The Haunted Tampa Theatre

Posted: 02.13.2025 | Updated: 02.25.2025

When it was first opened, the Tampa Theatre was one of the most sophisticated theaters in all of Florida. Its patrons and staff were incredibly loyal — so much so that some have chosen to make the theater their forever home. 

Known as one of the most haunted theaters in the U.S., the Tampa Theatre continues to delight moviegoers to this day, especially when they spot a spectral visitor from the past. 

If you want to try your hand at spotting one of Tampa’s resident ghosts, book a ghost tour with Tampa Terrors tonight. Maybe you’ll even see Tampa Theatre’s most famous spirit, Fink Finley, for yourself. 

Who Haunts the Tampa Theatre?

There are several spirits who roam the aisles within the Tampa Theatre. From one of the theater’s most devoted workers to a young woman who experienced a tragic end just steps from the theater, there are several people who have chosen to spend their eternal lives enjoying the entertainment at the cinema. 

The History of the Tampa Theatre

The Tampa Theatre was opened 99 years ago, in 1926. At the time, the opulent theater was one of the finest in the entire country, as it had been designed by acclaimed Chicago-based architect John Eberson. 

After wintering in Florida for several years, Eberson was inspired by “the colorful scenes” he saw in Miami, Palm Beach, and Tampa. He took this idea and ran with it, creating a theater that transported its patrons into nature, with twinkling night “stars” on the ceiling and an aesthetic drawn from the colors of exotic birds and lush plant life. 

The final result delighted Tampanians, who flocked to the theater after its opening. For 25 cents (the equivalent of just $4.40 today), customers were able to see the silent movies of the era — accompanied by a grand organ. The theater even had air conditioning, called “man-made air” at the time, which was revolutionary for locals who had never had a break from the stifling Florida heat. 

The Theatre in Modern Times

Yet, this regular flow of customers didn’t last forever. By the 1950s, residents had started the mass exodus out to the suburbs of Tampa. With fewer people coming to the downtown district, many businesses went under: including the Tampa Theatre. 

In 1973, the Tampa Theatre was scheduled to be torn down. Yet, a dedicated group saw the value in the craftsmanship and unique architecture of the theater and fought to preserve it. The City Council ended up taking over the building, applying necessary repairs, and reopening the theater in 1977. Soon after, the cinema was added to the National Register of Historic Places, officially saving it from any future risks of demolition. 

Today, the theater is as busy as ever, hosting all kinds of events and shows in addition to their regular movie schedule. It’s become a fixture of Tampa, welcoming 5 million visitors since it was reopened in 1977. 

The Spirits Who Haunt the Tampa Theatre

The ghosts of Tampa Theatre can be found all around the building, from the dressing rooms to the halls to the projection room. While some strange phenomena are carried out by invisible apparitions, others are so recognizable that they have a name: the most famous being Fink Finley.

Fink Finley

Foster “Fink” Finley cherished his job at the Tampa Theatre. From 1930 to 1965, he worked as a projectionist for the theater. Back in the day, showing a movie without any skips or disturbances required great skill — and Fink had plenty of expertise. 

But Finley didn’t just enjoy working with the film; he also loved being in the theater. Though his shift started at noon, Finley would arrive at 8 am most days. He’d climb up to the projectionist booth and read the daily paper while enjoying a cup of coffee and cigarette. 

Then, as he got close to his shift starting, he’d shave in the attached bathroom and put on his three-piece suit, which he was always seen in. The short, bespectacled man became a fixture within the cinema. 

He continued to work even after being diagnosed with cancer and becoming quite ill. He worked until his body physically gave out on him on the job. In 1965, his colleague found Finley’s unconscious body in the projectionist booth. He was taken home, where he died just a few weeks later. 

Finley’s Ghost

Yet, even death couldn’t keep Fink from his beloved theater. Soon after his funeral, workers started noticing strange things happening in the projectionist booth. The coworker who had found Finley’s body tried to close the door to the booth one day, only to feel resistance: like someone was holding it open. 

Four projectionists have had similar experiences over the past five decades. The booth door opens and closes by itself as if someone is entering the room with them. 

They’ve also said they can feel someone watching them at key moments when changing the film from one projector to another. Some have even felt a tap on their shoulder as if to say, “Do you need help?”

The Lost Knife Incident

In 1981, one of the most famous incidents involving ole’ Fink Finley took place. A worker had lost a much-loved knife somewhere in the theater. He had searched it from top to bottom several times with no luck. 

Exasperated, he yelled from a balcony, “Ghost of the Theatre, please return my knife!” After no reply, he added, “Fink Finley! Ghost of the Theatre! Please return my knife!” Still, there was no response. 

Dejected, the man turned to walk back downstairs. There, against the wall, he saw his knife — seemingly waiting for him. The man swore that he’d searched that specific spot several times, and that it would have been impossible for him to miss it. 

The Young Woman Killed by a Carriage

Before the theater was built, there was a busy dirt road that ran in front of the property. Back in the day, a young woman was crossing the street when she was hit by a carriage and killed just steps from where the theater now stands. 

Witnesses have seen a ghostly woman in a long, white dress walk around the halls of the theater, and many believe this to be the woman who was struck. 

The Haunted Dressing Rooms

One of the most spectral-active sections in the theater is the dressing room area. People will be standing in one when the door will suddenly slam closed on its own. 

In 2019, the board of the nonprofit that runs the theater was giving a tour to new members before operating hours. When they reached one of the dressing rooms, they found that a chair and box fan had been pushed up against the door, making it very difficult to get in. 

This door was the only entrance to the room, and it’d be nearly impossible for anyone to position the items that way from the other side of the door. 

Haunted Tampa

While the Tampa Theatre is famous for its apparitions, the entire downtown area is home to many ghost stories. To learn more about the spooky tales and experience some of the most haunted sites, set up a ghost tour with Tampa Terrors. 

Discover haunted theaters across the country, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To read more about Florida and Tampa-specific hauntings, check out our blog. 

Sources:

• https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/entertainment/2021/10/26/ghost-stories-from-the-historic-tampa-theatre/
• https://tampaterrors.com/
• https://tampatheatre.org/about/history/
• https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator