Between my new house, my new job, getting Burlesque University set up and all my photo shoots, I have been extremely busy.  I apologize for neglecting the site, but bear with me. Things are settling down and Retro Richmond will be back with a vengeance!

So without further ado…check out this fabulous coffee table and side table set that popped up on Craigslist!

If you’ve seen my house, then you know of my love of the tapered leg. I can’t get enough! Unfortunately, I don’t need more tables. So if you’re looking for a great set, grab this one!

Here’s what the seller had to say about it:
Retro style, but yet still classic coffee table with matching end table set. From probably the 70’s this set is in excellent condition and has been in our family since (maybe even before then!)and is need of a good home, because the owner had to move in with family and has no room for them. Feel free to come take a look! Tables are in Mechanicsville Area. A must see!

Here’s someone who doesn’t know what a gem they have! This Heywood-Wakefield set popped up on Craigslist last night with an asking price of $575! I’ve seen the headboard and footboard go for more than that alone.

It looks like three pieces from the Hey-Wake Niagara collection:

5 Drawer Chest

Dresser

Headboard/Footboard

And one piece from the Hey-Wake Riviera collection:

Nightstand

Here’s what the seller had to say:

Check out this great 50s bedroom set. Looks to be made of maple. Very solid and in very good condition. This was used solely as a set in our guest bedroom. Comes with lightly used Kingsdown Queen set. Mirror dresser measures 42 wide by 65 tall with mirror. (top dresser is missing, has apron attached as shown) Tall dresser is 33×48. Side table is 13×26. Mattress set alone cost over $500.

Serious Inquiries only

This is a great find! Heywood-Wakefield is HIGHLY collectible and generally goes for a pretty penny. So snatch this set up! It won’t last long at this price.

After the MCMeetup at Dot’s Back Inn last weekend, we decided to go next door to Samis Grotto — formerly known as the Bellevue Theater — to check it out. Luckily for us, the owners were there and let us have a peek inside.

Bellevue Theater, 1938

You can find another image of the theater from 1936 here.

The theater was designed by Henry Carl Messerschmidt and built in 1932, three years before mid-century modern design was born. Though the theater’s architectural design and style are clearly Art Deco, which was the popular design of that time, we stumbled across a plethora of mid-century furniture inside that time (and probably the owners) have forgotten about!

Bellevue Theater, today

Located at 4028 Rappahannock Street (which became MacArthur Avenue after World War II), the Bellevue Theater was one of two movie showplaces in Northside. The Ginter Theater, located down the block where Once Upon A Vine now stands, was the other. The Ginter had a short run as a movie palace before becoming a skating rink. The theater eventually closed its doors for good and was torn down.

Ginter Theater, 1938

It has been said that in its glory the Bellevue looked very similar to another popular local movie house, the Byrd Theatre. With its marble foyer and deco-patterned borders, the Bellevue played host to hundreds of patrons, including former Richmonders Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine.

Inside the lobby, leading upstairs to the lounge

Before the Bellevue closed in 1963, WRVA hosted a “Grand Ole Opry”-type show there and it’s rumored that some big country acts — like Sunshine Sue and Hank Williams — once graced the theater’s stage.

The stage today with the backdrops left over from the WRVA days.

The Shriners bought the building in 1967 and it became the Samis Grotto Shrine. Before the purchase, the beautiful theater windows and some of the doors in front were bricked over. The marble foyer was cloaked in wall-to-wall carpet.

The Shriners removed the theater seats and divided them among various masonic lodges in the Richmond area. They leveled the sloping floor and covered it in checkered linoleum to turn the once-bustling theater into a large open meeting hall.

The balcony and main room as viewed from the stage.

But some things were left the same. The original movie screen is still hanging. The decorative wall sconces still give off a ghostly glow. The original lounge and balcony carpet still grace the floors.

Original wall sconce

1930s balcony carpeting

This looks like a vintage Remcraft light

Though the balcony has become a storage haven for old Christmas decorations and miscellaneous junk, the lounge still looks like a place where the Rat Pack would have partied!

Lounge bar

Mid-century display case with 3-rod hairpin legs

1940s bent wood Thonet chair

The upstairs projection room in the Bellevue looks like a time capsule.

Projection room

I think that orange sofa may be a Knoll. What do you think?

Knoll sofa?

House lights controllers

The current owner said at one point she considered renovating the old theater back to its original condition, but was told it would cost more than $1 million to do so and bring it up to code. Could you imagine? Northside could have its Bellevue Theater back! That would be amazing.

