Byrd Theatre
2908 W. Cary Street,
Richmond,
VA
23221
2908 W. Cary Street,
Richmond,
VA
23221
35 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 78 comments
From their virtual tour photos it looks like the theatre has been recently restored. Looks in geeat shape and new seating as well.
Currently (2022) they have restricted seating of 400 due to COVID restrictions. They are doing limited engagements (one-day performances 3-5 times per week of classics and recent favorites.)
I’m glad the Byrd is still open and showing movies! The Byrd is the largest old movie palace in the country (outside of the Chinese and El Capitan theatres in Hollywood) still showing movies on a full time basis.
“Who’s Minding the Mint?"movie had it’s world premiere September 26,1967 at the Byrd theatre,with actor Milton Berle and it’s director Howard Morris. Source (Richmond Times Dispatch) Sunday September 24,1967.
Facebook link to a photo of the organ at the Byrd Theatre.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206820638174444&set=gm.365241160267034&type=3&theater&ifg=1
Edgar Allan Poe festival coming.
www.dailyprogress.com/entertainment/movies/new-poe-film-festival-set-for-byrd-theatre-this-fall/article_7b178c44-5820-11e6-9d29-47dd1775d61e
I should have checked the other photos first. They have a picture of the panel, worth checking out.
About 16 or 17 years ago I was on business in Richmond and got to watch a few movies from the projection booth. That was awesome. They still had two carbon arc projectors and the most amazing electric panel for all the house lights and such. I could swear they still had some knife switches on that panel.
The Theatre Historical Society of America will be visiting here on Wednesday, June 24th, 2015.
cmastersin, thanks for the great pictures of this great theater. I enjoyed talking to you after the Cameron Carpenter concert, and thanks for mentioning your pictures. You asked about The Senator. Here is a link from today’s Baltimore Sun. http://galleries.baltimoresun.com/gallery/bal-artslife-senator-pg
I have recently added some digital photos of the Byrd interior that shows the stunning interior after EIGHTY FIVE YEARS! Unrestored and still beautiful! Enjoy
The conversion to digital has been completed.
By the early ‘30s EVERY cinema in Richmond had AC, The Mosque (now Landmark) didn’t get AC till the late 60s. The Byrd had AC from the first day.
For it’s worth, GWTW did not open at the Byrd, being a MGM pic it open at the Loews which also had had AC from the first day in 1928.
Spoke with a few WW II vetrans, about 10 years ago and they chatted about with Gone with the Wind (1939) and other classics where you showed up to see the first show and had to wait till the second show. They said prior and during WW II, the move closed for the summer too hot and no AC. I moved away form Richmond but have gone back to hear the organ/
The AC is now running again, but funds will still be needed for the replacement over the winter.
The AC has been out for 5 days now, the problems have now been located and repairs are underway. With a little luck it’ll be up and running by Wednesday, maybe sooner. This is just a stop gap repair to get the system thru the summer. The 45 year old system will need to be replaced by next summer to the tune of somewhere between $70,000 and $150,000 depending on a lot of variables.
The Byrd Theatre Prints are available at www.DPFINEARTS.com
Thank you for your support!
COME ON PEOPLE!!! GO TO THE BYRD OR LOOSE THE BYRD.I am sometimes just sad how little support this true national treasure gets. I was telling some foilks in Lynchburg today about the Byrd.Said they’s have to go soon.Didn’t know it existed anymore.
Here’s a link to a Fundraiser I started in conjunction with the Byrd Theatre Foundation.
We’re selling Fine Art Prints of the painting “Byrd Theatre” by Daniel Pritchett to help raise
funds to help Save the Byrd Theatre.
Prints start at only $49…. Please check it out and help us keep this Cinema Treasure operational!
http://www.ByrdPrints.com
Article today in Richmond Times about the “delicate” finacial condition of the Byrd.Time to put money where mouth resides.
Purchased for $1 an old LP by Dick Leibert playing the mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ of the Byrd Theatre at a flea market in N.Y. Mr. Leibert died in 1977 at 74 years old.
Great offical web-site,check it out.
Nice nighttime picture of the BYRD good to see its still up and running.
Fund raising continues to be very difficult due to the economy and indifference by those who typically support historic projects. They seem to have NO interest in supporting the maintenance or restoration of a mere cinema even though it is the most significant theatre in the city and the only theatre in the area in any resemblance of its original appearance and STILL doing what it was built to do and open 365 days a year.
THIS place is a continuing national treasure that MUST be used to preserve.VIST.PLEASE.
1978 clipping of newspaper ads for the Byrd and other Richmond-area Neighborhood Theatres:
View link
Sorry Some Of My Previous Posting seemed to have gotten cut off but I gotta get some sleep BUT IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE!
JOHN