Print ArticleA district is defined as an area of a country or city, regarded as a distinct unit because of a particular characteristic. In an era where the pedestrian was king in Jacksonville, downtown was loaded with distinct districts-- many of which are no longer with us. Here are a few lost districts that you may not be familiar with.
6. The Great White Way
A postcard of Forsyth Street's theatre district. Courtesy of the Jacksonville Public Library Special Collections Department.
During the first half of the 20th Century, Forsyth Street developed into Jacksonville's version of Manhattan's "Great White Way." Nicknamed in honor of New York City's show district, this downtown entertainment area was a brightly-lit portion of Forsyth Street between Main and Newnan streets, once home to as many as twelve theaters within compact walking distance. Theaters included the Florida, Palace, Imperial, Rialto, Savoy, Grand, Roxy, Arcade, and the Majestic. By the 1970s, many of the district's surviving theaters made ends meet by showing porn and kung fu movies. Today, the Florida Theater is all that remains of this entertainment district now enjoying a rebirth as "The Elbow".
The Palace Theatre at Forsyth and Ocean Streets. Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
The Arcade Theatre's box office was located in an arcade filled with shops that ran between Forsyth and Adams Streets. The arcade's Forsyth Street entrance was the first floor of the Bisbee Building (Laura Trio). Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
The Imperial Theatre was located on Forsyth Street between Main and Ocean Streets. Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
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