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Tara S. Gree, Clerk of Court and Comptroller of Clay County, FL
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Films & Videos

Radiator Transmedia won a Telly Award for their video shot here in the Old County Jail. But that is just the latest in a long string of films and videos partially or fully produced in Clay County, Florida — beginning with the movie, Creature from the Black Lagoon. Producers have been choosing Clay County as the backdrop for movies since Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1954. It may surprise some to know that the Jacksonville area (especially “Tinseltown”) was the mecca of movie directors until the Hollywood backlots lured the stars of the big screen to our nation’s west coast. The State of Florida may have incentives available for filmmakers who choose a Florida setting. Check out the Florida Office of Film & Entertainment. When discussing the history of the film industry in our state, Richard Norman deserves special attention. Born in Middleburg in 1891, he went on to form Norman Studios and focused on producing films for the black community during that important era.

 

Featured Videos and Film Posters

Atlantis Alive

Trailer for Creature From the Black Lagoon

Theatres

Clay Theater
(Previously Wilson’s Palace Opera House and Motion Picture Show)

clay theatreFirst license permit was received in 1916 by R. C. Wilson as Palace Opera House and Motion Picture Show.  First recorded on Sanborn maps 1917. Location 420 – 422 Walnut Street.  New theatre license permit dated October of 1936.  First license permit showing name change was December 31, 1937 by R. C. Wilson.  Clay Theatre license permit by Frank Bryant on March 22, 1939 and again on October 1, 1940, and October 1, 1941. (Thanks to Sara George Geiger, Neil Geiger, Jack Brooker and L. T. Robertson).  The Florida Master Site file describes the theatre construction as Art Deco style.

 

Rideout Drive-in Theatre

rideout theatreThe Rideout Drive-in consisted of a 16-mm projector, a rented film and a sheet stretched between the trees. You came in your car, paid $.35 per adult and sat in the yard on your blanket. The projection booth was a pole barn.

“Sheet theaters” were not uncommon in the railroad era. Little theater companies would travel from stop to stop showing a film each night until the audience would dwindle, and on they went to the next stop. Rideout was unusual in that it was a more permanent business.

The movie, “Seminole”, premiered in 1953, so this showing might have been from Spring 1955, or so.

 

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Statewide Case Access for Florida Bar Attorneys Announced

Great news!  The Florida Courts E-Filing Authority, in partnership with Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, just launched an optional subscription service called CaseAccess.  Available through the E-Filing Portal, legal professionals can search case information from all 67 Florida counties on one platform.  To subscribe, attorneys should visit the Florida Courts E-Filing Authority homepage and select the “Enter the Portal” button. Sign in to your active E-Filing Portal account, then select CaseAccess Subscription from the command ribbon to manage your subscription settings.  If you do not already have an account, you must create one before subscribing.  ***CaseAccess is a research tool and is not the official court record.  Attorneys should continue to consult the appropriate Clerk of Court for the official and most current record, document, or case status. You’ll find a useful link here to use once you’ve subscribed: Search Records & Reports.  Look for the link titled Court Records Subscription Access – Attorneys Only.  Thank you.