Regal Ridge Cinema 7
1510 Eastridge Road,
Richmond,
VA
23229
1510 Eastridge Road,
Richmond,
VA
23229
4 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Neighborhood Theatres, Regal Entertainment Group
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Ridge Cinema 1 & 2, Ridge Cinema 1,2,3,4
Nearby Theaters
The Ridge Cinema 1 & 2 was opened on November 18, 1970 with Albert Finney in “Scrooge” & Jack Nicholson in “Five Easy Pieces”. It was owned by Neighborhood Theatre Inc., Cineplex Odeon Corp. took over from May 27, 1988, Neighborhood Entertainment Inc. and lastly by Regal Entertainment Group.
The two-story building had a huge, open lobby. On the second floor were two auditoriums, several offices which were used by the Regal District Management, and a concession stand. The first floor had two giant auditoriums with full stages, one with 848 seats and the other with 526. These two large auditoriums were originally the only two in the theater and were used for various types of live entertainment. Another two screens were added on July 2, 1975. On October 27, 1984 it became a 7-screen movie theatre. On May 27, 1987 it was taken over by Cineplex Odeon.
When it closed in September 2002, the theatre was screening foreign and independent films as well as first-run commercial fare. Regal decided to sell the old Ridge Theater and the surrounding land and it was demolished in early-2004.
Contributed by
Mary Wiggins
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Recent comments (view all 30 comments)
John, you were the best little poster groupie we ever had. Email me sometime at to catch up
I was involved in the insallation of the “Norelco” AA 70mm projector for a midnight showing of “Pink Floyd’s "The Wall” I also remember one of the five “Altec” A4’s speakers being dropped while being hoisted into position onto the behind screen platform. In addition the new 52' screen was also punctured while being hoisted. The 10' tall speaker was undamaged but a replacement screen had to be ordered.
This was the theater in Richmond in the ‘70’s and 80’s. I loved working Ray’s midnight movies, being a Relief Manage, and eventually being Assistant Manager to Mr. Jerry Norwood. Mr. Tom Connell was the original manager and a great man.
I worked with Tom Connell at the Willow Lawn, and with Jerry Norwood at the Colonial. I worked many of Ray’s midnight shows at the Towne and Colonial, and a couple at the Ridge.
to theaterboy, the Midlothian theaters your talking about exactly where was it located, I lived off Midlothian and Buford, are you talking about the one down past cloverlief cinema heading east on the right, im trying to remember where it was. I knew a couple that ran the cinema at the shopping center past cloverlief and always got their movie posters, still have some today.
You guys are probably a little older than me but not by much . I so enjoyed reading this thread. I tell my son who is film buff like me about Ray Bentley THE SCREAM MACHINE AAAAHHH…and the “a movie SO disturbing we will give you a free pass if you sit thru the whole thing !!” Lol…fill in the film ..so funny I remember the passes being handed out as we walked in . …the great films I saw for the first time at The Ridge. Thanks for sharing .
This was considered the best first-run facility in Richmond presentation-wise for the 20-year period between the Byrd going second-run and the opening of the Commonwealth. The offices of Regal’s district manager and the former projectionists' union were located on-site. Auditorium 1 here was the largest screen & seating capacity in town and brought the first midnight blockbuster premiere to the metro area with The Phantom Menace in 1999.
The property is now home to a Kroger store.
The Ridge Cinema 1 & 2 opened on November 18th, 1970. Grand opening ad posted.
4 screens on July 2nd, 1975. Another ad posted.
7 screens on October 27th, 1984
Cineplex Odeon rebuilt it on May 27th, 1987