History

Originally constructed in 1929 and opened on April 17, 1930, the Lyric Theatre is a blend of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, designed by Roanoke architect Louis Phillipe Smithey. Most notable on the Lyric’s façade are the traditional Comedy and Tragedy masks.

The original Lyric masks adorned the theatre’s parapet from 1930 until sometime in the 1950s. After some wear and tear, the masks were deemed a potential danger to passers-by and were taken down. After living for a while in the yard of a Blacksburg resident, the masks mysteriously disappeared sometime in the 1980s. Many myths abound as to what happened to the original masks: some say they are now at the bottom of a lake; others insist they have long been sold at a flea market. The replicas, designed and built by from Vivian Appler and John Luttman Studios, were unveiled shortly after the Lyric’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2006.

1909 – The Lyric Theatre was first opened in 1909 on the corner of Wilson Avenue and North Main Street in downtown Blacksburg. The following year (1910), however, the theatre was moved to a more prominent location on the corner of Main and Jackson Streets; the site of the current Wells Fargo Bank Building.

1920s – There was one further move before the Lyric moved into the building it currently occupies on College Avenue. This third move has never been documented, but most accounts suggest it was somewhere in the early 1920s. What is known, however, is the exact location: 126 North Main Street, immediately adjacent to what was then the Preston Hotel.

Towards the end of the 1920s, the three founders of the Lyric–R. Floyd Plank, Vane E. Kelsey, and R. C. Whitsett–decided that, with the advent of “talkies” after 1927, they needed to build a major new facility that included a top-of-the-line sound system. Space was acquired within a major commercial and apartment complex that was being planned and constructed on College Avenue.

1998-1999- The theatre closed for seven and a half months to allow renovations to be completed.  Finally, in October of 1998, the renovated theatre was opened to the public with regular programs.  The Lyric celebrated its second grand opening in 1999.

2006- The façade of the theatre was not part of the 1996-98 renovation. In 2006 Lester Properties repaired the crumbling façade wall and the Lyric Council replaced the original masks that adorned the Lyric’s parapet from 1930 until sometime in the 1950’s. The original masks had been deemed a hazard to passers-by.  The replicas, designed and built by Vivian Appler were unveiled and installed after the 75^th anniversary celebration.

2013- For several years, the film industry had been transitioning from 35mm print film to digital cinema.  It was essential that The Lyric make this transition if they were going to continue to show current films.  Through the support of a community fund raising effort, the theatre was able to install a state-of-the- art 4K digital projector in the summer of 2013.