East End Theatre

418 N. 25th Street,
Richmond, VA 23223

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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

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News About This Theater

East End Theatre

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

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

maryanneconmy
maryanneconmy on December 9, 2007 at 1:25 am

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
View link

byrdone
byrdone on January 20, 2008 at 7:16 pm

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…

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on February 18, 2010 at 12:31 pm

This theater may get a second life: View link

alisonbc
alisonbc on April 7, 2010 at 4:47 pm

View link

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..

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 27, 2013 at 7:28 pm

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.

Joshbilder418
Joshbilder418 on August 30, 2016 at 6:14 pm

The East End Theater has been restored!

http://m.richmond.com/news/article_b9e695ab-4245-5b26-bc23-d9876d41126f.html?mode=jqm

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on December 28, 2017 at 4:27 am

Fred A. Bishop was the architect of the theatre and his floor plan is in photos.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 27, 2018 at 11:02 pm

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.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 25, 2022 at 10:01 pm

the East End theatre opened on November 7th, 1938. Grand opening ad posted.

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