Olde Towne in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Commodore Theatre
Opened on November 14, 1945, the Commodore Theatre was designed by noted Baltimore architect John J. Zink and built and operated by William S. "Bunkie" Wilder, a Portsmouth native, as his flagship theatre. It is named for Commodore James Barron, veteran of the War of 1812, who is buried in the churchyard next to the theatre.
The Art Deco theatre has a nautical theme and two large murals depicting local and national history.
The Commodore showed motion pictures and hosted community stage presentations until 1975, when it closed for twelve years.
In 1987, Fred Schoenfeld purchased the theatre and spent two and a half years restoring it. He re-opened the Commodore on December 21, 1989 as a first-run movie theatre with full-service dining—the first such cinema-eatery in the United States.
Meeting stringent exhibition criteria for sound, image, and audience experience, the Commodore Theatre earned THX-certification for excellence.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1762.
Location. 36° 50.117′ N, 76° 18.098′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Olde Towne. Marker is on High Street west of Court Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 421 High Street, Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Norfolk County Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1846 Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Trinity Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Towne Square (about 300 feet away); Monumental Methodist Church (about 300 feet away); Court Street Baptist Church (about 400 feet away); Portsmouth Public Library (about 500 feet away); Rev. Francis Devlin (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,211 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on July 3, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 12, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 6. submitted on February 14, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.