“The Hippodrome Theater is located in Jackson Ward, Richmond’s cultural nexus for African Americans in the 1920s and ‘30s. In its heyday, Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole performed here. The theater is currently undergoing a more than $3 million renovation to recreate a 1930s-style theater with regularly scheduled R&B performances.” per Richmondva.org
Other articles state that this area was known as the “Harlem of the South”, no doubt a reference to the quality musical talent that it attracted.
1997 – run by Kerasotes Theatres. Showed second-run movies for $1 during most of the year, with first-run movies shown at regular admission during the summer. News-Gazette online
Published Online Mar 22, 1999
By JODI HECKEL
News-Gazette Staff Writer
DANVILLE – A new CVS Pharmacy is scheduled to open by the end of July at the corner of Fairchild and Vermilion streets.
But some residents don’t like the idea of a generic chain store replacing the character of the 1920s-era Times Theatre, which will be demolished to make way for the new drugstore.
“It’s really disappointing,” said Jean Beck, a local preservationist. “I think there are a lot of people who are frustrated by this sort of thing. We tend to put up more boxes that don’t have the visual interest and aesthetic appeal that commercial buildings formerly had.” ……..
This one goes way back to at least 1907: from View link
Originally published in 1907
THIS WEB VERSION COPYRIGHT 2003 GET NJ
BESIDES the fine City Hall, occupying an entire square at the lower part of the city, the eight commodious school houses, with the handsome ninth in course of construction, the Free Public Library, the seven fine fire engine houses, and the Post Office, the city boasts of a number of splendid edifices, among which may be mentioned the Lyric Theatre,the Empire Theatre, ….
Must have been a live theater at one time. This summary is from the Record of Bergen’s website (paid subscription required for full text of the article):
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
08-28-1994
Westwood’s two theaters competed for talent and audiences. Dinah Shore (third from left above) and Tex Ritter (second from right) performed at the Westwood Theater in 1941. Below, miniature circus elephants with Police Officer Gary Cronk Jr. in fr…
Date: 08-28-1994, Sunday
Section: SPECIAL SECTIONS
Edition: All Editions — Sunday
Still listed in the Richmond Yellow Pages under “Theatres-Live” with a telephone number of 804-648-9371.
“The Hippodrome Theater is located in Jackson Ward, Richmond’s cultural nexus for African Americans in the 1920s and ‘30s. In its heyday, Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole performed here. The theater is currently undergoing a more than $3 million renovation to recreate a 1930s-style theater with regularly scheduled R&B performances.” per Richmondva.org
Other articles state that this area was known as the “Harlem of the South”, no doubt a reference to the quality musical talent that it attracted.
1997 – run by Kerasotes Theatres. Showed second-run movies for $1 during most of the year, with first-run movies shown at regular admission during the summer. News-Gazette online
Published Online Mar 22, 1999
By JODI HECKEL
News-Gazette Staff Writer
DANVILLE – A new CVS Pharmacy is scheduled to open by the end of July at the corner of Fairchild and Vermilion streets.
But some residents don’t like the idea of a generic chain store replacing the character of the 1920s-era Times Theatre, which will be demolished to make way for the new drugstore.
“It’s really disappointing,” said Jean Beck, a local preservationist. “I think there are a lot of people who are frustrated by this sort of thing. We tend to put up more boxes that don’t have the visual interest and aesthetic appeal that commercial buildings formerly had.” ……..
Photo at this link:
View link
Henry P. Soulier, Lyric Theatre, Manager Lyric Theatre, member Board of Trade
from aforementioned website.
This one goes way back to at least 1907: from View link
Originally published in 1907
THIS WEB VERSION COPYRIGHT 2003 GET NJ
BESIDES the fine City Hall, occupying an entire square at the lower part of the city, the eight commodious school houses, with the handsome ninth in course of construction, the Free Public Library, the seven fine fire engine houses, and the Post Office, the city boasts of a number of splendid edifices, among which may be mentioned the Lyric Theatre,the Empire Theatre, ….
Must have been a live theater at one time. This summary is from the Record of Bergen’s website (paid subscription required for full text of the article):
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
08-28-1994
Westwood’s two theaters competed for talent and audiences. Dinah Shore (third from left above) and Tex Ritter (second from right) performed at the Westwood Theater in 1941. Below, miniature circus elephants with Police Officer Gary Cronk Jr. in fr…
Date: 08-28-1994, Sunday
Section: SPECIAL SECTIONS
Edition: All Editions — Sunday
Recent photo:
View link
Old postcards:
View link
Old postcards:
View link
photos & history:
View link
Old photos & history:
View link
Old phots & organ history at this link:
View link
The original organ is still in use.
History & photos here:
View link
very interesting view of the theater from the same focal point over the years:
View link
Old photos & history:
View link
this link suggests that the original building may have been demolished:
View link
Exterior photos from 2000:
View link
Old & newer photos:
View link
Lots of old photos here:
View link
Recent exterior & interior photos:
View link
Nice interior & exterior photos:
View link
Photos & history:
View link
Note that the organ predates the movie theater.
Lots of photos & history:
View link
History & photos:
View link