120 N Broad Street

The History

Since the 1980’s, this building has been divided into office units and used as dentist and law offices. But many who lived in Brooksville from the 1930’s to 1960’s have fond memories of “The Dixie Theater.” The original 1926 building which had 300 seats was destroyed by fire in 1943. “Dames Ahoy” was the first feature ‘talking picture.’ In 1950, a new 576-seat theater was opened. The Dixie remained in operation here until the early 1960’s.

VOICES FROM THE PAST:

"We had a midnight show in Brooksville on Saturday night back in those days at the old Dixie Theatre." - Leland McKeown

"The movies, Saturday night Western ... they usually had double features. I think it was 9 cents to get in and you got a coke for a nickel and a bag of popcorn for probably a nickel. For a quarter you had enough money to go to Murphy's after the movie and get a milkshake or something. ... They had a good theater manager. Name was Howard Smith. He was a great man for young people. ... He knew who could afford to go in by ticket price and who couldn't and that was always taken care of, too. There wasn't anybody denied going to a movie because of lack of money." - Bobby Snow

"If they had a double feature and a cartoon you really hit the jackpot." - Gene Manuel

CITATIONS/CREDIT:

 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/10/13/these-people-they-are-brooksville/ 

Woodcock, Nell. “Silver screen has made way for legal briefs and silver fillings,” St. Petersburg Times,Oct 17, 1981, Pages 1, 14.

HHPS Historic Walking Tour of Brooksville FL by Ken Badgley