Tampa Bay Arts and Culture Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Louise Krikorian
Publication Date
6-26-2026
Abstract
Paul Wilborn, journalist, author, musician, and executive director of the Palladium Performing Arts Center in St. Petersburg, reflects on his Tampa roots and the creative trajectory that shaped his career. He discusses his work as a reporter for the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times, his transition into fiction writing, and the development of works such as Stray Dogs, Cigar City: Tales From a 1980s Creative Ghetto, and Florida Hustle. Wilborn also describes his contributions to St. Petersburg’s growing arts community and his ongoing cabaret collaborations with his wife, actress Eugenie Bondurant. His narrative highlights Tampa Bay’s evolving cultural identity, Ybor City’s artistic legacy, and the continued importance of place-based storytelling in Florida’s creative landscape.
Keywords
Palladium Performing Arts Center, Journalism, Newspapers, Performing Arts, Storytelling, Cabaret, Music, Magazines, St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune, Esquire Magazine, Tabloid Magazine, Stray Dogs, Cigar City stories, Florida Hustle, Eugenie Bondurant, John Lamb, Rosa Rio (1902-2010), Buster Keaton (1895-1966), Bobby Short (1924-2005)
Extent
00:54:58; 40 page transcript
Subject: geographic
St. Petersburg (Fla.), Tampa (Fla.), Ybor City (Fla.)
Language
English
Type
Oral History
Format
Digital only
Identifier
arts_culture_ohp-1016
Recommended Citation
Wilborn, Paul, "Paul Wilborn Oral History Interivew" (2026). Tampa Bay Arts and Culture Oral History Project. 17.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/arts_culture_ohp/17
Rights Statement
