Difference between revisions of "Rex Theatre"
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| − | The [[Rex Theatre]] (often called simply "'''the Rex'''") is a historic building at 18 North [[Palafox Street]] in [[downtown Pensacola]]. | + | The [[Rex Theatre]] (often called simply "'''the Rex'''") is a historic building at 18 North [[Palafox Street]] in [[downtown Pensacola]]. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The | + | The building was constructed in [[1922]]<ref name="historicface">"Renovated Rex keeps historic face." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 10, 1998.</ref> as the Rhodes Futch Collins Furniture Company. The company later changed its name to Rhodes-Collins, which can still be seen in faded lettering on the side of the building, and again to simply [[Rhodes Furniture]]. |
When the furniture company moved to a new, larger building nearby (now known as the [[Rhodes Building]]), the old building was refurbished by the [[Saenger Amusement Company]] to serve as a second-run movie theater, complementing the company's nearby [[Isis Theatre|Isis]] and [[Saenger Theatre]]s. The estimated cost of the renovation was $30,000, and the Rex Theatre opened on [[November 1]], [[1937]].<ref>"Saenger Building Pensacola House." ''Boxoffice'', September 18, 1937.</ref> | When the furniture company moved to a new, larger building nearby (now known as the [[Rhodes Building]]), the old building was refurbished by the [[Saenger Amusement Company]] to serve as a second-run movie theater, complementing the company's nearby [[Isis Theatre|Isis]] and [[Saenger Theatre]]s. The estimated cost of the renovation was $30,000, and the Rex Theatre opened on [[November 1]], [[1937]].<ref>"Saenger Building Pensacola House." ''Boxoffice'', September 18, 1937.</ref> | ||
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[[Warren McGee]] was manager in 1941.<ref>"Concerning Florida." ''Boxoffice'', March 8, 1941.</ref> | [[Warren McGee]] was manager in 1941.<ref>"Concerning Florida." ''Boxoffice'', March 8, 1941.</ref> | ||
| − | + | Facing competition from newer shopping mall theaters, the Rex closed in [[1977]]. Its owners, the [[ABC Theatre]] chain, donated the building to the [[City of Pensacola]] as a tax write-off. | |
| − | + | In [[1981]], attorney [[Gerald McGill]] and [[Frank Antonowich]] leased the building and restored it, hiring [[Theophalis May]] to install tiered flooring. It reopened as the '''Rex Cinema 'n Drafthouse''' on [[July 22]], [[1982]], charging a flat $1 admission for second-run movies and offering a deli-style food menu and a selection of beer and wine.<ref>"Second-run theaters offer new concessions." ''Pensacola News-Journal'', July 11, 1982.</ref> The venture was unsuccessful, but McGill bought the building for $95,000 in [[1984]] and, with businessman [[Russ Dixon]], continued renovations with plans to diversify revenue by serving lunch on weekdays and offering a video real estate tour service.<ref>"Pair plans headlines for cinema marquee." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 11, 1985.</ref> | |
| + | |||
| + | The city repossessed the building in [[1987]].<ref>"Makeover planned for Rex." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 10, 1995.</ref> The last event to be held in the theater was the traveling "Dinosaurs Alive!" exhibit in [[1989]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Architect [[J. P. MacNeil]] bought the theater in [[1997]] for only $25,000 — just half the appraised land value — due to the amount of interior work needed. He and his brother, contractor [[Mark MacNeil]], put over $200,000 of work into the building, including the creation an 1,800-square-foot, contemporary-styled apartment on the second and third floors above the entrance.<ref name="historicface"/> It was sold again in 2004 for $425,000 to [[Tim Hogan]], the current owner, who has stated an intention to reopen the Rex as a "high-tech, retro-themed" venue for movies and concerts.<ref>[http://inewsloadedgun.blogspot.com/2006/07/rex-returns_05.html Loaded Gun, July 5, 2006]</ref> Local firm [[Bounds Architecture Studio]] began new renovation work,<ref>[http://www.ci.pensacola.fl.us/upload/images/CommunityDevelopment/PDFs/MAD.pdf PDF at City of Pensacola website]</ref> and [[Rick Outzen]] reported on [[Rick's Blog|his blog]] rumors that the Rex might reopen as a live music venue by the end of 2007.<ref>http://ricksblog.biz/?p=1596</ref> [[As of 2010]], however, the Rex remains unopened and is again for sale. | ||
==Other images== | ==Other images== | ||
Revision as of 07:35, 9 January 2010
| Rex Theatre | |
 The Rex Theatre on Palafox | |
| Building Information | |
|---|---|
| Location | 18 N Palafox Street Pensacola, FL 32501 |
| Current Owner | Tim Hogan |
| Completion Date | 1930 (?) |
| Cost | $95,000 (1984) $25,000 (1997) $425,000 (2004) |
| Renovations | 1937, 2001 |
| Style | Art Deco |
| Size | 40'x150' three stories 650 seats |
| <googlemap lat="30.413752" lon="-87.215481" type="map" zoom="17" width="300" height="150">
30.413641, -87.215258, Rex Theatre </googlemap> | |
The Rex Theatre (often called simply "the Rex") is a historic building at 18 North Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola.
