Bellevue Theater
4028 MacArthur Avenue,
Richmond,
VA
23227
4028 MacArthur Avenue,
Richmond,
VA
23227
2 people
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Opened September 1937 and closed in 1963. Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine lived nearby when they were children and attended this theater during the World War II years. The Bellevue is now used by the Shriners organization for meetings and dinners and is known as the Samis Grotto Temple.
Contributed by
Jack Huber
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
The architect of the Bellevue was Henry Carl Messerschmidt, who also designed the Lee Theater, now called the Grace Street Theater.
The function should be restaurant, unless the theater is at 4028:
Zorbas Pizza – 4026 Macarthur Ave Richmond VA 23227 – (804) 264-5370
Samis Grotto
4028 Macarthur Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227
This is a recent photo. The function is correct, but the current address is 4028 MacArthur Avenue.
Here is the website for Samis Grotto. This is from their website, “The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm”. Sounds like something from a Harry Potter movie.
This website has photos of the Bellevue Theater. It also claims that the Bellevue was built in 1932.
Here is another photo.
Here is a 1984 photo.
North Richmond News has a vintage photo of the Bellevue Theater.
Some photos of the theater today, including interior photos, may be viewed at this site: http://retrorichmond.com/?p=55
The Bellvue was built in 1932, had a balcony, marble foyer and deco-pattenered borders.
The Lyric Theater had the Old Dominion Barn Dance a popular country music, “Grand Old Opry” type radio show in the 1940’s and 1950’s, till the Lyric was torn down. The Bellvue had the NEW Doninion Barn Dance hosted by WRVA from 1957 to the late 1960’s. The show had Johnny Cash, June Carter, Hank Williams and a young beardless Willie Nelson as guests.
RVA Studios now has a recording studio in the theater and along with Samis would like to restore the theater.
Anyone have photos, old and new, inside and out and more info?
DJA
Chief Bob Jensen
Manteno, Illinois
Go to the Richmond Public Library and ask for the movie theatre file. It is full of pictures and has a great picture of the Bellvue auditorium and stage curtains.