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We are collecting emails from folks who remember Bellevue back then
Elizabeth Kambourian is looking for photos:
What's the possibility of soliciting old pictures from the 'hood, of Bellevue, Ginter Park (and all the other 'dales, parks, etc. in our area) houses in former years? I have found about eight pictures on Ebay of houses along Chamberlayne Avenue. I'm sure they are long gone now (the houses). I also have a few pictures taken "by accident" of houses along Fauquier Ave, that happened to be in the background of family pictures - from the 1930s, 40s & 50s. I would love to see how some of them looked in former times, though from personal experience, I can't think of any that have changed significantly since the 1950s.
Another thought I had, while talleying up reasons to feel superior: The Fan gets so much attention for its beautiful houses, BUT ... has anyone ever noticed how many have been divested of their front porches? From sad experience, I've learned (and also have read) that these big old porches are the most expensive portion of a house to maintain. The Fan was a semi-slum for many years and the long term lack of care no doubt made many of the porches unsalvageable. Not so for good little Bellevue. I think there's been a lot less mommicking up of the houses around here. There's something to be said for staying the same.
Someone else in the neighborhood suggested this picture idea, and he is putting an ad in the RTD. I thought it would be nice to have a notice in the newsletter, or on the web page about old pictures. I'd be glad to scan any that folks might have, for the website.
Elizabeth
Terry Bagley wrote about the former Bellevue Theater:
From: <tbagley@mcguirewoods.com>
To: <%20JohnRButcher@attbi.com%20>
Subject: Bellevue Theater
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 11:42 AMThere is a new Dementi book that has a neat picture of the old Bellevue theater from 1937 (and a picture as it looks today). Back then I believe the street was called Rapahannock. The book can be found at Barnes & Noble. This, of course was the theater frequented by, among others, Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty. Beatty saw his first movie there, Fantasia, which he said scared him to death. I was a little too young for this theater, but my siblings often went there. When I came along, it was a Country Western hall where I recall Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton played on occasion. Just a bit of local lore.
Terrence M. Bagley, Esquire
McGuireWoods LLP
One James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23219-4030
804.775.4371
804.775.1061 (fax)
tbagley@mcguirewoods.com
www.mcguirewoods.com
Terry's note prompted this from Elizabeth Kambourian:
From: <Elizabe309@aol.com>
To: <%20JohnRButcher@attbi.com%20>
Subject: Re: Bellevue Theater
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 9:26 PMRe: the business districts in Bellevue:
My two older sisters and I used to go to the Bellevue Theatre (now Samis Grotto) back in the 50s. The other theatre, across from Nuttalls was closed, but I remember it had posters all over it for "Meet Me in St. Louis". It did open as a skating rink for a while about 1962-63. We used to go ice skating there.
There was a field beside the old theatre that was full of wild wheat. The big field between Nuttalls (then Nuttall's and the High's Ice Cream Store) and the beauty shop (where the MacArthur Apts. are, was also full of wild growing wheat.
There was Smither's Hardware across from the Apts (field), and a grocery store, and Dr. Hale's Drug Store.
I'll have to get a layout of the whole works from my Mother. Bellevue was very similar - with Willie's. Dr. Willie used to run us out of his store for being hooligans, etc. There was a Lukhard's on the corner of Lamont and Bellevue. Grandison's Barber Shop predated the one that is there now. I was sitting in the shoe shine chair reading comic books with my best friend when we heard President Kennedy had been shot.
The Beatty house is I think the 2nd or 3rd from the corner of Claremont and Fauquier, on the west side of the street (even numbers). Rappahannock Ave changed to MacArthur sometime during or after WW2.
My grandmother's house was at 3911 Fauquier, and my mother vaguely remembers Shirley McLaine - who was somewhat younger.
Enough now - back to genealogy. I'll grill my mother about the other businesses.
Elizabeth
Last updated 02/24/02
Please send questions or comments to John Butcher