Florida’s long, often overlooked influence on American film and television takes the spotlight in a free public program featuring historian David Morton, Ph.D. The event, which is on Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m, ispresented by the Tampa Bay History Center and USF Libraries
Morton traces how the Sunshine State emerged as a “third coast” for entertainment over the past century, beginning with Jacksonville’s pioneering film studios in the early 1900s and extending through South Florida’s television boom of the 2000s and 2010s. The program connects early silent-era production to today’s streaming culture, highlighting how Florida has repeatedly provided a stage for stories that captured national attention.
The talk underscores key inflection points: Jacksonville’s early role as a production hub; the geographic and economic advantages that drew filmmakers south; and the modern resurgence fueled by television and digital platforms. Together, these eras show a throughline of creative labor and infrastructure that helped shape what audiences across the country watch.
About the speaker: Morton earned his Ph.D. in Texts and Technology from the University of Central Florida in 2019, where he teaches History and Media Studies.
Details: The program is free and part of the ongoing Florida Conversations series presented by the Tampa Bay History Center and USF Libraries, with support from the Tampa Bay History Center Endowment Fund at USF and media sponsorship from WUSF Public Broadcasting. Click here for ticket information.