East End Theatre
418 N. 25th Street,
Richmond,
VA
23223
418 N. 25th Street,
Richmond,
VA
23223
4 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Pitts' Theaters Inc.
Architects: Fred A. Bishop, Henry Carl Messerschmidt
Functions: Bar, Housing, Restaurant
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Feb 26, 2010 — New uses proposed for former East End Theater in Richmond
- Dec 13, 2007 — 1938 Art Deco Movie Theater in need
A classic, Art Deco style theatre in downtown Richmond, VA. It opened on November 7, 1938 with Robert Taylor in “The Crowd Roars”. It was designed by Henry Carl Messerschmidt, who also was architect of the Lee Theatre (now the Grace Street Theatre) and Bellevue Theatre in Richmond. It was closed in 1970.
It was restored in 2015 when it was converted into apartments with a restaurant & bar.
Contributed by
Jason
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The current owner of the East End Theater is looking to sell what is left after she gutted the building. She planned to transform the East End Theater into her home but unfortuately left the building blighted and vacant where it serves as a reminder of the once thriving neighborhood theater. Church Hill residents hope there is someone interested in purchasing and restoring this Art Deco theater with historic tax credits and/or other incentives for restoration projects. To learn more about our neighborhood and the East End Theater, visit www.chpn.net
For information on the land and building value, address, owner, etc. go to the City of Richmond’s property search link and enter the following map reference number to see the land and building assessments, property dimentions, address, etc.: E0000337009
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About all that’s left of the East End is the walls, would it be practical to even attempt to rehab it? If something isn’t done soon the weather will deteriorate what’s left to the point that it is unstable and the city will have it demolished before it falls. I saw a lot of movies there growing up, would hate to see it go but…
This theater may get a second life: View link
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gosh i love this place. it is just two blocks up the street from my house (n. 25th). there are are some pics i have taken..
The East End Theatre was one of four new houses either under construction, planned, or recently opened by Benjamin Pitts Enterprises, according to an article on this page of the August 14, 1937, issue of Boxoffice.
The East End Theater has been restored!
http://m.richmond.com/news/article_b9e695ab-4245-5b26-bc23-d9876d41126f.html?mode=jqm
Fred A. Bishop was the architect of the theatre and his floor plan is in photos.
Two different permits were issued for this theater, both for Mr. B. T. Pitts. The first, permit #23923, was issued in 1936 for a theater designed by H. Carl Messerschmidt and the second, permit #24132, was issued in 1937 for a theater designed by Fred A. Bishop. I don’t know what prompted Mr. Pitts to change architects, or if any of Messerschmidt’s design was incorporated in Bishop’s later project.
the East End theatre opened on November 7th, 1938. Grand opening ad posted.