Jacksonville in the Movies

The Kalem Company was the first northern film studio to set up in Jacksonville in 1908. The cast and crew stayed at the Roseland Hotel in the Fairfield area and took the ferry across the St. Johns River to a location rich with scenery. Creeks, old bridges, mansions, rail lines and large oak trees draped in Spanish moss captivated audiences and helped make Arlington one of the film industry’s first true “on location” sets.

Jacksonville soon became known as the “Winter Film Capital of the World,” with 26 movie companies operating here during the silent film era. Its warm climate and access to transcontinental rail lines made Duval an ideal filmmaking hub, and the area was once home to more than 30 studios before the industry eventually shifted to Hollywood.

Today, Norman Studios in Arlington is the only surviving production complex from that era. Five buildings remain from the time when Richard Norman produced films featuring African American casts, preserving an important piece of cinematic history. While Jacksonville’s early dominance faded, the city is once again attracting attention, with its Film & Television Office bringing in productions such as G.I. Jane, The Devil’s Advocate, Lonely Hearts, Basic, Recount and The Year of Getting to Know Us. For a highlight reel, check out “We’ve Got the Pictures.”

1. “Bouncing Baby,” a 1916 silent comedy, was filmed in Jacksonville and released in 1919. It is also the oldest film in the State Archives. The film is about a grown man who disguises himself as a baby with the help of his friend in order to steal from a wealthy family. The film includes sequences of a runaway baby carriage rolling down the street with the “baby” inside and a dramatic rooftop chase scene.

2. In 1916, a production company hired over a thousand local residents to film a mob scene, unfortunately a few in the crowd took their role too seriously, a real mob formed during the filming and spiraled out of control. It nearly destroyed a nearby saloon and a two-story building.

3. A thrilling scene in one movie being filmed in Jacksonville required a car to barrel down Main Street. Unfortunately, the vehicle accidentally splashed into the St. Johns River at the ferry dock, which was in the vicinity of today’s Riverfront Plaza.

4. Jacksonville native and best-selling author Brenda Jackson filmed her feature film “Truly Everlasting” in Jacksonville in 2011.

5. The St. Johns river played a stand-in for the Amazon River in "Revenge of Creature," a sequel to "Creature from the Black Lagoon," while a kidnap scene in the movie was filmed in a restaurant called Lobster House which was on the former site of River City Brewing Company.

6. Scenes from the Emmy award winning HBO movie "Recount" were filmed in Riverplace Tower. Most of its scenes feature several Jacksonville locations including the Seawalk Pavilion, the Jacksonville Beach City Hall and the Prime Osborne Convention Center.

7. "The Gulf Between," filmed in 1917 in Jacksonville, was the first Technicolor motion picture ever made. It was the first feature-length color movie produced in the United States.

8. Jacksonville was the home of Hardy, American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy. The duo began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1927 to 1955. Hardy is largely considered one of the most popular comedians in American movie history.

9. The opening shot for the film "The Waterboy" was filmed at the then Alltel Stadium, now EverBank Stadium, in 1998.

10. "The Flying Ace" filmed by Norman Studios, appears to have dueling planes but is actually the same plane filmed at different angles.

11. Much of Demi Moore's 1997 drama "G.I Jane" was shot in Jacksonville. The Navy SEAL training scenes during Hell Week took place at Huguenot Memorial Park. You can still see the ships that provided the beach scene backdrops at Naval Station Mayport across from the park.

12. Riverside Theatre first opened in 1927 and was built in the Venetian style. Over the years the theatre has gone through many renovations. In the 1930s the theatre closed and reopened in 1948 as the Five Points Theatre. It closed again from 1972-1977 until it reopened as the River City Playhouse. In 1991, it became Club5 and then in 2008 it was sold and renamed the 5 Points Theatre. In 2011, it became Sun-Ray Cinema. Sun-Ray Cinema closed in July of 2024 and turned into FIVE Theatre, a live music concert venue.

13. Founded in 1916 in Jacksonville, FL as Eagle Film City and then purchased by Richard E. Norman in 1921, the Norman Studios was among the nation’s first to produce “race films” starring African American characters in positive, non-stereotypical roles. Today, Norman’s five-building studio complex survives in Jacksonville’s Old Arlington neighborhood.

14. "Veer" was filmed in 2010 in Jacksonville using local crew & cast members and features the popular Kona Skatepark.

15. "Love Trap" was filmed on the campus of UNF by film director Frank B. Goodin II.