The NorVa

Last updated
The NorVa
Marquee march 29 2019.jpg
Marquee of venue (c.2019)
Former namesNorva Theatre (1922-80)
Address317 Monticello Ave
Norfolk, VA 23510-2407
Location Downtown Norfolk
Owner Anschutz Entertainment Group
Capacity 1,450
Construction
OpenedNovember 27, 1922 [1]
Renovated1998
ReopenedApril 28, 2000
Construction cost$500,000
($8.81 million in 2024 dollars [2] )
Website
Venue Website

The NorVa is a performing venue located in Norfolk, Virginia, the name being a syllabic abbreviation of the city and state of its location.

Contents

About

The theatre was the brainchild of local music venue entrepreneurs Bill Reid and Rick Mersel, who have also developed the Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion and have ties to the development of Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater. [3] In 2014, the NorVa was acquired by Anschutz Entertainment Group. [4]

The original venue opened in 1922 [5] as a 2,000-seat motion picture and live entertainment (vaudeville) theater. It continued as a movie theater into the 1970s. The building served as home to the Downtown Athletic Club from 1980 until 1998. [6] The NorVa reopened as a concert venue on April 28, 2000, with James Brown performing the inaugural show. [7]

Movie theater history

1922

References

  1. 1 2 "Unknown" . The Virginian-Pilot. November 26, 1922. p. 58. Retrieved August 7, 2018 via NewsBank.
  2. 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 February 29, 2024.
  3. "The NorVa in Hampton Roads, VA". AOL City Guide. May 9, 2008. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
  4. Schwartz, Michael; Thompson, Michael (October 6, 2014). "The National's owners bow out". Richmond BizSense. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  5. "Norva Theatre". Cinema Treasures. August 2018. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  6. Clayton, Cindy (October 8, 2018). "In 1922, the NorVa began its near-century life showing silent films". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  7. Gubitosi, Frederick (October 2017). "The NorVa Theater soon to celebrate its Centennial". Shutter 16. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.

36°51′0.7″N76°17′22″W / 36.850194°N 76.28944°W / 36.850194; -76.28944