Martin Theatre (Closed)
Panama City, FL
Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb

Take a stroll through downtown Panama City and the Martin Theatre is sure to catch your eye. From its colorful Art Deco facade to the classic marquee stretching out over Harrison Avenue, it's easy to imagine what this block looked like on a Saturday night when moviegoers filled the sidewalks waiting for the next show.

The theater first opened in 1936 as the Ritz, welcoming audiences during Hollywood's golden age. Twenty years later it received a modern makeover, reopened as the Martin Theatre, and continued entertaining generations of local families with the latest movies. Like so many neighborhood theaters across the country, changing tastes and the arrival of suburban multiplexes eventually caught up with it, and the Martin closed in 1978.

Martin Theatre (Closed)
Panama City, FL
Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb

Fortunately, the story didn't end there. After sitting vacant for years, local residents recognized what a special building they still had. The Panama City Downtown Improvement Board stepped in, restored the theater, and reopened it in 1990 as a performing arts center. Once again, the old marquee was welcoming people through the front doors instead of watching over an empty building.

The Martin has become one of those places that gives a downtown its personality. Even if you never make it inside, the bright colors, streamlined architecture, and vintage marquee are enough to make you slow down for a closer look.

UPDATE: Hurricane Michael caused extensive damage to the Martin Theatre in 2018, forcing it to close once again. A major restoration and expansion project is now underway, with plans to return the historic theater to its place as one of downtown Panama City's premier entertainment venues. 08-26