Regal Ridge Cinema 7

1510 Eastridge Road,
Richmond, VA 23229

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Neighborhood Theatres, Regal Entertainment Group

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Ridge Cinema 1 & 2, Ridge Cinema 1,2,3,4

Nearby Theaters

Regal Ridge Cinema 7

The Ridge Cinema 1 & 2 was opened on November 18, 1970 with Albert Finney in “Scrooge” & Jack Nicholson in “Five Easy Pieces”. It was owned by Neighborhood Theatre Inc., Cineplex Odeon Corp. took over from May 27, 1988, Neighborhood Entertainment Inc. and lastly by Regal Entertainment Group.

The two-story building had a huge, open lobby. On the second floor were two auditoriums, several offices which were used by the Regal District Management, and a concession stand. The first floor had two giant auditoriums with full stages, one with 848 seats and the other with 526. These two large auditoriums were originally the only two in the theater and were used for various types of live entertainment. Another two screens were added on July 2, 1975. On October 27, 1984 it became a 7-screen movie theatre. On May 27, 1987 it was taken over by Cineplex Odeon.

When it closed in September 2002, the theatre was screening foreign and independent films as well as first-run commercial fare. Regal decided to sell the old Ridge Theater and the surrounding land and it was demolished in early-2004.

Contributed by Mary Wiggins

Recent comments (view all 30 comments)

cinemascope
cinemascope on November 10, 2010 at 9:03 am

John, you were the best little poster groupie we ever had. Email me sometime at to catch up

canibfrankwithyou
canibfrankwithyou on September 21, 2011 at 12:06 pm

I was involved in the insallation of the “Norelco” AA 70mm projector for a midnight showing of “Pink Floyd’s "The Wall” I also remember one of the five “Altec” A4’s speakers being dropped while being hoisted into position onto the behind screen platform. In addition the new 52' screen was also punctured while being hoisted. The 10' tall speaker was undamaged but a replacement screen had to be ordered.

mlively
mlively on December 29, 2012 at 11:15 pm

This was the theater in Richmond in the ‘70’s and 80’s. I loved working Ray’s midnight movies, being a Relief Manage, and eventually being Assistant Manager to Mr. Jerry Norwood. Mr. Tom Connell was the original manager and a great man.

Robert L. Bradley
Robert L. Bradley on December 30, 2012 at 9:41 am

I worked with Tom Connell at the Willow Lawn, and with Jerry Norwood at the Colonial. I worked many of Ray’s midnight shows at the Towne and Colonial, and a couple at the Ridge.

ghostman59
ghostman59 on January 22, 2014 at 1:40 pm

to theaterboy, the Midlothian theaters your talking about exactly where was it located, I lived off Midlothian and Buford, are you talking about the one down past cloverlief cinema heading east on the right, im trying to remember where it was. I knew a couple that ran the cinema at the shopping center past cloverlief and always got their movie posters, still have some today.

Sgecko67
Sgecko67 on February 1, 2016 at 6:08 pm

You guys are probably a little older than me but not by much . I so enjoyed reading this thread. I tell my son who is film buff like me about Ray Bentley THE SCREAM MACHINE AAAAHHH…and the “a movie SO disturbing we will give you a free pass if you sit thru the whole thing !!” Lol…fill in the film ..so funny I remember the passes being handed out as we walked in . …the great films I saw for the first time at The Ridge. Thanks for sharing .

accordion321
accordion321 on September 15, 2021 at 6:53 am

This was considered the best first-run facility in Richmond presentation-wise for the 20-year period between the Byrd going second-run and the opening of the Commonwealth. The offices of Regal’s district manager and the former projectionists' union were located on-site. Auditorium 1 here was the largest screen & seating capacity in town and brought the first midnight blockbuster premiere to the metro area with The Phantom Menace in 1999.

The property is now home to a Kroger store.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 26, 2022 at 7:48 am

4 screens on July 2nd, 1975. Another ad posted.

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