By: Kathy L. Collins
Tampa’s Favorite Movie Palace, the Tampa Theatre, will showcase 65 years of cinematic history this summer with their 2015 Summer Classics Movie Series. There is no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. You can enjoy the classics as they were meant to be seen on the big screen, with a bag of fresh popcorn and a cold soda in hand.
All shows will begin at 3 p.m.
First up is The Wizard of Oz on Sunday, June 7. Bring the whole family to see Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, get swept away to a magical land called Oz. Watch as she tries to get back home to Kansas and meets the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, the Wizard of Oz and the Wicked Witch of the West along the way.
Next on Sunday, June 14 see the classic 1948 film, Key Largo, starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Lionel Barrymore. Watch the trio as they are held hostage when the inn is taken over by mob of gangsters who hole up in it to await the passing of a hurricane.
Celebrate Father’s Day with Harold Ramis’ directorial debut, Caddyshack. Who doesn’t love Bill Murray as the groundskeeper obsessed with killing the gophers that infest Bushwood Country Club, Chevy Chase and the brash and funny Rodney Dangerfield.
On Sunday, June 28 enjoy Vertigo, Alfred Hitchcock’s haunting tale of deception, madness and death starring James Stewart, Tom Helmore and Kim Novak.
After each film, stay and discuss the films with USF Film Professor, Harriet Deer. The session is free and open to the public.
According to Jill Witecki of the Tampa Theatre, “In choosing this year’s movies, we wanted to make sure that we addressed everyone’s interpretation of what defines a “classic” – from kicking off the series with The Wizard of Oz, to showing Caddyshack a few weeks later for Father’s Day.”
Tickets for the Summer Classics Movie Series are just $10 for adults and $8 for Tampa Theatre Members. Tickets are available at the Tampa Theatre Box Office or online at www.tampatheatre.org. A $2 convenience fee is applied.
The historic Tampa Theatre is a passionately protected landmark and of America’s best preserved movie palaces. The Tampa Theatre is located at 711 N. Franklin St. in downtown Tampa.
This is part one of a three part series on the Classic Movie Series.
