Keith-Albee Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Keith-Albee Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Keith Albee Performing Arts Center (formerly the Keith-Albee Theatre) at night.
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 Location in West Virginia
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| Location | 925 Fourth Avenue Huntington, West Virginia, U.S. |
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| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Thomas W. Lamb |
| Part of | Downtown Huntington Historic District (ID86000309) |
| Designated CP | February 24, 1986 |
The Keith-Albee Theatre is a famous performing arts center in Huntington, West Virginia, United States. It got its name from the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation. This company was a big name in traveling vaudeville shows in the early 1900s. The theater was named this way to encourage them to visit Huntington often.
When it was built, the Keith-Albee was thought to be the second largest theater in the U.S. It is now part of the Downtown Huntington Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is being restored to its former glory as a performing arts center.
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Building the Keith-Albee Theatre
Opening Day in 1928
The Keith-Albee Theatre first opened its doors to the public on May 7, 1928. Two brothers from Huntington, A. B. and S. J. Hyman, built the theater. They already owned other theaters in the area, like the State and Orpheum.
This new theater was built with the help of vaudeville leaders B. F. Keith and Edward Albee. It soon became part of their famous Keith-Albee circuit. This was a top tour for vaudeville acts along the East Coast of the United States.
Designed by a Famous Architect
The Keith-Albee was designed by a Scottish architect named Thomas W. Lamb. He designed about 150 theaters around the world. Only 43 of his theaters are still open today.
Keith and Albee also oversaw the building of two other theaters designed by Lamb. These were the Stanley Theater in Utica, New York, and Keith's Theater in Flushing, New York.
A Grand and Beautiful Place
The Keith-Albee could seat about 3,000 people. It showed off the fancy style of the 1920s with its Mexican Baroque design. The theater had detailed plasterwork, sparkling chandeliers, and grand balconies.
It also had special cosmetic rooms and smoking rooms. Even the men’s and women’s restrooms had fireplaces. The Keith-Albee cost $2 million to build in 1928. The local newspaper called it a "temple of amusement."
The first show on May 8, 1928, featured a performer named Rae Samuels. She was known as the "Blue Streak of Vaudeville." The theater even survived a big flood in 1937.
The Wurlitzer Organ
The Keith-Albee originally had a Wurlitzer organ. This organ played music for live shows and silent movies. It could make almost any sound effect needed for the films.
In the 1950s, the organ was sold. But in 2001, a 1927 Wurlitzer organ was bought and put back in the theater. This happened thanks to Robert Edmunds and his Huntington Theatre Organ Project.
From Vaudeville to Movies
Changes Over the Years
In the 1930s, vaudeville shows became less popular. So, the Keith-Albee started showing movies, just like other theaters nearby.
The Marshall Artists Series began in 1936. This group brings different kinds of entertainment to Huntington. They moved to the Keith-Albee in 1939. They still bring film festivals, Broadway shows, and comedians to the theater.
In the 1960s and 1970s, television and new movie theaters became very popular. To compete, the Hyman family, who owned the Keith-Albee, changed the main auditorium. They divided it into three smaller movie theaters. Later, a fourth theater was added.
Special Events and New Ownership
In 1978, the Keith-Albee celebrated its 50th anniversary. They had a special vaudeville show with singer Rudy Vallee.
In 1988, the theater hosted a special showing of the movie Rain Man. The movie's star, Dustin Hoffman, and director, Barry Levinson, attended the event.
In 2006, the Keith-Albee stopped being a regular movie theater. After almost 80 years, the Hyman family gave it to the Marshall University Foundation. It then became part of the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center Foundation (KAPAC).
The Keith-Albee Today
In the 1970s, many grand movie houses were being torn down. But a group of citizens worked hard to save the Keith-Albee from being closed or demolished.
In 1986, the Keith-Albee was added to the National Register of Historical Places. This was part of a larger effort to protect downtown Huntington.
The Marshall University Foundation took over the theater in 1990. They began making important renovations.
In 2004, a new cinema opened nearby. This competition was too much for the Keith-Albee. So, on January 22, 2006, it stopped showing daily movies. It officially became a performing arts center.
Contractors and volunteers worked to restore parts of the theater to how they looked originally. The walls that divided the main auditorium into smaller theaters were removed.
On December 12, 2006, the Keith-Albee hosted the premiere of the movie We Are Marshall. Actors Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox attended. The theater itself even appears in the movie!
As of March 2024, KAPAC is working to raise $12 million. This money will help continue the historic preservation of the Keith-Albee. The theater is now a key place in downtown Huntington for community events, arts, and new programs for everyone.
