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Willow Lawn Theatre
1601 Willow Lawn Drive,
Richmond,
VA
23230
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: A.O. Budina
Firms: Freeman Morgan Associates
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News About This Theater
- Mar 17, 2013 — “South Pacific” 55th Anniversary – The Roadshow Engagements
- Oct 6, 2010 — Happy 50th, "Spartacus"
- Mar 2, 2010 — Happy 45th, "The Sound Of Music"
- Nov 18, 2009 — Happy 50th, "Ben-Hur"
- Oct 30, 2009 — Happy 50th, "Sleeping Beauty"
The Willow Lawn Theatre opened on November 15, 1956, and was located in the Willow Lawn Shopping Center. It was designed by the architectural firm Budina & Freeman (today Freeman Morgan Associates).
The theatre was Richmond’s first to be equipped for 70mm presentation and was the area’s main roadshow house during the 1950’s & 1960’s. Movies to play here included “Cleopatra”, “Dr. Dolittle” and “Mary Poppins”. The most successful booking in the venue’s history was an 86-week engagement of "The Sound Of Music".
The Willow Lawn Theatre was closed in 1989, and was demolished.
The new 4-screen Regal Willow Lawn Cinemas was built on the site, opening on February 9, 1990, but this closed in 2001.
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
When the Willow Lawn opened THE SOUND OF MUSIC in March of 1965, it held the Virginia state premiere, and one of the kids from the cast came for the benefit opening. It played for more than a year and one little nun came every Saturday to see it. We she didn’t, Tom Connell, the manager, would call the rectory to make sure she was OK
Nice story.
Hope you guys let her in Free.
The article Tinseltoes linked to credits the design of the Willow Lawn Theatre to the firm of Budina & Freeman. The firm is still in operation as Freeman Morgan Architects. Their web site says that the firm was founded in 1955, and that A. O. Budina retired in 1972.
So wonderful to have found this piece. My earliest memory of the Willow Lawn is 2001:A Space Odyssey. I was 3 and only remember flashes of my parents taking me. But there were many others thru the years ..True Grit , The Cowboys , The Pink Panther , Road Warrior Hamburger Hill, Stir Crazy …and more …One of the main Cinemas of my childhood.
Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. The Willow Lawn’s run is mentioned in the piece.
Opened on November 15th, 1956. Grand opening ad posted.
Closed in 1989 and rebuilt with 4 screens on February 9th, 1990. Cineplex Odeon grand opening ad posted.