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 10 comments)
The Bellevue Theater opened in September 1937 with the movie “Mountain Music” starring Martha Raye. The original seating capacity was given as 651.
It closed in 1963 and was purchased by the Samis Grotto Shrine in February 1966, currently known as the Samis Grotto Temple.
For a picture of the Bellevue Theater go to View link
The picture was taken shortly after it opened in 1937.
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