New Development Threatens West Virginia’s Grandest Theatrical Showcase

posted by TonyRutherford on January 5, 2004 at 5:58 am

HUNTINGTON, WV — The Keith-Albee, a Thomas Lamb designed movie palace, has operated continuously since the Depression. The theater still shows first run movies. In the 70s, it was delicately divided into a main auditorium and three small theaters.

Now, the Dept. of Transportation has funded an intermodal facility a block away that includes funding for a stadium seating multiplex theater. Derek Hyman, president of the Greater Huntington Theatre Corp., indicated that the Keith will close shortly after the federally underwritten replacement opens. No studies have been conducted (as required by federal law) on the impact upon the activities at the Keith-Albee.

Thus, as Rusty Marks writes in the Charleston Gazette: “Like a beautiful heroine tied to the railroad tracks in an old-fashioned movie, the curtain could soon be coming down on West Virginia’s Grand Old Lady of Cinema.” More info is available at http://www.savekeithalbee.us.

Theaters in this post

Comments (2)

Lawrence
Lawrence on January 5, 2004 at 7:04 pm

A treaure of a theater – It must be saved.

sherrisdesign
sherrisdesign on January 6, 2004 at 6:00 pm

Once the few remaining treasures like the Keith Albee are gone they can never be replaced. No multiplex can provide the true theater experience of viewing a movie in one of these grand old palaces. GOD SAVE THE KEITH ALBEE!

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment