Keith-Albee Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keith-Albee Theatre |
|
|---|---|
|
"The Keith Albee"
|
|
The Keith-Albee Theatre in 2015
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Address | 925 4th Ave |
| Town or city | Huntington, West Virginia |
| Country | USA |
| Named for | Keith-Albee-Orpheum |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas W. Lamb |
The Keith-Albee Theatre is a historic performing arts center in downtown Huntington, West Virginia. It is a famous landmark located across the street from the Frederick Building.
Contents
History of the Theatre
The Keith-Albee Theatre opened to the public on May 7, 1928. It was built by two brothers, A. B. and S. J. Hyman. When it was built, it was one of the largest theaters in the entire United States.
A Grand Vaudeville Palace
The theater was named after B. F. Keith and Edward Albee, who were very important people in the world of vaudeville. Vaudeville was a popular type of live entertainment that featured a mix of singers, dancers, comedians, and other performers. The Keith-Albee became a top spot on their famous tour circuit on the East Coast.
The building was designed by a famous architect named Thomas W. Lamb. He designed about 150 theaters all over the world. The Keith-Albee was built in a fancy style called New Spanish Baroque, which made it look very grand and elegant. It cost $2 million to build back in 1928. A local newspaper called it a “temple of amusement.”
Inside, the theater could seat around 3,000 people. It was decorated with beautiful plaster designs, large chandeliers, and balconies. It even had special rooms for guests, like smoking rooms and cosmetic rooms, with fireplaces in the restrooms.
From Stage to Screen
When the theater first opened, it had a special Wurlitzer organ. This organ was used to play music during live shows and silent films. It could make all sorts of sound effects to go along with the movies. In the 1950s, the organ was sold because live music for movies became less popular. However, in 2001, a group of volunteers brought a similar Wurlitzer organ back to the theater.
During the 1960s and 1970s, more people started watching television and going to modern movie theaters. To compete, the owners of the Keith-Albee divided the large main theater into three smaller movie screens. A fourth screen was added later in a space that used to be a shop.
Famous Events and Modern Times
The Keith-Albee has hosted many special events. For its 50th anniversary in 1978, the famous singer Rudy Vallee performed in a show that recreated the old vaudeville days. In 1988, the theater held a special screening of the movie Rain Man before it was released. The movie's star, Dustin Hoffman, attended the event.
In 2006, the theater hosted the world premiere of the movie We Are Marshall, which was filmed in Huntington. The actors Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox were there for the big night. The Keith-Albee itself even appears in the movie.
Later in 2006, the Hyman family, who had owned the theater for nearly 80 years, donated it to the Marshall University Foundation. It is now run by the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center Foundation and continues to host concerts, plays, and other events.
See also
