The Byrd Theatre — Attraction in Richmond

Edited at bottom of post-I am seeing way too many 4-5 star reviews for a place that doubled it's ticket price and has seats that are literally covered in black plastic bag because they are unusable. The theater HAS the potential of being grand once again but unfortunately it has been living on potential for way to long it's time to actually do something with that potential.

I moved away from Richmond and came back after 2.5 years and the Byrd has gotten worse since I left not better. Now I'm just talking about it from a seeing a movie experience. Behind the scenes might be much improved but since I don't see behind the scenes (I've volunteered to help multiple times) I have to judge on what my actual experience was, sorry.

I would love to have to come back and edit or delete this review. Please, please make me eat my words!

Edited review-Slow going but they have been steadily improving the theater over the years. Some seats have been replaced and the balcony has just reopened with new seats, they've also added an ADA compliment bathroom. Still a ways to go before it a "Grand Movie Palace" again but I do like the way it's trending. I still have a problem with the pricing (a local first run chain theater has similarprices)...

I've visited the Byrd off and on over the years. It's a beautiful journey back in time with the startling exception of the now ridiculously priced CONCESSIONS. It will be much longer before I visit again because that's the only way I can protest. Looks like others agree. A Star Wars night that would sell out twice in the past was about 65% full.

Charge me more for tickets... $15...it's worth it for the Byrd Experience. Solicit donations at the door. Have a donation night. Something...Get creative. Free concessions with a request for donations. Get on the news and ask people to support you. That's me dropping $100 into the pot or signing up for a $20 monthly donation for a couple of free tickets annually. And there are a LOT of "me"s in Richmond.

Think NPR... Have an annual fund-raiser... 48 hrs of non stop movies.. Open door...free gnosh for being a Byrd Backer monthly supporter.

Don't give me a thimble full of popcorn and charge me $7.50. I was done before the first act ended and had nothing else to gnosh on.

'Overpriced munchies' is lazy and off putting. Worse, it reeks of financial desperation. Do...

In 2013 I worked in Richmond for a couple months, and one of my coworkers was a Richmond native. I can't ever say I was a huge fan of Richmond, but I guess I look back on it now with rose-colored glasses. I returned in 2015 for a short vacation following a convention in D.C., and my friend was determined to show me more of Virginia (and even just Richmond itself) in 3 days than I saw that entire 2 months, and he succeeded. One of the highlights of the trip was that we went to the Byrd Theatre. I believe we saw the new Mad Max movie.

So, I'll start off by saying this. It's a beautiful, old, historic theatre, in a state of superficial disrepair. It's still a beautiful building, but the seats and carpet and such are disgusting. That's just kind of their style, though, from how I understand it. It's intentionally dilapidated in that kitschy Carytown kind of way. But here's the thing: it's also dirt cheap. I thought it was a great introduction to Carytown culture (all I'd ever done there when I worked here was go to Carytown Burgers a couple times) and a great addition to any sightseeing trip...