Issue #672: Tampa Unearths Florida Film History, Bayshore Landmark Hits Market, From State Parks To Nudist Resorts, Rays Rookie Surges Amid Bullpen Injuries

In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar - (Please post events of interest to our NT|WC Live Events Calendar) - Sorry - Out of Order

WEATHER 

Local News

— Tampa Bay History Center Explores Florida’s Early Role in the Movie Business

— 1923 Bayshore Estate Built for Maas Brothers Founder Hits the Market

Of Interest

— From State Parks to Nudist Resorts: Craig Pittman’s Favorite Florida Oddities

Sports

— Rays Rookie Victor Mesa Jr. Surges as Bullpen Takes Another Injury Hit

Tampa Bay History Center Explores Florida’s Early Role in the Movie Business

Long before Hollywood became synonymous with moviemaking, Florida played an important role in the developing motion-picture industry — a history now taking center stage at the Tampa Bay History Center.

The new exhibit, “Cinema in the Sunshine State,” explores the Sunshine State’s early connection to filmmaking and gives visitors a look at how Florida became part of the emerging American cinema landscape.

The exhibit also turns its attention to one of Tampa Bay’s most recognizable cultural landmarks: the historic Tampa Theatre. The downtown movie palace has endured as a local icon and reminder of the era when going to the movies was designed to be an experience in itself.

For Tampa Bay residents, the exhibition offers a chance to discover a lesser-known chapter of Florida history while exploring the region’s own connection to the evolution of American cinema. More information, including ticket details, is available through the Tampa Bay History Center.

Read More: tampabay28.com

1923 Bayshore Estate Built for Maas Brothers Founder Hits the Market

A century-old piece of Tampa history is looking for a new owner. The former home of Isaac Maas, co-founder of the Maas Brothers department store chain, has been listed for $5.95 million at 907 Bayshore Blvd. in Old Hyde Park.

Completed in 1923, the residence was designed by prominent Tampa architect Franklin O. Adams, whose work also included projects on Davis Islands and Plant High School. Maas Brothers eventually grew into Florida’s largest department store south of Jacksonville, with its downtown Tampa flagship even featuring the state’s first escalator.

The 5,665-square-foot home has four bedrooms and five bathrooms and underwent an extensive remodel in 2021. Modern features include custom millwork, coffered ceilings, a wood-paneled study, guest house and two-car garage.

The property also has a complicated history: a later owner was former Tampa mayor Donald Brenham McKay, who led the whites-only White Municipal Party.

Read More: cltampa.com — see article for picture of the mansion

From State Parks to Nudist Resorts: Craig Pittman’s Favorite Florida Oddities

Florida author and columnist Craig Pittman has spent decades chronicling the state he calls “The Most Interesting State,” and his favorite things reflect its unusual character. The former Tampa Bay Times environmental reporter, bestselling author and podcast host recently shared three slices of Florida culture he especially appreciates.

At the top are Florida’s 176 state parks, with Highlands Hammock State Park near Sebring among his favorites. Pittman also delights in the fact that Weeki Wachee Springs makes Florida perhaps the only state where “mermaid” is essentially a government job.

Then there’s a more revealing distinction: Florida has more nudist resorts than any other state. Pittman says he has never visited one, though he once called a Pasco County resort during a hurricane to ask whether it accepted evacuees. It did — prompting his joke that guests wouldn’t need to pack clothes.

Read More: tampabay.com - great article worth the read (sorry its $)

Astonishing Fact: Pasco County’s reputation as America’s nudist capital may trace partly to a 1939 Florida law aimed at shutting nudist facilities out of more populous counties, including neighboring Hillsborough. According to research on the region’s naturist history, that pressure helped push organizers north into then-rural Pasco County, where Lake Como’s predecessor established itself around 1941.

What followed is remarkable. The Land O’ Lakes area developed such a concentration of clothing-optional resorts and residential communities that Pasco became known as the “naturist capital of the United States.”

One of Florida’s oldest nudist organizations dates to 1948 and occupied land associated with the former Dupree Gardens tourist attraction in Land O’ Lakes.

So Tampa Bay's unusual concentration of nudist resorts wasn't simply caused by Florida sunshine — an attempt to restrict nudism may actually have helped create one of America's largest nudist communities just north of Tampa.

Rays Rookie Victor Mesa Jr. Surges as Bullpen Takes Another Injury Hit

The playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays received good and bad news as their regular season winds down. Rookie Victor Mesa Jr. earned AL Player of the Week honors after reaching base in 14 of 22 plate appearances, hitting three consecutive-game homers and helping Tampa Bay go 5-1 against division-leading Atlanta and Houston. The Rays also clinched their first postseason berth since 2023 during the surge.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay placed reliever Tyler Wells on the 15-day injured list with right forearm tightness. Wells had posted an impressive 1.50 ERA in 14 appearances since arriving from Baltimore at the trade deadline. He joins Manuel Rodríguez and Garrett Cleavinger among injured Rays relievers.

The Rays recalled Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham and also reinstated outfielder Jake Fraley, who had been sidelined since May following hernia surgery.

Read More: mlb.com

Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links

The Arts
- The Exhibiting Society of Artists (new)
- USF College of the Arts
- USF Steinway Piano Concert Series

Theater
- NTPAC - New Tampa Performing Arts Center
- New Tampa Players
- USF School of Theatre & Dance
- Wesley Chapel Theater Group
- Carrollwood Players Theatre

Misc
- Carrollwood Center Events
- Craft Festivals (new)
- Fall (Farmer’s) Market Guide for Tampa Bay (new)
- The Krate, WC
- The Shops at Wiregrass, WC
- visitflorida.com

For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids

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