Sun-Ray Cinema
Riverside Theater (1927-1982) River City Playhouse (1984-1991) Club 5 Nightclub (1991-2004) 5 Points Theatre (2008-2011) Sun-Ray Cinema (2011-2024) FIVE (set to open 2025) | |
 | |
  Five Points Theatre Location within Central Jacksonville  Five Points Theatre Five Points Theatre (Florida) | |
| Address | 1028 Park Street Jacksonville, Florida United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Union South Partners |
| Capacity | 200[1] |
| Current use | Movie theater |
| Construction | |
| Opened | March 1, 1927 |
| Rebuilt | 2004-2008 historic restoration |
| Architect | Roy Benjamin |
| Website | |
| FIVE | |
TheFive Points Theatre,formerly known asSun-Ray Cinema,Riverside Theaterand5 Points Theatre,is a historic two-screenmovie theaterinJacksonville, Florida.[2]The first theater in Florida equipped to showtalking pictures,it opened in March 1927 in theFive Pointsdistrict of theRiverside and Avondaleneighborhood. In January 2025 the theatre will be reopened as a music venue called FIVE.[3]
History
[edit]
The Riverside Theater opened in March 1927, when theFive Pointsarea was emerging as a commercial center forRiverside and Avondale.It was the first in the state, and third in the country, equipped to showtalking pictures.[4][5]The architect wasRoy Benjamin,whose architectural firm eventually becameKBJ Architects.The theater is part of a much largerItalian Renaissance revivalbuilding. Benjamin went on to design more than 200 theaters throughout Florida and the southeastern United States, includingDowntown Jacksonville'sFlorida Theatre.[6] The first "talkie" shown in the theater wasDon Juan,starringJohn BarrymoreandMary Astor.Admission was $1.10, an expensive ticket considering theprevailing wagewas less than a quarter per hour.[4][7]
The building was remodeled in 1949 and renamed the Five Points Theater when themarqueewas added, which remains to this day. In 1977 the theater closed for several years and an attempt was made to "modernize" the building in 1978 with the application of stucco. In the early 1980s the movie theater shut down, and the acting group River City Playhouse moved into the space in 1984. In 1991 the building was remodeled into anightclub,Club 5, which closed in 2004.[8]
A four-year, $4.5 million historic restoration was begun in 2004 after local car dealer Mike Shad purchased the property. Midway through the renovations, the facility was opened for private events like reunions and wedding receptions, but work was not completed until 2008. The renamed 5 Points Theatre and Historic Event Facility now offers 14 loft condominiums on the third and fourth floors, commercial/office space on the second level and retail space on the ground floor, in addition to the theater.[9]Although the marquee was not original, it was also restored because it is considered a historic component.[7][6]In 2010 the Theatre shifted to an "art house" format, with foreign, independent and classic films, late night movies, and special events and concerts. The Theatre was a venue for the 2009 and 2010Jacksonville Film Festivals,the 2009 and 2010 Citrus Cel Animation Festival, and has hosted its own Horror Film Festival as well. In 2014, it served as screening home for the Jacksonville edition of the48 Hour Film Project.[10]
Present day
[edit]
During 2011, co-owners Tim Massett and his wife Shana David-Massett raised funds to take over and refresh the venue. Massett, a Jacksonville native who managed a movie theater in Minnesota, raised $102,450 via onlinecrowdsourcingand private loans. Their improvements include a larger screen, sound dampening, and tiered theater seats. The venue was renamed theSun-Ray Cinema at 5 Points,and re-opened in December 2011.[8]The show schedule features new releases, lesser-known movies andcult films.[1]In addition to traditional movie fare plus beer and wine, they also serve sandwiches,hummus,site-made pizza with unusual toppings (such askimchi,sauerkrautandsriracha sauce) and baked goods.[11]The theatre expanded its capacity, adding a second auditorium in 2014.[12]
In 2016,PETAranked Sun-Ray Cinema as the number one theater for people who do not eat animal products, since the menu includes multiple vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.[13]
In 2024, the building was sold to Atlanta developer Union South Partners for $7 million, who refused to renew the lease of theater owners Tim and Shana Massett. Union South claims they plan to "improve it as a destination for entertainment while preserving the theater’s historic fabric.”[14]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Sun-Ray Cinema".Florida Trend.March 22, 2013.Retrieved22 March2013.
- ^[1]Waymarking, Five Points Theater, Jacksonville
- ^"New live music venue 'FIVE' to open in old Sun-Ray Cinema theater January 2025".First Coast News.
- ^ab"Five Points Theatre".jacksonville.com (The Florida Times-Union).Retrieved2010-01-01.
- ^"5 Points Theater".www.5pointsjax.com.Retrieved2010-01-02.
- ^ab"Five Points Theater"Cinema Treasures
- ^abDavis, Ennis:"Inside The Five Points Theatre"Metro Jacksonville, October 30, 2008
- ^abSoergel, Matt (October 18, 2011)"Renovation of Jacksonville's 5 Points Theatre could be ready by Dec. 1".The Florida Times-Union.Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- ^Khairullah, Natasha:"Five Points Theatre packs Park Street"Jacksonville Daily Record, June 26, 2007
- ^48 Hour Film - Jacksonville2014
- ^"Menu".Sun-Ray Cinema.Retrieved22 March2013.
- ^Gibbons, Timothy (January 14, 2014)"Second screen for Riverside's Sun-Ray Cinema".Jacksonville Business Journal.Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- ^Jacksonville's Sun-Ray Cinema Nationally Recognized For Vegan EatsWJCT, January 22, 2016.
- ^Mansfield, Alexandria."Sun-Ray Cinema to close, Five Points Theater building sold. What does this mean?".The Florida Times-Union.Retrieved2024-06-05.