Henrico Theatre - Highland Springs, VA - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

The Henrico Theatre in Highland Springs opened April 25, 1938. The first film shown was "Thin Ice" starring Sonja Henie and Tyrone Power. Ticket prices were $0.25 for adults and $0.10 for children. The Art Deco building was designed by Edward F. Sinnott, Sr. of Richmond, and it was owned by Charles A. Somma and B. N. Somma who also built Richmond's Byrd Theatre several years before.

The Theatre closed in 1996 and fell into disrepair. In 1999 the County of Henrico purchased the building and initiated a $5.8 million restoration program. The original seating capacity of over 800 was reduced to 400 in order to expand the lobby. A grand re-opening ceremony took place October 27, 2007. In addition to films, the theatre hosts cultural events and can be rented for meetings and other gatherings.

For more information, see Henrico Theatre's website: Visit Link

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Located in Highland Springs, the Henrico Theatre was the most prominent and architecturally sophisticated theater, and the best example of Art Deco design in Henrico County when it opened on Monday, April 25, 1938. The owners Charles A. Somma and B. N. Somma, were not new to theatre architecture. Charles A. Somma (with Walter Coulter) was the builder of the Byrd Theater, built in 1928 to the design of architect Fred Bishop. The Henrico Theatre was constructed with the most up-to-date features possible: air conditioning, high tech lighting and projection equipment, superior acoustical treatment, streamlined and cushioned seats, plush fabrics throughout, neon tube fac¸ade lighting at night, and plenty of adjacent parking. The owners hired high quality workmen and subcontractors to complete the work. The general contractor was Doyle & Russell, who went on to work on Richmond’s City Hall. Several of the subcontracting companies are still in business today and were considered top- notch at the time: Decorative plasterwork and painting by E. Caligari & Son (Norfolk and Massachusettes offices), theater chairs and lounge furniture by Heywood-Wakefield (who had launched their “new modern” line a few years prior), stage drapery and equipment by Novelty Scenic Studio from New York City – even the exterior clock was a high tech creation from the International Business Machine Corporation (later IBM.)

No expense was spared in creating what was intended to be the most modern movie facility around in both function and design. The building was constructed of poured in place concrete, which created a monolithic structure that appears much larger than it actually is. In it’s grand opening advertisement in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, it was touted as “...a modern ‘Big City’ temple of entertainment set in beautiful rural surroundings...” It was so well received, that in the 1940 Architectural Record “Poll” it was nominated by a distinguished panel of citizens to be one of the most outstanding examples of recent architecture in Richmond.

Source: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (dated 9/26/05)

Street address: 305 E Nine Mile Rd Highland Springs, VA USA 23075 County / Borough / Parish: Henrico Year listed: 2005 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1938-1955 Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Recreation And Culture, Social Current function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Recreation And Culture, Social Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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