Advertisement
Paul Guzzo - Culture Reporter

Culture Reporter

I am the reporter who found the lost segregation-era all-black Zion Cemetery. My unique beat also includes the local film industry, Tampa history, professional wrestling and the odd and unique people who make up this area. I have been a journalist in Tampa since 1999. In my younger years, I was also an independent filmmaker best known for an award-winning documentary on Charlie Wall, Tampa’s first crime lord. At home, I am married to a woman who is way out of my league and father of four kids who have diverse career goals – engineer, veterinarian, ballerina, and a “fighting ninja,” as opposed to a pacifist ninja.

  1. Mike and Christine Ortoll. Christine died of a drug overdose in Nov. 2020. Her father is now producing documentaries to honor her desire to help others struggling with addiction.
  2. Rob Stirling, 60, has the world record for most pushups in an hour with 3,264.
  3. A cover for issue one of AEW wrestler Chris Jericho's new "The Painmaker" graphic novel series.
  4. Exterior view of the century old St. James House of Prayer Episcopal Church pictured in Tampa.
  5. Actor Sung Kang at the premiere of "Fast and Furious 6" in 2013.
  6. Alex Hintz, left, as Arthur, Casey Metcalfe as Marlon, Matthew von der Ahe as Craig, Ashton Gunning as Cody, Tom Sinclair as Blair, Joshua Felder as Darius, James Day Keith as Benny, Madison Tevlin as Cosentino, Kevin Iannucci as Johnathan and Bradley Edens as Showtime in director Bobby Farrelly's "Champions."
  7. Actors Erin Cahill, left, Martin Kove and Susan Gallagher work on a scene during the production of the romance film "A Taste of Love" in July 2021 at Edgewater Park in Dunedin.
  8. Former U.S. and Canadian servicemen skydive over Cairo, Egypt, in the documentary "Triple 7," which follows them as they skydive into seven continents in seven days.
  9. Hillsborough County NAACP President Yvette Lewis speaks during an unveiling of a memorial and historical marker at Ridgewood Cemetery on the edge of King High School  in Tampa on Monday.
  10. Dentist Mike Foley pulls a car with his teeth at his residence in Tampa.
  11. Tony "Doc Dog" Baker poses for a portrait at his Las Vegas Tattoo Company in Ybor City. Doc Dog celebrates 60 years in the tattoo business with 20 years in Ybor City.
  12. A 2020 aerial photo of Memorial Park Cemetery, the East Tampa segregation-era Black burial ground.
  13. Margot Benstock, left, and Irene Weiss, together with a scale model replica of a fishing boat on exhibit behind them at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg. Benstock's parents escaped the Holocaust by fleeing Denmark on fishing boats. She believes she found the boat that transported her father. She obtained it and donated it to the Florida Holocaust Museum.
  14. Robert Holsopple, a building contractor, left, and Charlie Hettinger, Water Tower Holdings managing partner, give a tour of the construction going on at the Perfecto Garcia Cigar Factory in Tampa.
  15. Founder Kelly Kowall looks on to the lake behind My Warrior’s Place in Ruskin. Kowall said she remembers kayaking on the lake with her son who died in Afghanistan during his military service in the U.S. Army. The nonprofit is a retreat for veterans, active duty military members, law enforcement officers,firefighters and blue star, silver star and gold star family members impacted by tragedies.
  16. Aerial of the lost College Hill Cemetery, which is now a parking lot for the Italian Club Cemetery.
  17. Demolition of downtown Tampa's former Tarr Furniture building began on Saturday.
  18. Members of the Krewe of Sant’ Yago pass out beads to people along Bayshore Boulevard during the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, in Tampa. The krewe will host their signature event, The Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago Illuminated Knight Parade, on Feb. 11.
  19. Randy Poffo, left, better known as Randy Savage, and brother Lanny Poffo kiss their mom Judy Poffo.
  20. Ethan Rich and Nicole Abisinio appear in a scene for streaming series "The Advocate," which was filmed throughout Tampa Bay.
  21. Convicted drug smuggler Angelo Bedami holds a photograph of his father Joe Bedami Sr., a mobster and alleged Santo Trafficante hitman.
  22. Memorial Park Cemetery in Tampa is seen in 2021. The cemetery opened in 1919.
  23. For more than 100 years, Rose Cemetery has remained active and central to Tarpon Springs’ Black community.