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From Michael Myers to Freddy, Tampa Theatre's Nightmare on Franklin Street lineup is a fright fest

 
Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene from the 1978 horror film classic, "Halloween," directed by John Carpenter. (AP Photo/AMC, Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene from the 1978 horror film classic, "Halloween," directed by John Carpenter. (AP Photo/AMC, Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Published Sept. 27, 2016

Here's a horror sequel that never gets old. For the fourth time, the historically haunted Tampa Theatre presents A Nightmare on Franklin Street, 10 lineups of scary movies and ghost tours from Oct. 21 through Halloween night.

Selections range from '80s slasher classics A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th to new wave faves The Witch and It Follows on Oct. 24; from creepy comedies like Beetlejuice and Hocus Pocus to seriously disturbing works including The Omen and Misery.

Movie tickets are $10 general admission, with discounts for Tampa Theatre members, available at the box office or tampatheatre.org, where service fees are added.

The series begins Oct. 21 with broad-daylight fright, a 2 p.m. tour of Tampa Theatre and its haunted history from balcony to backstage. The 90-minute tour includes a performance on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, just like phantoms of the opera play.

The tour will be repeated five times during the series, on Oct. 22 (11:30 a.m.), Oct. 25 and 28 (2 p.m.), Oct. 29 (11:30 a.m.) and Oct. 31 (2 p.m.). Tour tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children 2 to 12. Tampa Theatre members enjoy free admission.

On Oct. 22, the series presents The Conjuring (7:30 p.m.), with an appearance by Andrea Perron, eldest daughter of the family whose home inspired the movie.

Another live presentation is slated for Oct. 28 when the 7:30 p.m. slot is filled by author Deborah Frethem (Haunted Tampa: Spirits of the Bay), who'll share local ghost stories and supernatural legends. Admission is $10, or free for Tampa Theatre members.

The ultimate Tampa Theatre ghost tour experience is slated for Oct. 29, when a Late Night Lights Off Paranormal Investigation will be conducted, led by experts from Genesis Paranormal Services and GhostStop. The four-hour event includes appetizers and soft drinks. Tickets are $60, or $50 for Tampa Theatre members.

This year's edition of A Nightmare on Franklin Street is sponsored by the nearby Vault of Souls interactive nightclub, presenting an "evening of elegant fear" featuring theatrical performances in four macabre cocktail lounges. Tickets for that are $100 for the weekends-only event, and reservations are required. Visit elegantfear.com for information.

Here's the complete movie lineup for A Nightmare on Franklin Street.

Oct. 21: A Nightmare on Elm Street (7:30 p.m.); Friday the 13th (10 p.m.)

Oct. 22: The Innocents (2 p.m.); Beetlejuice (4:45 p.m.); The Conjuring (7:30 p.m.)

Oct. 23: Hocus Pocus (2 p.m.); Psycho (4:30 p.m.); Scream (7 p.m.); Halloween (10 p.m.).

Oct. 24: The Witch (7:30 p.m.); It Follows (10 p.m.)

Oct. 25: Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (7:30 p.m.); Poltergeist (10 p.m.)

Oct. 26: The Omen (10 p.m.)

Oct. 28: Shock Treatment (7:30 p.m.); The Rocky Horror Picture Show (10 p.m.)

Oct. 29: Ghostbusters (3 p.m.); The Haunting (6 p.m.)

Oct. 30: The Nightmare Before Christmas (2:30 p.m.); Carrie (5 p.m.); Misery (7:30 p.m.); Creepshow (10 p.m.)

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Oct. 31: Hotel Transylvania (10 a.m.); I Drink Your Blood (7:30 p.m.)

Contact Steve Persall at spersall@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8365. Follow @StevePersall.