Dubbed the "Showplace of Virginia," Richmond's Byrd Theatre was built in 1928.
It is one of the few movie palaces from that grand era that has continuously operated as a movie theatre, looking very much like it did when it first opened.
The lobby:
At the time of my visit, many of the center seats had been ripped out and were in the process of being redone.
Vintage light fixtures...come home with me!
It was probably a good thing that the lights were on low; upon closer inspection of the remaining seats and the condition of the curtain, this place looked like it could use a good scrubbing.
Still, it truly is a French Empire architectural treasure.
Final one for today is a panorama of the theatre's impressive ceiling and overhead light, which is an 18-foot, two-and-a-half ton Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier containing over 5,000 crystals illuminated by 500 red, blue, green and amber lights. It's Christmas every day at the Byrd!
More Byrd Theatre at my main website.
I've been on travel the last week and just got back into my daily routine of webs. Sorry i missed these until now. It's kind of a relief to know that such places still exist and are being preserved. I fear today's theater goer wouldn't treat these places with the respect they deserve.
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