Although the current owners know most of the history of their little movie palace, a few questions remain. What did the inside look like in the 1930s and 1940s? Are there photographs out there? Was there a grandiose chandelier hanging in the main room where the tiny disco ball now dangles? If so, where did it go? Was it sold to the Byrd Theatre?

So again, I’m throwing these questions at my readers. Can anyone help unlock more secrets of the Bellevue’s past?

Special thanks to Barry for taking these photos. Next time I’ll be sure to bring my camera!

A couple of cool things popped up on Craigslist these past few days.

These funky green velvet chairs and ottoman have a great shape! I love the high backs and the tapered legs. They have a very Paul McCobb look to them. If you don’t like the fabric, you could always recover them in a cool barkcloth.

Also, someone has listed a couple of Eames tables by the Aluminum Group by Herman Miller. The seller didn’t post any photos but here’s what he or she had to say:

Very nice Eames round table with aluminum base legs and white laminate top. Measures 42″ diameter. Excellent condition. From the Aluminum Group made by Herman Miller.

I also have 3 task tables of various sizes and heights from this same grouping. All together you could outfit a pretty cool office space.

Price for the round table is $225 or best offer. The other 3 tables are priced from $125 - $165. I will make a nice discount if you buy more than one piece, and a super discount if you buy all 4 pieces. Sorry no pics, but if you are looking at this listing you know the design. Guaranteed to be the real Herman Miller pieces. All labels intact.

It sounds like this may be the table he or she is selling. If one of you happens to snatch these up, send me a photo. I’m interested in seeing which table it is.

A couple of mid-century pieces just popped up on Craigslist. Check out this great Danish modern rocker for only $40!! This will go fast. I had to stop myself from buying it! (I have a bit of a chair obsession.)

I love the lines of this chair and its low profile. The arms are reminiscent of Knoll. I can’t tell what type of material its covered in, but it looks to be in great shape. It’s a nice piece.

The same seller also has listed a great wooden mid-century sofa and chair frame for $75. These would look fabulous in a Florida room or on a back porch.

On a side note, 719 W. Broad St. will be open tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The owners have posted some interesting pieces on Craigslist recently, but have very sporadic hours. They claim to have some mid-century modern pieces, so it might be worth a peek.

We will be open again at the former Ralph’s Inc. building at 719 West Broad Street, bet. Laurel and Pine Streets this THURSDAY EVENING, July 10, between the hours of 5pm - 7pm. Selling off bit by bit our years of collecting great stuff at auctions, estate sales, and flea markets. It has just gotten toooooo overwhelming! So come by if you can, and you’re sure to pick up a good deal and something unique!

* Lots of gently used furniture from traditional to mid-century modern to shabby chic primitive
* Also, art, prints, and paintings
* lamps and chandeliers
* various trinkets of all types
* vintage and costume jewelry
* fancy leather books for your library
* garden statuary and decorative architectural scraps

Parking on the street directly in front of the building is free after 6pm, and only 50 cents between 5pm & 6pm.

A 1950s kitchen dinette is a must-have for every retro enthusiast! I have one in teal and love it! This fun brown-and-creme dinette popped up on Craigslist today.

Look at those fabulous atomic stars! What a great touch. I love the backs of the chairs as well. Very modern. Here’s what the seller had to say about this set:

Check out this great 50s Table and 4 chairs. The complete set is in Excellent original condition and would make a great addition to your retro decor. Table measures 60″ x 36″ x 29″ high. (With leaf installed) Leaf swivels into place. Really cool and in EXCELLENT condition. Came out of original owners home up in Quebec. Check out original label under all four chairs! Why buy a reproduction?

Serious Inquiries only please!

Someone snatch this up and send me some close-up photos! I’d love to see the chair detail a little more.

A seller out in Chesapeake posted a couple of great mid-century must-haves on Craigslist this weekend.

These space-age pod chairs with a Aero Saarinen Tulip base would be a fabulous addition to any mid-century pad! It’s not often you find a pair of mid-century chairs, (trust me, my house is a haven for mate-less mid-century seating!) especially not in this great condition.

Here’s what the seller had to say:

A pair of true retro!!! These are vinyl swivel pod chairs and are in amazing vintage condition. Only one has a few cigarette burns/small tears on the seat cushion- I photographed a sample the best I could. I don’t feel like dealing with shipping on ebay, so I thought I would try (sort of) locally first. I am told pairs are hard to come by. These are very comfortable and are approx. 27 tall x 25 deep x 29 wide. I plan on going to Richmond in the near future and could possibly deliver for a small fee–not knowing how close your are to where I plan on going….Please feel free to email or call for more info or photos. 757-651-9925. The price of 450.00 is for the pair OBO

The seller also has this beautiful Danish modern sofa and side chair up for grabs.

