Altria Theater

The Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, United States is a theater at the southwest corner of Monroe Park on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, and is the largest venue of Richmond CenterStage's performing arts complex. Formerly known as The Mosque and the Landmark Theater, the Altria Theater was originally built for Shriners of the Acca Temple Shrine.

Altria Theater
Exterior of the venue (c.2003)
Former namesAcca Temple Shrine (1928-40)
Mosque Theater (1940-95)
Landmark Theater (1995-2014)
Address6 N Laurel St
Richmond, VA 23220-4700
LocationVirginia Commonwealth University
OwnerCity of Richmond
Capacity3,565
Construction
Broke groundFebruary 7, 1926
OpenedOctober 28, 1927
RebuiltDuring 2013 and 2014
Construction cost$1.65 million
($27.3 million in 2022 dollars[1])
Architect
Website
Venue Website
The Mosque
Part ofMonroe Park Historic District[2] (ID84003572)
Designated CPJuly 05, 1984 [3]

In 1940, the building was purchased by the City of Richmond, which converted much of its interior for municipal use. The Richmond Police Department occupied the theater's basement, where they opened up office space, classrooms, a gymnasium, and a shooting range for the police academy. An underground swimming pool was also maintained, initially for training purposes, until it was filled in with concrete during the 2014 renovation.[4][5] Many are familiar with the basement of the Mosque as the location for VCU class registration, which occurred several times each year.

The name of the theater was changed in 1995 from "The Mosque" to "Landmark Theater" following a year of restoration.[6] After a $10 million renovation gift from the company, the theater was officially dubbed the Altria Theater in February 2014.[7] It annually plays host to big-name musical and theatrical performers.

The theater was designed in Moorish Revival style by Marcellus E. Wright Sr. in association with Charles M. Robinson and Charles Custer Robinson circa 1925. J. R. Ray, of the Richmond Tile and Mosaic Works, was responsible for the widely used ornamental tile, and J. Frank Jones, of the Rambusch Decorating Company, oversaw the interior decoration. The building officially opened in 1927, and was dedicated by the Shriners in 1928.[8][9]

Performers such as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Burr, Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Roy Buchanan, B B King, Widespread Panic and The Supremes held shows at this venue. Notable Broadway performances such as Wicked, The Lion King, Les Miserables, and Cats have also been past visitors of The Altria Theater.[10]

Statistics
  • Theater capacity: 3,565 seats
  • Ballroom capacity: 1,100 persons
  • Ballroom dimensions: 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2)

2023 shooting
Main article: 2023 Richmond shooting

On June 6, 2023, a shooting occurred during the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School. Richmond Public Schools canceled the graduation ceremony for Thomas Jefferson High School that evening following the shooting, and RPS will be fully closed on Wednesday. Two suspects were taken into custody. One suspect remains in custody while the second was cleared and released.[11]

References
  1. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  2. "Monroe Park Historic District National Register Nomination" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  4. Kappatos, Nicole. "From The Archives: The Mosque". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  5. Holmberg, Mark (August 18, 2016). "Richmond's most famous pool, built 90 years ago – under the Altria Theater". WTVR. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  6. Watson, Pernell; Joines, Elizabeth (April 14, 1997). "This Mosque Never Used For Worship". The Daily Press. Newport News. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  7. Bacqué, Peter (February 22, 2014). "Landmark Theater is now the Altria Theater". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  8. Brownell, Charles E. (1992). The Making of Virginia Architecture. Richmond, VA: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. p. 360. ISBN 0-917046-34-X. The ornamental tile was done by J. R. Ray of the Richmond Tile and Mosaic Works...The interior decoration was carried out under the direction of J. Frank Jones of the Rambush [sic] Company of New York.
  9. Roy, James V. (May 7, 2008). "The Mosque Theater - Richmond, VA". Scotty Moore: The Official Website. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  10. "An RVA landmark: the 85-year history of the Landmark Theater". RVANews. July 17, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  11. "7 people shot outside Altria Theater". VPM. June 6, 2023. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.

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