By Kathy Collins
For 25 years, the Tampa Theatre has been offering a Summer Classic Movie Series. This year, to mark this anniversary and the historic movie palace’s 90th birthday, the series has not only been extended into September, but films themselves are celebrating landmark anniversaries as well.
“Tampa movie-goers know that when it comes to beloved classic films, there is no better experience than seeing them at the city’s majestic movie palace,” said Jill Witecki of the Tampa Theatre. “For two and a half decades, the community has flocked to Tampa Theatre on hot Sunday afternoons to enjoy Summer Classics as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, surrounded by friends, with a bag of fresh popcorn and a cold soda in hand.”
First up on Sunday, June 5 is the Coen Brothers’ classic noir deconstruction turned shocking comedy- Fargo. The film is rated R. Fargo is celebrating its 25th anniversary and a resurgence of sorts thanks to the spin-off television show of the same name.
On Sunday, June 12 come see Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in The African Queen. The film is rated PG and is celebrating its 65th anniversary.
Next, on Sunday, June 19, mark the 35th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark with seeing it on the big screen. Raiders of the Lost Ark has it all- action, adventure and great characters. The film is rated PG.
See Forbidden Planet on Sunday, June 26. Celebrating its 65th anniversary, Forbidden Planet is one of the best and most ambitious early Hollywood sci-fi movies. The film is not rated.
One of the quintessential love stories of the 80’s is Pretty in Pink starring Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy. You can see this John Hughes’ film on Sunday, July 3. The film is rated PG-13.
All films are shown at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for Tampa Theatre members. The tickets are available at the Box Office or online at www.tampatheatre.org. The Tampa Theatre is located at 711 N. Franklin St. in downtown Tampa.
