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The [[Rex Theatre]] (often called simply "'''the Rex'''") is a historic building at 18 North [[Palafox Street]] in [[downtown Pensacola]].
==History==
The theater building was constructed in [[19301922]]{{date uncertain}} <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>
[[Warren McGee]] was manager in 1941.<ref>"Concerning Florida." ''Boxoffice'', March 8, 1941.</ref>
After closing in {{date needed}}Facing competition from newer shopping mall theaters, the building was nearly demolished. It was sold to the [[City of Pensacola]] Rex closed in 1984 for $95,000. Architects [[J.P. MacNeil|J.P.1977]] and [[Michelle MacNeil]] bought the theater in 1997 for $25,000, renovated it, and converted part of it to a 1,920 sq.ft. apartment.<ref>[http://www.escpa.org/details.asp?qAcctNum=130853000&qSection=&qTownship=&qRange=&qSubdivision=&qBlock=&qLot= Escambia County Property Appraiser record]</ref> It was sold again in 2004 for $425Its owners,000 to the [[Tim HoganABC Theatre]]chain, donated 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> However, further renovations are still needed building to bring the building up to code, and [[as City of 2007Pensacola]] the Rex has not reopenedas a tax write-off.
Local firm 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 [[Bounds Architecture Studio1987]] (formerly called MAD Architects) claimed .<ref>"Makeover planned for Rex." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 10, 1995.</ref> The last event to be renovating held in the theater was the Rex traveling "Dinosaurs Alive!" exhibit in [[1989]]. Architect [[J. P. MacNeil]] bought the theater in their response [[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 RFQ 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 [[Community Maritime ParkBounds 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> In summer 2007, posters for the Bounds firm appeared on the Rex confirming their role in the renovation. and [[Rick Outzen]] also reported rumors 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 20082010]], however, the Rex remains dormantunopened and is again for sale.
==Other images==