Byrd Theatre

2908 W. Cary Street,
Richmond, VA 23221

Unfavorite 35 people favorited this theater

Showing 51 - 75 of 78 comments

ghamilton
ghamilton on March 6, 2006 at 10:12 am

Sometimes we forget what this is all about.Sat.night my wife and myself went to the big Byrd.The Chronicles of Narnia was the earlier feature.Full house with tons of families and people of all ages.The organ program was great,just not long enough.People loved the movie,clapped,cheered,left with smiles.I watched people before the lights went down.You could tell who had never been there before.The wide-eyed wonder was not hard to see.It was like going to the theater 50 years ago.WHAT A BLAST!!!What a treasure.I still wish there was a section here on JUST movie palaces that show movies.Anybody within 100 or so miles of Cary St.should support this marvelous place.Every time I go there I feel like a little kid again,going to the Florida or the Palace in a Jacksonville that is long-gone.

enterstellar1
enterstellar1 on September 1, 2005 at 4:44 pm

FUND RAISER. Hello everyone. The Byrd is one of my favorite places because it has everything; old movies, new movies, and even great architecture. Recently I did a drawing of this awesome building and made prints. The framed prints sell for 25 dollars, but 10 will be donated directly to the Byrd. Check out the display when you see your next movie there or view the image at www.ArtWanted.com/mlmmlm777art . I am excited to help preserve the Byrd for future generations. I hope you enjoy viewing the drawing.
Thanks,
Michael Martin

Hi2lowgan86
Hi2lowgan86 on August 5, 2005 at 10:05 pm

I agree with Mr. Gibbs and others that the statement, “a shame the theatre isn’t here in New York City, where it could serve a more discerning population and wouldn’t more or less go to waste,” a very insulting comment. Many Richmond locals as well as tourists enjoy the Byrd Theatre. It is certainly not a waste being in Richmond, as this city has quite a history. Being only eighteen, my friends and I go to many of the shows at the Byrd and appreciate its marble, crystal chandaliers, and velvet drapes. New generations should be able to appreciate it just as the old generations did. Perhaps I am overly defensive being a Richmond “native,” but Richmond is an amazing town and deserves to have such an incredible piece of histoy in its town.

Suwanti
Suwanti on July 21, 2005 at 4:55 am

It is glad to learn that Byrd Theatre can be saved and still shows movies nowsadays.

balto18
balto18 on July 12, 2005 at 11:05 pm

Quote from above:
a shame the theatre isn’t here in New York City, where it could serve a more discerning population and wouldn’t more or less go to waste

What an absolutely insulting thing to say! Richmond is a beautiful old city with a fine history. Although nowhere near New York’s size, it has a well-educated, lively and interesting population. Although a Baltimore native I lived for two delightful years in Richmond and, frankly, have never seen anything in Babylon-on-the-Hudson that could match Richmond for elegance and graciousness. If New York is so discerning, why are the Paramount and the Roxy gone? Of course New York is more metropolitan, but please, Camden, don’t write off Richmond just because it isn’t New York. The Byrd is not wasted on Richmond; nor is the Loew’s or the Mosque. It does seem, though, that the Paramount WAS wasted on New York.

ghamilton
ghamilton on June 22, 2005 at 9:33 am

ONE THING THAT IS A FACT!!!the Byrd is the grandest theater in the whole region that still shows normal,scheduled movies.Yes,the Carpenter and a few others in the mid-Atlatic are a bit grander or larger,but NO movies.You don’t have to pay 35 dollars or more to see the trans-siberian ballet and bagpipers to enjoy the experience.I’ve tried to figure out how many great theaters still operate as the Byrd.There are not many in the entire country.

ghamilton
ghamilton on June 22, 2005 at 9:22 am

I had a conversation recently(last wk.)with a Byrd manager type.I tried in a nice way to convey that they do a less than satisfactory job of communicating what they do to the public.Not everyone is going to seek out the website.There could be out reach to school groups and community clubs,etc.I’ve seen elementary age kids going into the Byrd the first time.The wonder in their faces is something to see.99% of adults under 35 have never been to a REAL movie theater in their lives.The near uniqueness of this grand ols lady MUST be preserved,nutured and,most of all,used.The National Trust and other groups need to be utilized and constantly communicated with,in order to keep the Byrd’s restoration on the front burner.

ghamilton
ghamilton on March 10, 2005 at 8:17 pm

By the way,does anyone know what will become of the lovely old theater in Tappahanock?I think I spelled it wrong.It is a handsome bldg.Too nice to waste.It was sad when that lovely theater on Forest Hill closed.Lucky thing about Richmond is the availibilty of the really fine volume on the theater history of the area.Barnes and Noble has it.The Venus still stands on Hull St.Is that the saddest street you’ve ever seen?The great theater still standing empty and in fine shape on Broad begs to be saved.One old theater West of the BLVD & Broad intersection is being used as a camera store.WHY no mention in the listings for the Mosque(Richmond’s Landmark Theater)????It must have been the largest theater ever in Richmond.

ghamilton
ghamilton on March 10, 2005 at 8:13 pm

By the way,does anyone know what will become of the lovely old theater in Tappahanock?I think I spelled it wrong.It is a handsome bldg.Too nice to waste.It was sad when that lovely theater on Forest Hill closed.Lucky thing about Richmond is the availibilty of the really fine volume on the theater history of the area.Barnes and Noble has it.The Venus still stands on Hull St.Is that the saddest street you’ve ever seen?The great theater still standing empty and in fine shape on Broad begs to be saved.One old theater West of the BLVD & Broad intersection is being used as a camera store.

ghamilton
ghamilton on March 7, 2005 at 7:41 pm

People cry over the demise of REAL: theaters,weeping and howling,but it’s a rare house that closed with crowds being turned away.Support the Byrd or lose it.Richmond has lost so many great theaters.By the way,I never heard a word when the oldest theater in VA,in downtown Frdericksburg was destroyed a few years ago.It’s across the street and down from a much larger theater that is being used as a church.I remember meeting the owner of the Old theater(he also owned car dealerships)at the theater.He told me he would never allow anything to happen to his historical treasure.What happened?Did he pass away?

