Forty years ago,

Chief Gordon and Ann Porotti, a pair of movie lovers, converted a motorcycle showroom into a 200-seat theatre. Gordon and Porotti chose the theatre’s name to honor the Vinegar Hill residents who lost their homes when the historically black neighborhood was razed in 1964 as part of a Charlottesville-led redevelopment program. 

For 37 years Vinegar Hill Theatre served as a singular venue for screening independent and international films and a community gathering spot for art lovers. But after a long battle with the big movie chains, Vinegar Hill closed its doors for good in 2013.

In 2015 Light House purchased and renovated Vinegar Hill and reopened it a year later as a film center located at the entrance to the downtown mall. In addition to screening movies, the Theatre and the addition of two studios serve as a movie lot for our young filmmakers. Light House chose to keep the theatre’s original name and to operate as a community theatre that explores important topics and brings people together.

Vinegar Hill Theatre serves our community in unique and powerful ways by (1) providing a versatile, 183 seat venue for film screenings and discussions, (2) offering discounted or free rental fees for schools, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses, (3) screening student films created by our local youth. 

Vinegar Hill Theatre is culturally significant, operating as the headquarters for the only youth media center in Virginia.

By attending our screenings or renting your Theatre, you support Light House and help us maintain the iconic Vinegar Hill Theatre.

Photo Credit: Bob Headrick and William Sasser