Bluebird Theatre
16 N. Sycamore Street,
Petersburg,
VA
23803
16 N. Sycamore Street,
Petersburg,
VA
23803
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The Bluebird was a long, narrow theatre and it played first-run movies. It had two aisles with three seats on each side section and six across the middle. The fire exit was on the right side at the front of the auditorium and there was a blue neon clock at the back. It had stage curtains, a curved CinemaScope screen in the correct aspect ratio, and a balcony. The concession stand was on the left side of the lobby as you entered. The box office was out in front and not attached. The theater did a very good business, but it closed because Neighborhood Theatres, Inc. lost the lease on the building. The Palace Theatre down the street took over its role as a first-run theatre and was renamed the New Bluebird.
My grandmother was the manager at the Bluebird during the 70’s and early 80’s. I remember seeing Piranha there and a few spaghetti westerns among others since I was able to get in free. They mostly showed exploitation films, B movies and a lot of black exploitation films during the 70’s (Shaft, Superfly, Blackula etc.) The clientele at that time were largely students from VSU. They may have shown XXX films during the 80’s but I can’t remember since my grandmother left and went to the Walnut Mall theater. It has since been restored but not into a cinema to my knowlege.
16N sycamore street petersburg. old bluebird is up for sale.
great building to restore. great look and style.
if someone wants save a land mark.
roof and floor damage
Thanks oldtown.
bluebird at 16N. Sycamore street had been a billards parlor during the early 1900
hi, just wanted to add a few things on bluebird.
the businesses on north sycamore street seemed to have migrated north,south and back north. so bluebird did move as well as a few others. the newer bluebird 143N. sycamore street was a triple xxx in the 1980s.
the original bluebird was at 16N.sycamore street and was last used as a hair braiding. it was condemned about 5 months ago after the back roof fell in as well as some back structure damage. it has now been bought and the owner said some of the interior was still in tact from the theater. the hair shop walled off the back. and the back roof fell in. original tin on ceiling, 18 foot ceilings covered and lowered.
i have viewed both buildings and hope to take pics soon.
new bluebird at 143N. was palace. new owners found palace sign behind bluebird sign and has both inside on display.
they gutted the inside and have rebuilt it as a live theater used for party’s and events. yellow interior with upper and lower balcony.
beutiful inside. blubird sign outside on markee is not the original.
original is safe inside.
sycamore street had bluebird,rex,palace and century all within a few blocks. most buildings date 1860-1863
i purchased a newer building the only 1 story built 1955. tony's
i can be reached at
their are 2 pictures floating around on bluebird on the web.
LM the Film Daily must have the wrong address, there is no 1100 block of N. Sycamore. The Address for the New Bluebird is correct at 143 N. Sycamore, the exterior walls of the building are still standing as you mentioned on Apr. 25, the frame of the marquee is still on the front of the building also.
So the information for this listing is correct but the photos are showing the New Bluebird/Palace Theater. There is a Palace Theater listed in 1955 for Petersburg, VA but the address given is 1113 N. Sycamore Street. The Film Daily could be giving the wrong address for the Palace.
LM I think that the photos that we linked to this theatre are that of the New Bluebird AKA Palace Theatre. It was located at 143 N. Sycamore right next to the Bank. The New Bluebird aka Palace is not listed on CT. The building that housed the Bluebird at 16 N. Sycamore is still being used by a Beauty Saloon and Beauty Supply Store.
Assuming that there was only one Bluebird Theater in Petersburg, Virginia this theater dates back to at least 1919 when a Wurlitzer organ was installed.
This was the Bluebird building in 2005. Here it is in 2007. It looks like the four exterior walls remain but the interior is gone.
Warren, at one time it might have been two words, but in its later life if became one word as seen on the marquee of the photo. So I believe the header should stay as it is.
The Bluebird is listed in the 1926 FDYB, but the name, which was widely used for pioneer cinemas, suggests that it dates back much earlier than that. Might have started as a penny arcade or nickelodeon. The 1926 listing has the name as two words: Blue Bird.
1984 photo of the Bluebird Theatre. Playing XXX movies in 1984.
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