The NorVa
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (May 2015) |
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| Former names | The Norva Theatre |
|---|---|
| Location | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 36°51′0.7″N 76°17′22″W / 36.850194°N 76.28944°WCoordinates: 36°51′0.7″N 76°17′22″W / 36.850194°N 76.28944°W |
| Owner | Anschutz Entertainment Group |
| Type | Music venue |
| Capacity | 1,450 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1922[1] (original) 2000 (reopened) |
| Renovated | 1998 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The NorVa is a performing venue located in Norfolk, Virginia, the name being a syllabic abbreviation of the city and state of its location.
The NorVa was the brainchild of local music venue entrepreneurs Bill Reid and Rick Mersel, who have also developed the NTelos Wireless Pavilion and have ties to the development of Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach.[2] In 2014, the NorVa was acquired by Anschutz Entertainment Group.[3]
The original NorVa Theater opened in 1922[4] as a 2000-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 when it was renovated for its current use.
Movie theater history[]
- Built by The Johnson Construction Co.
- Operated by the W.W.V. (Wells, Wilmer, and Vincent) Co., Inc.
- Part of the Wells entertainment group which included Granby Theatre and Wells Theatre.
- William S. Wilder was the first manager before opening The Colley Theater (Naro Expanded Cinema) in 1936, and The Commodore Theater in 1945.
- Newspaper articles of the time used "theater" and "theatre" interchangeably.
- Pipe organ manufactured by The Robert Morton Co.
- Norva Concert Orchestra Director - Prof. Charles Borjes
- Original Organist - Jack Griffith
- Chairs furnished by Virginia School Supply Co. of Richmond, Virginia.
1922
- November 27 - and The Man Who Saw Tomorrow were the first films.[1]
- November 30 - The Sin Flood
Concert venue history[]
The NorVa opened on April 28, 2000, with James Brown performing the inaugural show.
References[]
- ^ a b "(1922, Nov 26). Virginian-Pilot, p. 58". 26 November 1922. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ "The NorVa in Hampton Roads, VA - AOL City Guide". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ Schwartz, Michael (2014-10-06). "The National's owners bow out". Richmond BizSense. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
- ^ NorVa Theater at Cinema Treasures
External links[]
- Theatres in Virginia
- Music venues in Virginia
- Buildings and structures in Norfolk, Virginia
- Culture of Norfolk, Virginia
- 1922 establishments in Virginia
- Anschutz Corporation
- Downtown Norfolk, Virginia