By Tommy Rogers and the Tampa Historical Team
Young Manuel Quintero made his boxing debut on July 25, 1924 when he defeated Young Dobber. Throughout the latter part of the 1920s Quintero took boxing by storm, going 19-1-4 in 1926 and winning the southern lightweight title in 1928. One of the…

By Tommy Rogers and the Tampa Historical Team
Guavaween was an annual Halloween festival in Ybor City that was extraordinarily popular for more than a decade. The first Guavaween was held in 1985. It was started by the Ybor City chamber of Commerce as a fundraiser to help the Tampa Playmakers,…

By Kyle Seavers and the Tampa Historical Team
Fiesta Day celebrates the ethnic diversity of Ybor City. In its early years, Ybor City was primarily an immigrant district, populated by Cuban, Spanish, Italian, and German immigrants, in addition to a small population of African Americans. These…

By Kyle Seavers and the Tampa Historical Team
The Ritz is one of the oldest and most venerable entertainment venues in Ybor City. The Ritz began life as the Rivoli Theater. It was built in 1917 by M. Leo Elliot. Though numerous renovations have changed the layout of the building, the classic…