By Kyle Coppola
Longtime Altamonte Springs Movie Theater Closes After 50+ Years
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Moviegoers in Central Florida were heartbroken to learn that Picture Show Entertainment in Altamonte Springs, a theater that had operated for more than 50 years under various ownerships, has permanently closed its doors.
The theater, which served the community for two decades under Picture Show Entertainment, made the official announcement this week after officially closing the doors one final time on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
(The interior of Picture Show at Altamonte Springs was a true throwback. Photo Credit – Fluffy Lee.)
“After 20 years of operating the theater in Altamonte Springs, we permanently closed,” the company said in a statement. “We have been humbled by the support from the surrounding community throughout the years and are extremely proud to have ‘Shared the Experience’ with our guests and amazing employees. Going to the movies with family and friends often creates memories that last a lifetime. We are certainly taking a multitude of wonderful memories from our 20-year journey serving you all.”
(One of the few classic theaters still remaining in the area is no more. Photo Credit – Nicholas Brown.)
The closure marks the end of an era for a venue that had long been a staple for film lovers in the region. The news sparked an outpouring of nostalgia on social media, with former patrons sharing fond memories of watching blockbusters, independent films, and late-night premieres at the beloved theater.
Attempts to reach management for further comment were not immediately returned.
(One of the theaters which was small and intimate. Photo Credit – Marvin Corea.)
The loss of Picture Show Entertainment follows a growing trend of smaller, independent theaters struggling to compete in the era of streaming services and multiplex chains. For many in Altamonte Springs, it’s not just a theater closing—it’s the end of many memories shared at this local entertainment complex. We are unsure of what the plans are for this current building. What do you think will become of Picture Show Entertainment in Altamonte Springs? Let us know in the comments below.
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Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
This theater CAN BE SAVED.‼️ People have told me I’m ‘VISIONARY’ my whole life, Here’s my VISION for The Picture Show:
NOW is the PERFECT time in AMERICA to MAKE THIS THEATER GREAT AGAIN.
as Americans are valuing the American values we did when The Picture Show was at the heart❤️ of Altamonte’s local entertainment.
My VISIONS is that One GIGANTIC ADVERTISING BLITZ that highlights ALL that makes this classic theater so special, repeated over the course of a MONTH or 2, WILL quickly bring the solid, consistent , enthusiastic customer base it needs to be profitable.
I envision such an ADVERTISING BLITZ bringing all generations back to this warm welcoming theater. I envision lots of folks on ‘Date Nights’ finding The Picture Show to be so much more relaxing – starting with a welcoming,lobby that looks like fun & games instead of harsh lighting on lots of glass &chrome & cement. It’s not overwhelming for Moms with small children, so more Moms will come. And I know it will draw many who are challenged by the Mega-Plex ‘airport length’ corridors .
I envision many NEW moviegoers as well because… I’d bet there are a great many people in the region who never even knew it was there.
I didn’t know this wonderful theatre was here for many years.
I SO hope someone or some company will take my vision of WHAT COULD BE, HOW to get there , and RUN WITH IT.
MAKE THE PICTURE SHOW GREAT AGAIN…THE TIME IS RIGHT.
Barbara M
Me entristeció muchísimo saber la noticia cuando me dirigía a compartir con mi familia para el cine. Fueron bellos recuerdos y el anhelo de volver a ver las salas de cine de Picture Show estan en lo profundo de mi corazón. ♥️
Barbara, I love your passion and vision for saving The Picture Show! This theater truly is a hidden gem, and I completely agree that with the right approach, it could be revived and turned into something incredible. A strong advertising push, community engagement, and a fresh focus on what made it special could absolutely breathe new life into it.
I would love to take it a step further and turn The Picture Show into an independent film hub—a space where independent filmmakers can premiere and showcase their work. This could be a game-changer for the local film scene, giving both audiences and creators a dedicated space to celebrate cinema outside of the usual mainstream options.
Does anyone know if the building is up for sale or what the current plans are? If there’s an opportunity to save it, I’d love to explore options to make this vision a reality. Let’s keep the conversation going and see what’s possible!
Luis Paulino