Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg will host a free event Oct. 21 celebrating Tampa Theatre: A Century of Stories, a new book chronicling the historic downtown Tampa movie palace.
The gathering is scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. at Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S. The bookstore lists Andrew T. Huse’s book as the first complete history of Tampa Theatre, tracing the venue from its 1926 opening as a silent-film house through preservation efforts and its current role as a nonprofit film and cultural center.
The book includes more than 200 illustrations and explores the theater’s place in Tampa’s civic life. Huse, who died in 2025, was curator of Florida studies at the University of South Florida Libraries and also wrote books about the Columbia Restaurant, Tampa dining history and the Cuban sandwich.
Jill Witecki, Tampa Theatre’s vice president and director of marketing and community relations, and Joey Hager, the theater’s operations manager, are listed in connection with the event. Tampa Theatre includes a 1,200-seat historic movie palace and a 43-seat modern screening room, and presents more than 1,000 showtimes annually, according to the event listing.
Street parking is available on 21st Street, Central Avenue and First Avenue South, according to Tombolo Books.
