Capitol Theatre (Wheeling, West Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Capitol Theatre |
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| Former names | Capitol Music Hall |
| General information | |
| Type | Theatre |
| Location | Wheeling, West Virginia, United States |
| Address | 1015 Main Street |
| Coordinates | 40°04′12″N 80°43′28″W / 40.07006°N 80.72442°W |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Charles W. Bates |
The Capitol Theatre is the biggest theater in West Virginia. It is an important building in downtown Wheeling. For many years, it was home to a famous country music show called Jamboree USA. It also hosted the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra.
Jamboree USA was a live country music show. It was broadcast on the radio station WWVA 1170 AM. The show ran from 1926 until 2007. It was the second-longest running radio show in the United States. Only the Grand Ole Opry ran longer.
This live music show brought many country music fans to Wheeling. Hundreds of thousands of people visited each year. Both local artists and famous stars performed there. Some famous performers included Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and Charley Pride.
Contents
History of the Capitol Theatre
Building the Capitol Theatre
The Capitol Theatre was designed by an architect named Charles W. Bates. He was from Wheeling. The building was constructed by R. R. Kitchen. It cost $1,000,000 to build.
The theater first opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1928. When it first opened, it showed movies and live stage shows.
Early Years and Different Homes
The Wheeling Symphony Society moved into the Capitol Theatre in 1929. The radio station WWVA also held its first Jamboree show there in 1933.
However, the Jamboree show moved to the Victoria Theatre after just one year. The symphony also left soon after. They felt that showing movies made the theater less suitable for music performances.
Return to the Capitol Theatre
After the Capitol Theatre stopped showing movies, the symphony returned in 1961. The Jamboree show also came back in 1969. The Jamboree had performed in several different places before returning. The Virginia Theater was its home for the longest time.
In the years that followed, the Capitol Theatre became very successful. It was renamed the Capitol Music Hall. In 1969, WWVA radio station moved its studio into the Capitol building. They produced and broadcast their Jamboree music shows from there.
The Jamboree show was later renamed Jamboree USA. The Capitol Music Hall became very popular. It attracted fans from all over the area.
Changes and Closure
In 2006, a company called Clear Channel owned WWVA. They decided to end the Jamboree USA show. They wanted to broadcast more syndicated programs.
In 2007, the theater closed. The building did not pass a safety inspection. It had many fire code problems that needed fixing.
The Capitol Building was more than just a theater. It also had a ballroom, shops, and a recording studio. Clear Channel's other five radio stations in the region, including WWVA, continued to use the building even after the theater closed. The Wheeling Symphony also performed in other places during this time.
It was estimated that the building needed at least two million dollars for repairs. Clear Channel sold the theater to another company called Live Nation in 2005. Live Nation then put the building up for sale for $850,000 in May 2007.
New Ownership for the Capitol
On February 5, 2009, the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced they would buy the Capitol Music Hall. They bought it from Live Nation for $615,000. The purchase was completed on April 3, 2009.
Restoration and Reopening
Bringing the Theater Back to Life
In early 2009, the 81-year-old theater had been closed for almost two years. It had 2,400 seats. A group of local organizations worked together to buy it. They purchased the theater from Live Nation for $615,000.
The Ohio Valley Area Development Corporation initially took ownership. This group of local organizations included the Wheeling-Ohio County Convention and Visitors Bureau. It also included the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation, and the City of Wheeling.
They planned to raise $8 million to fix up the building. They saw the theater as a key part of making the downtown entertainment area lively again.
Success After Reopening
The Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority now runs the theater. It has been very successful since it reopened. Many shows have sold out completely.
By the end of 2010, the theater offered new features. These included expanded snack areas and a lounge. It also had new, larger restrooms that were easy for everyone to use. An elevator was added, and the ballroom was remodeled.
The remodeled ballroom could be used as a restaurant before many events. It was also available to rent for parties and gatherings. This area could also host smaller concerts, dances, and comedy shows.
Financial Stability and Community Impact
In June 2019, the theater's mortgage was fully paid off. The Wheeling/Ohio County Convention and Visitors Bureau paid off the loans. These loans were for buying the theater and making safety upgrades.
The CVB is now the sole owner of the theater. They have an agreement with the City of Wheeling's Sports and Entertainment Authority to operate it.
On average, about 52,000 people attend concerts, shows, and community events each year. This brings an estimated $3 to $5 million into the local economy every year.
