Comments from jsale

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jsale
jsale commented about Byrd Theatre on Mar 2, 2004 at 5:17 pm

Martha — please contact me. I’m researching the Arlington Theatre, which is apparently one of the last projects your grandfather worked on. Would love to learn more about it.

jsale
jsale commented about Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse on Mar 2, 2004 at 5:14 pm

This building opened in August 1940 as the Arlington Recreation Center (whites-only), including a bowling alley on the upper floors and a pharmacy on the corner. Fred Bishop, who also designed Byrd Theatre in Richmond, was the architect. The opening night film was “My Favorite Wife,” starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. It was operated until 1975 by Richmond-based Neighborhood Theatres Inc. The theater desegregated in 1963 amidst picketing and lawsuits. The theater was converted to Arlington Cinema N' Drafthouse in 1985 and still serves up movies and food. The bowling alleys are now a tae kwon do school and artists' studios.