Loews Theatre
Why it's listed
Loew's Theater occupies the corner of Sixth and Grace streets in downtown Richmond. Architect John Eberson designed it, and it opened to capacity crowds on April 9, 1928, billed as the most up-to-date theater in the South. It cost $1,250,000 to build. The exterior combines Moorish and Spanish Colonial Revival styles, with a six-story curved Baroque corner tower, terra-cotta pilasters, a Moorish arcade along Sixth Street and shops at street level. Inside, a circular lobby leads to a cross-vaulted foyer and an auditorium that originally seated 2,217. Churrigueresque false facades, a Baroque proscenium and a sky-colored ceiling with tiny lights gave the impression of an open Spanish plaza under stars. The building was altered in the 1960s with a new marquee and interior repainting. It declined in the late 1970s, closed in June 1979, and was bought by the Richmond Symphony as its home theater.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a handsome example of 1920s movie palace architecture and a work of John Eberson. Its exterior mixes Moorish and Spanish Colonial Revival design, and its interior shows Eberson's atmospheric effects, including a sky-colored ceiling and an illusion of an open Spanish plaza. It was considered the most up-to-date theater in the South when it opened.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79003292, listed November 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6th and Grace Sts., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | November 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003292 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Mixture of Moorish and Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a movie house in June 1979 and purchased by the Richmond Symphony for use as its home theater; marked unoccupied on the form. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.54089, -77.43770 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79003292.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7330778
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.