 planning groups in the city. They have been around for + or - 30 years.

[stjr]

One thing San Diego has that I think might help Jacksonville are city recognized community planning groups elected by the citizens in each planning area. Projects for a said community are vetted by the citizens. A vote is held to recommend denial or approval. (These are projects that do not conform to the adopted community plan.) City planning liaison staff are available to provide information at the meetings which are held monthly in each planning area. If a project fails to pass muster, it is returned to the city to be re-worked. The city council can over ride, but I have not heard of this happening for many years. I believe there are approximately 54 planning groups in the city. They have been around for + or - 30 years.

Doug San Diego, welcome to MetroJax (and Jacksonville!).  Hope you find us entertaining if not informative. 

The above is a great idea and should not only be considered in Jacksonville/Duval County, but throughout Florida and maybe the entire U.S.  I hope someone on this board with input into such an idea can run with it to the powers that be.

Look forward to more of your ideas from San Diego or elsewhere.

[Ocklawaha]

Gerry Rafferty, BAKER STREET LYRICS

Windin' your way down on Baker Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day
You'll drink the night away
And forget about everything
This city desert makes you feel so cold.
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taking you so long
To find out you were wrong
When you thought it had everything

You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin'
You're tryin' now
Another year and then you'll be happy
Just one more year and then you'll be happy
But you're cryin'
You're cryin' now

OCKLAWAHA

[shanshan1218]

It is simply amazing to me that most of those beautiful buildings are now home to "city owned surface parking lots", i.e. what is left of a foundation of a once amazing piece of architecture.
what a shame

[JaxNative68]

Sometimes this site has a way of making me really depressed.  Thanks to everyone who has participated in my emotional change today.

[copperfiend]

JaxNative68, I am right there with you. I have shown many things on this site to people and they say stuff like "that's what Jacksonville used to look like!". Depressing indeed.