Byrd Theatre facts for kids
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Byrd Theatre
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond, Virginia |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Fred Bishop |
| Architectural style | French Empire Period |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003289 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 24, 1979 |
The Byrd Theatre is a famous old movie theater in the Carytown area of Richmond, Virginia. It was named after William Byrd II, who helped found the city. The theater first opened its doors on December 24, 1928. Many people lovingly call it "Richmond’s Movie Palace" because of its grand style.
The Byrd Theatre was one of the first theaters to be built ready for movies with sound. It also had a special Wurlitzer pipe organ.
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History of the Byrd Theatre
The Byrd Theatre was built in 1928. It cost about $900,000 to build back then. That would be like spending over $12 million today! Charles Somma and Walter Coulter were the builders.
The theater opened on Christmas Eve, 1928. Back then, an adult ticket for an evening show was 50 cents. A child's ticket was only 10 cents. The first movie shown was Waterfront. It starred Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall.
Robert Coulter was the manager of the Byrd Theatre for a very long time. He managed it until he retired in 1971. In 1953, the old movie projectors were updated to newer models.
Like many places at the time, the Byrd Theatre had rules that kept people apart based on their race. It wasn't until the 1960s that everyone was welcome to enjoy movies there together.
Amazing Architecture and Design
Fred Bishop was the architect and builder of the Byrd Theatre. Its design is called French Empire style. This means it looks very grand and fancy, like buildings from old French empires.
Inside, the theater has seats for 916 people on the main floor. The balcony can hold another 476 people. The balcony is opened when lots of people come to watch a movie.
The inside of the theater is very fancy. It was designed by Arthur Brunet Studios from New York. There are eleven sparkling chandeliers made of Czechoslovakian crystal. One huge chandelier over the audience is 18 feet long and weighs two and a half tons! It has over 5,000 crystals and glows with 500 colored lights.
The theater also has marble imported from Italy and Turkey. You can see soft, hand-sewn velvet drapes. There are even oil paintings on the walls showing scenes from Greek mythology.
When the Byrd was built, movies were changing. Some were still silent, and some were just starting to "talk." So, the theater had two sound systems. One was called Vitaphone, used by Warner Brothers. The famous first "talking" movie, "The Jazz Singer," used this system. The other sound system was from Western Electric.
Because silent movies were still common, the Byrd also included a Wurlitzer Theatre organ. This organ could play music for silent films.
The Famous Wurlitzer Organ
The Byrd Theatre's Wurlitzer organ is very special. Its pipes are kept in four rooms high above the stage. In the basement, there's a vacuum blower that helps the organ work. There's also an elevator that brings the organ's keyboard up to the stage for performances.
The organ uses an electrical and air-powered system. This helps the organist choose which pipes and sounds to use. All the sounds, like bells and drums, are real and not electronic. To change how loud the organ is, large slats called swell shades open and close. A special chute carries the sound from the fourth floor down to the audience.
The theater also has other instruments that can be played from the organ. There's a marimba and a xylophone. There's even a grand piano that can be played from the organ's keyboard or its own keys.
Many talented organists have played at the Byrd Theatre over the years. Today, Bob Gulledge is the house organist. He still plays the Wurlitzer on Saturday nights.
Preserving a Piece of History
Because the Byrd Theatre has been around for so long, it's considered a very important building. It was named a Virginia Historic Landmark in 1978. Then, in 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a nationally recognized historic site.
In 2007, a group called the Byrd Theatre Foundation was formed. This non-profit group works to save and restore the theater. They bought the Byrd Theatre to make sure it stays open for future generations.
From 2007 to 2014, the Foundation raised over $1 million. They used this money to replace the roof and update the heating and cooling systems. They also invested in new digital projectors for movies.
In 2017, new seats were added to the main floor. These new seats are spaced further apart, giving people more legroom. The original seat frames are still there, and much of the upstairs upholstery is still original.
In 2006, a modern Dolby Digital sound system was installed. The person who created the system, Ray Dolby, even donated it himself after visiting the theater!
As of 2023, the Byrd Theatre still shows movies. Tickets are usually $8.00. Sometimes, special events like film festivals are held there. The theater is a beloved part of Richmond's history and a great place to watch a movie.