Patsy
Patsy on March 2, 2005 at 10:00 pm

Just watched Food Nation with Bobby Flay and he was in Richmond VA. He told us about some great restaurants there, but we know there are 2 great theatres there, too…..thanks to CT.

Patsy
Patsy on February 13, 2005 at 11:28 am

My neighbors have their parents visitng from Richmond VA this weekend so needless to say I have informed them of their 2 special theatres..this one and the Carpenter PAC both built in 1928! It is really quite something to have 2 beautiful theatres in a city the size of Richmond.

Patsy
Patsy on February 11, 2005 at 8:42 pm

“…..its own Wurlitzer (which is still in use and plays every Saturday night).” What a wonderful thing to read about this theatre and what it offers the residents of Richmond.

Patsy
Patsy on February 11, 2005 at 8:39 pm

Martha: Interesting that you note about a bowling alley in the basement as my hometown theatre was to have had a bowling alley, but that may have only been a rumor in regards to my theatre.

Patsy
Patsy on February 11, 2005 at 8:36 pm

The City of Richmond is so very lucky to have 2 beautiful theatres and one of them is an atmospheric that is being restored! Consider yourself lucky, Richmond!

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 10, 2005 at 10:03 am

What a splendid survivor this theater is! And what an excellent web site its operators have provided, so that those of us who live in places where theaters such as this no longer exist, or never did, can get a glimpse of what a functioning movie palace that is properly cared for can still be. The citizens of Richmond are very fortunate not to have lost this treasure.

brushwood
brushwood on December 2, 2004 at 6:50 pm

I am an out-of-towner that came here from Washington DC. You can make your own good time here with friends so I believe Camden missed out on a lot. The only thing that is really missing here in this wonderful city (besides good management, which is changing) is a selection of good FM radio stations. The Byrd is one of those treasures that is so magnificent that you can’t believe it was open to the general public – surely it must have been for the elite only.
The main chandelier alone is priceless – well, hundreds of thousands anyway! The organ, the classic preview, the ‘flappers’ at the fountain, the incredible curtain….what a pride and joy for this city. Thanks and come see it! Bill

Jennalea
Jennalea on November 24, 2004 at 9:13 am

The Byrd theatre does not go to waste! I’m glad it is right here in Richmond and not in NYC! Not only do they offer second run movies for cheap but the discerning Richmond audience enjoys special viewings of classics such as Harold Lloyd silent films with live accompaniment and most recently, a showing of “Some Like It Hot” with Tony Curtis giving a talk prior to the show – what a great night!

123456
123456 on November 17, 2004 at 12:33 pm

i am doing a paper on the byrd, so if anybody has some interesting stories, could you please post them (and note that i can use it in my paper) thanks very much!
—123456

bruceanthony
bruceanthony on August 19, 2004 at 3:17 pm

Why can’t each large town or city at least restore one movie palace like the Byrd for movies? Its seating capacity is perfect not to large for todays economics. The AFI helps restore film, well it would be great is something was created and funded to help restore some of these theatres for movies and not just Performing Art Centers.brucec

Camden
Camden on July 21, 2004 at 12:27 pm

Don’t miss the Byrd’s official website. It is just incredible.

Camden

Camden
Camden on July 17, 2004 at 6:16 pm

Yeah, two dollars now probably isn’t that much different from a dollar back then. The Byrd Theatre’s official website is the largest and most ornate and informative of any theatre’s that I’ve ever seen on the internet. It’s so large and complex, covering every single detail of the theatre that anyone could possibly think of, that it has to be seen to be believed. After a couple of hours on that site, I couldn’t believe how much I’d learned about the Byrd, a place I went to for years.

It’s a shame the theatre isn’t here in New York City, where it could serve a more discerning population and wouldn’t more or less go to waste.

Camden

decafdyke
decafdyke on July 17, 2004 at 10:45 am

it’s two dollars now, but the byrd is still a great place to see a movie (and as camden said, a couple hours' respite from the rest of richmond can be a very good thing).

Camden
Camden on July 1, 2004 at 3:26 pm

The Byrd in Richmond was magnificently restored about ten or fifteen years ago and now runs second-run movies for a dollar a ticket. Along with Hollywood Cemetery and Joe’s Inn on Shields Avenue in the Fan, it’s one of Richmond’s few treasures. Don’t miss catching a movie here if you ever happen to find yourself enduring Richmond.

Camden

jsale
jsale on March 2, 2004 at 8:17 pm

Martha — please contact me. I’m researching the Arlington Theatre, which is apparently one of the last projects your grandfather worked on. Would love to learn more about it.