THE MOSQUE Lets take a ride PFP... This Theater, ranking high among the ten greatest in the United States, has been built and will be operated as ‘Richmond’s Own Theater.’ Source: Opening Night Program, October 28, 1927. Following seven years of planning and two years of construction, the Mosque Theater opened on that Autumn evening more than 80 years ago with the farewell performance of opera legend Madame Ernestine Schumann-Heink. The Mosque Theater was the 1918 brainchild of Clinton L. Williams, Potentate of the ACCA Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Williams felt his fraternal organization had outgrown its meeting place, so he set out to build a venue that would outshine any other Shriner facility, and thus would create an entertainment palace for the City of Richmond. Designed by architects Marcellus Wright, Sr., Charles M. Robinson and Charles Custer Robinson, the original plans included a 4,600 seat theater, four lounges, six lobbies, 18 dressing rooms, 42 hotel rooms, a gymnasium, locker rooms, a pool, a three-lane bowling alley, offices and a restaurant called “The Mosque Grill”. The theater’s construction price tag was $1.65 million. The City purchased the Mosque from the Shriners in 1940 and a 1994-95 renovation restored its splendor. One of the best known and most striking buildings in Richmond, the Altria also ranks among the City’s most popular stages for theatrical and musical performances. Some of America’s greatest entertainers have appeared on stage beneath its towering minarets and desert murals. Known for its excellent acoustics, the Altria now offers seating for 3,565. The Altria ballroom is also host of numerous gala affairs and the ballroom has a capacity of 1,000 and a seated capacity of 600. Richmond’s Altria Theater is located to the west of downtown Richmond, across from historic Monroe Park. The City of Richmond owned theater is nestled in the middle of the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University and it now plays host to a variety of events including Broadway productions, The Richmond Forum, concerts, comedians, children’s theater, lectures, school commencements and fashion shows. Performances of note October 28th, 1937 • The theater’s first performance, famed opera star Ernestine Schumann-Heink plays last July 2nd, 1956 • Elvis Presley plays first concert in Richmond November 24th, 1957 • Fats Domino, Frankie Lymon, the Everly Brothers, Paul Anka, Eddie Cochran play July 23rd, 1968 • Pete Townshend breaks one of his guitars while performing with The Who August 20th, 1968 • Jimi Hendrix plays two shows August 31st, 1968 • The Supremes perform October, 31st, 1981 • Iggy Pop performs on Halloween. Some fans are hit with thrown bottles. February 10th, 1987 • Cats plays sell-out one week run February 6th, 1990 • Les Miserablesopens for one week March 6th, 1994 • Frank Sinatra collapses on stage and is rushed to MCV. The singer discharges himself and returns to his California home on his private jet that evening. February 8th, 2013 • President Clinton will speak on the topic of “embracing our humanity” (Source: 1995 Richmond Times-Dispatch article, “New Life For a Landmark”)
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:18:54 +0000
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