Carilion History: CASB

The block of Jefferson St. between Kirk Ave. and Campbell Ave. currently has just two buildings…CASB and the First National Exchange Bank.

The CASB building is less than 50 years old, having been built in 1973. But what’s interesting is what was there before it was built!

In the 1920s, elaborately decorated “movie palaces” were found in cities across the country, designed specifically to show motion pictures—a new novelty on the entertainment scene.

CASB is on the footprint of the American Theatre, which had a seating capacity of more than 2,000.  

     
Photos property of History Museum of Western Virginia

It opened on March 26, 1928 with a terra cotta façade, brass doors and marble walls. It also had a fish pond, murals, mosaic tiles, wrought-iron chandeliers and a swag-draped balcony. It was the first building in Roanoke to be air conditioned.

    
Photos property of Roanoke Public Libraries Virginia Room (used with permission) and History Museum of Western Virginia

Henry Boynton helped with the design and construction of the theatre; the Smithey and Boynton firm designed and built many other notable buildings in the area, including the Shenandoah Life Building (now Parkview), Roanoke Municipal Airport terminal, Roanoke Country Club clubhouse, The Roanoke Times, Lane Stadium and many schools in the area, including Jefferson High School (now Jefferson Center).

The corporation that ran the American Theatre also operated the Roanoke Theatre (Campbell Ave.), Park Theatre (Jefferson St.) and Rialto Theatre (Campbell Ave.) in downtown Roanoke.

As television became more popular and widespread, movie palaces were often torn down. The American Theatre branched out to host concerts, live theater and other performances and was the longtime home to the Miss Virginia pageant, but it ultimately closed on Sept. 30, 1971.

The building was razed in 1973 to make way for a new 15-story First National Exchange Bank (FNEB) building, 100 feet wide by 170 feet deep. It originally had a large sign on the top of the building that could be seen easily on the downtown skyline.

   
Photos property of History Museum of Western Virginia and The Roanoke Times (used with permission)

Before Carilion purchased the building in 2000, it was also known as the Dominion Bank Building and the First Union Building as different banks occupied the space.