No Cannes comfort for Byrd goers

The old seat are here to stay for a bit more.

May 9, 2014; 9:01 AM • by Richard Hayes

Earlier this year we posted the exciting news for the bottoms of Richmond that the Byrd was considering working out a donation of old Cannes movie seats. The seats while used are not nearly as used the Byrd’s and were made in this century, so two big plusses right there. Alas it’s not to be.

More from RTD.

An estimated $80,000 to $100,000 would be needed to arrange the French seating and store the 1928 Byrd’s historic seats, she said. And, the French seats would be only a temporary measure until the Byrd could install new permanent seating, which might be more expensive to install after an additional set of mounting holes had been drilled into the concrete floor for the French seats, she said.

The foundation also was concerned about a possible impact on historic tax credits, she added.

“We remain unbelievably humbled at this grand gesture, as well as honored by the great lengths so many individuals went through to get the offer on the table,” she said in an announcement of the decision. “Ultimately our decision was based on the significant out-of-pocket expense to the foundation, as well as the uncertainty regarding the possible impact to the historic tax credits, which are critical to the theatre’s restoration.”