TCC Roper Performing Arts Center

The former Loews State Theater in Norfolk, Virginia, now owned by Tidewater Community College, has been renamed the Jeanne and George Roper Performing Arts Center. The renovated facility has been open for just over a year and has held a wide range of performances, including local theater and dance companies, performances by the Virginia Symphony, various jazz artists, internationally known classical artists, plus the sole U.S. appearance by the Royal Shakespeake Company. On November 1, 2001 the first film was shown in the theater since 1978. “Restless”, the first joint U.S. & China co-production, written and directed by Jule Gilfillian, was shown in 35mm on a brand new screen to an enthusiastic audience.

Growing up in Norfolk VA there were two large theatres still open downtown, The Lowes and The Granby. The theatre was known only as The Lowes, The name State was not used in the late 50s. The marquee in the picture reads “HG Wells The Time Machine”, I saw the Time Machine at The Lowes with a neighborhood birthday party. I remember the theatre had stained glass exit signs over the fire exits and each exit was numbered on the stained glass sign. Also the balcony was really more of a mezzanine as that it was not over the orchestra seats. Everything about it was big when I was a kid.

The Roper Center’s official web page is: http://www.tcc.edu/roper/ From there is some history, renovation info and color photos, both interior. Looks like a simplified renaissance revival scheme, but also possibly simplified by the renovation. The auditorium is fairly wide with a low ceiling – looks like it originally had no balcony and that they reduced the capacity by building a shelf balcony in the middle of the auditorium with all the space behind it converted into separate rooms. Still looks really nice though and very attractive. The page says it was built in 1926.

Nice shot of the Loews.

Loew’s owned this theatre. It is now an concerthall called the Roper Performing Arts CenterWas the Loew’s flagship theater in the Norfolk area, opened in 1926 as a silent film theater with vaudeville acts. Had a live orchestra, organ, etc. Architect was the renowned Thomas Lamb and, although somewhat less ornate than his most elaborate theaters, was still amagnificent theater with excellent acoustics and breath-taking decor. After many illustrious years as a first run downtown theater, the theater was reduced to running exploitation films in its final years and closed in the late 1970s in a somewhat deteriorated condition. It reopened briefly as a live concert venue in the early1980s but closed and fell into further disrepairfor some 15 years. The building was acquiredby Tidewater Community College and restored/renovated. The grand 2,200 seat auditorium (actual figures on seating varies slightly) was reduced to approximately 900seats, with the rear portion of the theater walled off and converted into classrooms. The stage was completely overhauled and modernized with state of the art lighting and sound, seats completely restored, ornatechandeliers restored and rewired, the box seating areas restored, all plaster decor restored from the ceiling down to the floor in an attempt to preserve the unique movie palace atmosphere. Massive paintings of Spanishfigures on either side of the theater walls were still awaiting restoration in a race against time.