Rams Know RVA: The Byrd Theatre

By Elinor Frisa

This is the first story in a new VCU News series called Rams Know RVA, in which Virginia Commonwealth University community members offer students their favorite ways to experience the Richmond region.

Richmond is home to a palace. A movie palace. At one end of Richmond’s charming Carytown retail district sits the Byrd Theatre, a National Historic Landmark with a captivating story of its own: The 1,200-seat venue opened in 1928 and is one of the few remaining movie theaters of its era that is essentially unaltered and has operated almost continuously over the decades.

The Byrd’s opulent setting – velvet drapes, marble features, molded plaster carvings, colorful murals and an 18-foot-tall chandelier boasting roughly 5,000 crystals and 500 bulbs – adds a layer of drama to any screening. Today the theater shows second-run films and repertory films, from classics and cult standouts to family favorites and special series – an ever-changing lineup that entices film buffs of all genres and ages.

Catching a movie at the Byrd has been a Richmond tradition for generations. Pete Peterson, who graduated from VCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in cinema, remembers his first time there when he was still a student. It was 2021 Ridley Scott film “The Last Duel,” followed by a lecture by a VCU history professor. And he was hooked.

Peterson now works part-time as a projectionist at the Byrd when he’s not working on his own film projects. From his vantage point behind the scenes, he appreciates the Byrd even more today, and he isn’t shy about recommending it to students.

Why should students check out the Byrd?

I mean, it’s a movie palace, and I think that needs to be emphasized. This isn’t just a movie theater. It’s not an AMC. Coming to the Byrd is like a piece of history. It’s a beautiful, beautiful building. It feels like you’re stepping back in time and really experiencing movies. Especially in the modern age, where people don’t go to theaters as much with the prevalence of streaming.

It’s so nice to have a place that is so special and still brings people together in that communal way. It also can be your only chance to see some of your favorite movies in a theater, because it specializes in repertory movies, not just new movies. I can’t imagine a better place to see a movie you want to see than the Byrd.

What’s your favorite thing about it?

That’s so tough, but it’s got to be the organ. Bob Gulledge plays the Wurlitzer organ for about 15 minutes before the show almost every night. It’s a beautiful instrument, and people come from all over just to see Bob play. We don’t have trailers, but we have Bob, which I think is way better. It’s a really special experience, especially if you come during Christmastime and you get to sing along, with the snow and stuff.

Any insider tips for students?

Don’t come right at 7 p.m. [when most shows start]. Everyone comes right at 7, and we have a big, long line. So come a little bit early, especially if you want snacks.