Rosna Theatre
628 W. 35th Street,
Norfolk,
VA
23508
628 W. 35th Street,
Norfolk,
VA
23508
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Levine Theatrical Enterprises
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
Opened on May 29, 1941 with Ann Sothern in “Maisie Was a Lady”. The Rosna Theatre was converted for Cinerama on October 18, 1961 and showed 3-strip and then 70mm Cinerama films. Later on they would show other 70mm films such as “My Fair Lady” and popular films such as “Zorba The Greek”. In later years, the Rosna Theatre was converted into a church. In November 2023 it was announced that the former theatre would be converted into a gymnasium.
Contributed by
Bob Jensen
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Recent comments (view all 30 comments)
I can’t believe Stanley Kubrick’s classic sci fi 2001: A Space Odyssey wasn’t mentioned here. I saw it in CINERAMA at this ROSNA in 1968 and it was magnificent. The theater was sold out and the audience mesmerized. A great theater experience. One I will never forget. So sad to see it shut down.
Michelemichaels430…. “2001: A Space Odyssey” has indeed been mentioned “here” both in a comment posted on March 18, 2008 and in a related article linked under News About This Theater (located on the right margin of this page underneath the map and nearby theaters).
Hopefully I haven’t missed the bus here, but is there any chance I could get ahold of some old pictures of this beautiful theater? I’m trying to put together a project to hopefully re-open the theater, and being able to demonstrate its former glory would go a long way.
I have pictures of two Cinerama movies posters for the Rosna:
http://incinerama.com/rosna.htm
Looks like the building is still standing. When were these pictures taken? The inside is HUGE! So sad to see it like this.
Hey Colgraff2008, any luck or progress on getting the theater going again?
Cinerama opened October 18th, 1961
Opened on May 29th, 1941. Grand opening ad posted.
Click on link to see ads, articles, and pictures of the Norfolk Rosna theatre. Please do not copy to this site.
This web page from the City of Norfolk says that the Rosna Theatre building has been acquired by the City and is to be renovated for use as a specialized gymnasium for Team Norfolk Boxing. The former lobby will become a community meeting room, and the commercial space in the building will house a restaurant. It’s not a theater, but at least the building is being saved for public use, and the marquee is to be restored.