Grand Theatre

620 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, VA 23219

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Bluebird Theatre

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Grand Theatre

Originally opened as the Bluebird Theatre on January 21, 1918 with Olive Thomas in “Betty Takes a Hand” & Marie Walcamp in “Red Ace”. It was most prominent at night when the large illuminated sign over the marquee was lit up in blue and white light bulbs. It was shaped like a bird and the alternating flashing of the lights gave the illusion of a bird flapping its wings.

In 1930 it was closed due to the Wall Street ‘crash’ and it stayed closed until August 10, 1933 when it was re-opened as the Grand Theatre with George O'Brien in “Life in the Raw”. It had a new facade, and the building was renovated. Now a grind house screening ‘B’ movies and westerns.

In the 1940’s and until it closed in 1960 it was the home to western movies in Richmond.

Contributed by Lost Memory, Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

LouisRugani
LouisRugani on April 19, 2011 at 1:00 am

(December 5, 1963)
Virginia Man Has Passion for Cinema
RICHMOND, Va. â€" When the Grand Theatre opened here on Aug. 10, 1933, Charles B. Hall attended, and he has been going pretty regularly since.
He says he has attended 1,775 movies there and paid $558.62 in admissions.

VaLibra
VaLibra on October 21, 2015 at 12:19 pm

Anyone remember the PARK theater? was it a name change? I can’t find anything on it

Robert L. Bradley
Robert L. Bradley on October 21, 2015 at 2:50 pm

The Park was in the 800 block of East Broad Street where the Trailways Bus Station used to be. The Grand had once been the Bluebird. It was at 620 East Broad.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 29, 2020 at 2:11 am

In Google street view it looks like the Grand’s building has been demolished.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 26, 2022 at 4:44 am

The Bluebird opened on January 21st, 1918, and reopened as Grand on August 10th, 1933, and closed in 1960. 1918 and 1933 grand opening ads posted.

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