JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A local cultural icon has now had its final curtain call.

For more than four decades, crowds have been entertained while they eat at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre on the Southside.

But now, the local landmark has been forced to close its doors.

The stage that once graced actors like Mickey Rooney now sits empty.

Tony Triano, who has been acting at the Alhambra since 1988, said the crowds have diminished over the last few years, even to plays like the "Christmas Carol," which used to pack the house.

"It's very hard to perform for a small house when you're used to full houses," Triano said.

You can see the history as you walk down the hallways filled with actors' signatures, dating back two decades.

Triano believes the theater has a special purpose.

"We have children that come here as young as five, if not younger, and they remember the first moment that they walked into this theatre," Triano said.

While the Alhambra is currently closed, many are hoping that it's only temporary. The theatre does hope to reopen in the future.

It's trying to get 2,500 people to commit to buying season tickets so it can show investors that the business has the support it needs to continue.