From a special event center to a roller rink to a bowling alley and then a pile of rubble in 42 years.

The Davis Islands Coliseum represented the pinnacle of everything D.P. Davis was selling in his new $30 million development as he attempted to lure wealthy land buyers with opulent settings and create a “wonder piece of old-world magnificence.” It was the first commercial structure Davis built. There are few buildings with a more diverse and storied history.

The Moorish-style 40,000-square-foot building, built by the same group that built the St Petersburg Coliseum, was financed by selling $450,000 of stock in the Davis Islands Coliseum Corporation. Investors in the area, dizzied by the land boom and enamored with Davis’s nationwide marketing razzle-dazzle, scooped up the securities. Construction took only nine months.  It was a state-of-the-art building and one of the largest of its kind in the southeast. The Coliseum’s grand opening, costing $5,000, happened on Dec 15, 1925, with dancing all night, fireworks, and three orchestras. It billed itself as the “World’s Greatest Dance Coliseum”. The interior was appointed with fine furniture, lights, a solid wood floor throughout, and an interior bandshell designed to amplify music across the room. Around the lower perimeter, tables and chairs sat under decorated arches for the use of patrons. Upstairs housed a lounge. For a short time, it was the go-to place for high-society dances, car shows, conventions, and other special events, mostly for the elite. In the late 1920s, the Great Depression was digging in, the land boom turned to bust, and the party was over. The building sat vacant.

In 1932, Chester Beecroft, a veteran movie producer, opened Beecroft-Florida after signing a lease to turn the building into a movie studio.  It never produced a film. Beecroft merged with another studio within a year and moved.

In 1936, owners converted the space into a skating rink. It was a perfect fit, given the hardwood floors, space around the rink for lounging, and the country’s beginning emergence from the Great Depression. It was promoted as the largest skating rink in the south. Tampa residents were seeking inexpensive recreation, and skating fit the bill. Lessons were taught on weekends, social clubs gathered, and roller derby teams competed here. After a long run of success, the rink closed in 1957.

 1959 brought a new purpose to the property. The building sold that year, and renovations began for a 36-lane “luxurious bowling palace” replete with an indoor nursery and an outdoor playground. Closed circuit cameras, the first of their kind in the area, were to be installed so parents could watch their children as they bowled. There was a restaurant, lounge, and a pro shop named Kunde’s after pro bowler Chuck Kunde. Management promoted the health benefits of bowling, especially for women. They sponsored leagues, tournaments, and special training classes for ladies.  Legal problems ensued shortly after opening. In 1960, a contractor sued the owners for non-payment for the renovation, possibly indicating financial woes for the new business.

Oddly, in 1962, 12 sticks of dynamite were discovered by police on the bowling center property. A cleaning person reported that unidentified men were seen in the adjoining apartment. Upon arrival, one of the men was identified as Frank Diecidue, a notorious underworld character. The other was Tony Gonzalo, who had a contract with the city for wrecking (building demolition). Citywide controversy erupted when none of the men were arrested, and no police report was filed following a phone call made by one of the detainees and passed to a police officer. That, along with two other cases of alleged police influence, led to a special investigation by then-Governor Farris Bryant. A long grand jury investigation, including testimony from the accused as well as the mayor, the police chief, the sheriff, and the States Attorney, followed. After weeks of investigation, the grand jury took two weeks off. After six sessions and 43 witnesses, Gonzalo was charged with extortion and with exerting undue influence through his relationship with police chief Neil G. Brown and other members of the department. According to the report, the influence impacted the effectiveness of the Tampa Police Vice Squad and severely diminished arrests, especially for crimes like Bolita and prostitution. Following Gonzalo’s indictment, Brown remained as chief of the police department and retired in 1970

In 1964, the bowling center sued the Brunswick firm, manufacturers of bowling equipment, for violation of anti-trust laws after they allegedly sold equipment to other bowling houses in direct competition with the Davis Islands lanes. At the time, there were threats by Brunswick to repossess their equipment. In May 1965, the bowling alley was shut down by a federal court order obtained by Brunswick.

The uninsured and vacant Coliseum building burned to the ground in a suspicious fire on January 26, 1967. Vandalism was immediately suspected. The remaining structure was demolished.

In the late 1970s, townhouses were built on the property..

© Chip Weiner. 2023. oldtampaphotos.com