History
The building was constructed in 1922[1] as the Rhodes Futch Collins Furniture Company. The company later changed its name to Rhodes-Collins, which can still be seen in faded lettering on the side of the building, and again to simply Rhodes Furniture.
When the furniture company moved to a new, larger building nearby (now known as the Rhodes Building), the old building was refurbished by the Saenger Amusement Company to serve as a second-run movie theater, complementing the company's nearby Isis and Saenger Theatres. The estimated cost of the renovation was $30,000, and the Rex Theatre opened on November 1, 1937.[2]
Warren McGee was manager in 1941.[3]
Facing competition from newer shopping mall theaters, the Rex closed in 1977. Its owners, the ABC Theatre chain, donated the building to the City of Pensacola as a tax write-off.
In 1981, attorney Gerald McGill and Frank Antonowich leased the building and restored it, hiring Theophalis May to install tiered flooring. It reopened as the Rex Cinema 'n Drafthouse on July 22, 1982, charging a flat $1 admission for second-run movies and offering a deli-style food menu and a selection of beer and wine.[4] The venture was unsuccessful, but McGill bought the building for $95,000 in 1984 and, with businessman Russ Dixon, continued renovations with plans to diversify revenue by serving lunch on weekdays and offering a video real estate tour service.[5]
The city repossessed the building in 1987.[6] The last event to be held in the theater was the traveling "Dinosaurs Alive!" exhibit in 1989.
Architect J. P. MacNeil bought the theater in 1997 for only $25,000 — just half the appraised land value — due to the amount of interior work needed. He and his brother, contractor Mark MacNeil, put over $200,000 of work into the building, including the creation an 1,800-square-foot, contemporary-styled apartment on the second and third floors above the entrance.[1] It was sold again in 2004 for $425,000 to Tim Hogan, the current owner, who has stated an intention to reopen the Rex as a "high-tech, retro-themed" venue for movies and concerts.[7] Local firm Bounds Architecture Studio began new renovation work,[8] and Rick Outzen reported on his blog rumors that the Rex might reopen as a live music venue by the end of 2007.[9] As of 2010, however, the Rex remains unopened and is again for sale.
Other images
The Rex building as the Rhodes Futch Collins Furniture Store (lower-right)
Trivia
- Retired USN LCDR Joseph Hill died in the theater on March 3, 1943.[10]
External links & references
- Before and after photos of the MacNeil renovation
- Roadside Architecture
- Escambia County Property Appraiser parcel detail
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Renovated Rex keeps historic face." Pensacola News Journal, September 10, 1998.
- ↑ "Saenger Building Pensacola House." Boxoffice, September 18, 1937.
- ↑ "Concerning Florida." Boxoffice, March 8, 1941.
- ↑ "Second-run theaters offer new concessions." Pensacola News-Journal, July 11, 1982.
- ↑ "Pair plans headlines for cinema marquee." Pensacola News Journal, August 11, 1985.
- ↑ "Makeover planned for Rex." Pensacola News Journal, October 10, 1995.
- ↑ Loaded Gun, July 5, 2006
- ↑ PDF at City of Pensacola website
- ↑ http://ricksblog.biz/?p=1596
- ↑ http://www.rootsweb.com/~flescamb/F-Psurname_Hh.htm
