Comments about Bellevue Theater in Richmond, VA

Robert L. Bradley on April 21, 2012 at 2:34 am

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.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen on April 20, 2012 at 5:04 am

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

aarfeld on September 4, 2009 at 9:00 pm

Some photos of the theater today, including interior photos, may be viewed at this site: http://retrorichmond.com/?p=55

lostmemory on August 5, 2009 at 5:32 pm

North Richmond News has a vintage photo of the Bellevue Theater.

lostmemory on April 20, 2009 at 7:31 am

Here is a 1984 photo.

lostmemory on December 18, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Here is another photo.

lostmemory on October 2, 2008 at 11:32 am

This website has photos of the Bellevue Theater. It also claims that the Bellevue was built in 1932.

lostmemory on December 18, 2007 at 9:36 am

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.

kencmcintyre on October 24, 2007 at 9:17 am

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

Joe Vogel on May 5, 2006 at 4:48 am

The architect of the Bellevue was Henry Carl Messerschmidt, who also designed the Lee Theater, now called the Grace Street Theater.

jhuber on June 13, 2005 at 3:17 am

For a picture of the Bellevue Theater go to View link

The picture was taken shortly after it opened in 1937.

KenRoe on May 24, 2005 at 2:43 am

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.

Bellevue Theater

4028 MacArthur Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227

4028 MacArthur Avenue,
Richmond, VA 23227