I love the lines of this couch and the color would go with anything! Here’s what the seller had to say about this pair:

This sofa and matching arm chair are very mid century modern Eames era -not sure of designer, but they have a Jens Risom or Wegner look- they are unsigned. They are in amazing vintage condition-my guess is these have been recovered. I believe these are from the late 1950’s - to 1960’s but I am not sure. They make such a statement with the arms bending out- Such lines!! -You need to see in person- the photos don’t do them justice. The sofa is approx. 105″ x 30″ h x 31″ d The chair is approx. 36″ w x 38″ h x 31″ d Please email or call with questions 757-651-9925. We can deliver for a fee depending on where you are.

The gorgeous set popped up on Craigslist this afternoon.

Here’s what the owner had to say:

Vintage Drexel Buffet and two end tables. Probably date to late 50s early 60s. Excellent condition with only minor blemishes/scratching. Call Justin 804-513-8017. $2500 (Serious Inquires only please)

The North Carolina-based Drexel Company, now known as Drexel Heritage, has been making quality furniture for more than 100 years. It was the first furniture company to ever advertise in national magazines. All that advertising must have paid off because today the company is one of the largest residential furniture companies in the US.

The company’s mid-century pieces bring a pretty penny and this set up for grabs is no exception. But it’s a small price to pay for a timeless piece made with a quality that’s been keeping customers satisfied for more than a century.

My love for the mid-century runs deep. It’s more than “Ooh, look at that neat building” or “Wow, that’s a cool antique;” it’s my life. I constantly surround myself with it. I wear vintage cat-eye glasses (complete with rhinestones, which I call my “old lady bling”), I listen to old 45s, I eat off of vintage plates, I cook in vintage Pyrex. My lamps are older than me as is most of my furniture.

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve been searching for a mid-century sofa for a while. It is the last major piece I need to complete my total mid-century living room transformation. Unfortunately, I’m not at a point in my life where I can spend $3,000 on a Herman Miller sofa, so it also has to be in my price range.

In my quest to find the perfect couch, I’ve become a regular at a few thrift stores around town. The owners know what I’m looking for and they keep an eye out for me.

Yesterday must have been my lucky day. Around lunchtime I received a call from one of the thrift store owners letting me know that they just took in a mid-century sofa. So I dropped everything and headed up their way (hence why there was no blog post yesterday). When I got there, this beauty was waiting for me outside:

While it’s not a $3,000 Herman Miller, I love the lines of this couch. It’s about 7 feet long, has a full padded back with low arms and a tapered leg capped in brass. It will go great with my Lane Acclaim swivel coffee table (which i recently picked up from Whispers of Time for $45)!

While I like the brown tweedy upholstery, I’m pretty sure it’s not original. But toss on a few barkcloth throw pillows and no one will notice! One day when I have the time and the patience, I will reupholster it (along with all my other chairs).

But perhaps the best part about this couch is the price. $95!!! With my current contemporary couch teetering on its last leg, this mid-century marvel is a needed and welcomed new edition to the family!

Now I direct my search efforts toward a mid-century sideboard/credenza and some bullet planters. If you know where I can find some, let me know!

If I had the money, this would be a post about my new Heywood-Wakefield Ashcraft sofa and chair (man, they would look so good in my tiki room!), but sadly I do not. So I’m hoping someone will give this lovely set a good home.

If you’re interested, you can find it here on Craigslist. Here’s what the owner had to say about it:

I have a 6-piece set of 6-band rattan that’s in excellent condition. My family is the original owner, and it’s amazing how this set has held up! If you know anything about rattan, they don’t make 6-band anymore because it’s too expensive.

This set is made up of individual pieces, so can be arranged however you want. 5 of the 6 pieces are pictured below. The 6th piece is another “middle” for the couch and is currently being stored at my parent’s place in Fairfax, so I will go get it for you.

This set will make awesome furniture for a covered porch or florida room!

I’ll admit, it’s pretty hard to part with this seeing as how long my family has had it, but I’m moving in with my boyfriend, and in the spirit of compromise, we’ve decided to keep his couch set.

Email me if interested!

This set is in beautiful shape and would look fabulous re-covered like this.

For more information about the Heywood-Wakefield Ashcraft line, please read my previous post.