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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Broad Street - Thalhimers - 1969

What better way to celebrate the first official day of the holiday shopping season than a picture of Broad Street and Thalhimers from (near the end of) it's heyday?

This is Broad Street looking east from January of 1969. You can still see the large plastic candles and Christmas trees in the median. Also note the Wards TV store (later Circuit City), and The Towne (now The National) showing Funny Girl. West Hospital is in the distance, as is the crane and yellow tarps that signal the beginnings of the "new" City Hall.

Photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Bruce Springsteen with Steel Mill - 1969

Here's a poster for an early show from Bruce Springsteen's band Steel Mill. They played at The Center on the corner of Laurel & Broad Street near VCU on November 20th, 1969...42 years ago yesterday. A great story about the show can be found here from the guitarist of Richmond's Mercy Flight, who opened the show. The Center eventually became Rockitz in the 80s, then The Metro and The Factory in the 90s. Empire is now downstairs, the upstairs has been closed for years. Only 2 bucks for this show!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Fan - 1963

Funny thing about old photos of The Fan, they look very similar to a picture of The Fan taken last week. With one exception: The cars! I love this shot of The Fan from February of 1963 for that very reason. Anyone know what street/block this is?

Photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

Monday, November 14, 2011

Regency Mall construction - 1975

Today's image of Regency Mall under construction comes from the 1975 Freeman High School yearbook.

The quote for this picture:
"Rugged landscape and a construction skeleton mark the erection of the largest shopping center on the east coast, Regency Square."

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Free ATM demonstration and Big Mac - 1979

With all the talk lately of monthly fees to use your debit card, I thought this Virginia National Bank ad from a 1979 issue of the University of Richmond's newspaper The Collegian was pretty fitting.

Not only did you not have to pay a monthly fee for your "cash flow card," but you also got two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun...

Ad courtesy of the University of Richmond's Boatwright Library/Digital Initiatives

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Teddy Roosevelt "horsecade" on Broad Street - 1905

Today's image is from what appears to be Theodore Roosevelt's only visit to Richmond. From a stereograph published by Underwood & Underwood. The quote on this one: "Broad Street, lined with school children applauding President Roosevelt."

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The B-52s at The Mosque - 1989

22 years ago today the B-52s played The Mosque (now The Landmark Theater).

Today's ad comes from the October 26th, 1989 issue of the University of Richmond's newspaper The Collegian.

Ad courtesy of the University of Richmond's Boatwright Library/Digital Initiatives

Friday, November 4, 2011

Monroe Park signal station - 1976

In the late 70s the widening of Belvidere Street took a fairly large chunk out of Monroe Park, and resulted in the demolition of the 1923 signal station building. From the 2008 Monroe Park Master Plan:
"In 1923, the City opted to place a signal station for fire and police alarms in the northeast corner of the park along Belvidere Street. The placement of the building in the center of a plat did not disrupt the plan for the park and followed the tradition set by the park house in 1890. The classical revival building with its stone façade and large windows was one of a number of elegant classical revival utilitarian buildings constructed by the City in the 1920s, including the hydroelectric plant and pumping stations in Byrd Park. The building, which faced Belvidere Street, was a commanding architectural presence."
The black dotted line in the photos below show the chunk of Monroe Park that was lost in the late 70s to Belvidere Street. I believe the building in the distance in the second photo was lost as well. The building behind it was torn down in the 90s for the VCU Engineering building. That building will be the subject of a future post, if I ever get around to scanning my old negatives. Click the photos below for the high resolution images.

Looking Southwest across the Belvidere/Franklin intersection towards the Landmark Theater (the signal station is the building on the left):


Looking South down Belvidere Street:

Photos courtesy of VCU Libraries