An old-timer in Osage once told me that there used to be three places in Osage to see a movie. This probably would have been in the 1930s. There are several candidates in “downtown” Osage that might have been little theatres. A lot of buildings have been torn down but plenty remain.
The marquee has recently been changed from a “For Sale” sign to a message indicating renovation or something may be happening. I don’t have further information but I will try to get a picture of the marquee.
If this address is accurate, this building has been demolished. The current building at this address was a G.C. Murphy’s store and looks nothing like the buildings in the picture.
I’m not sure of this address, there’s almost no commercial buildings at all on Hamill Avenue, though that one building on Hamill does look pretty theatrical. I found this photo in the WVU archives identified as Pike St. after a Thanksgiving snowstorm.
The Women’s Club purchased the building in 1958, so it has been closed as a theatre since at least that time. National register listing dates the building to c. 1900.
When I was there in 2015, the manager of the bar was nice enough to show me around. The inside at that time was still very much a theatre, and the projection booth was still intact with projectors still in place. HVAC systems had lowered the ceiling but the top of the screen area was still visible via a storage closet upstairs.
Looks like the pub that was there is closed right now, though.
I thought for sure this building was doomed (it was condemned when I was in town in 2012), but the most recent Street View photos show someone is working on it and some of the windows are un-boarded.
An old-timer in Osage once told me that there used to be three places in Osage to see a movie. This probably would have been in the 1930s. There are several candidates in “downtown” Osage that might have been little theatres. A lot of buildings have been torn down but plenty remain.
I have found a newspaper from 1985 that still lists the drive-in, so it didn’t close in 1984.
The marquee has recently been changed from a “For Sale” sign to a message indicating renovation or something may be happening. I don’t have further information but I will try to get a picture of the marquee.
Here is a photo https://archive.org/details/cmv_001030
Here’s a link to a nice photo https://wvhistoryonview.org/image/052406.jpg
Should be listed as demolished, came down in 1972 or 1973
If this address is accurate, this building has been demolished. The current building at this address was a G.C. Murphy’s store and looks nothing like the buildings in the picture.
Updated link to interior photos taken shortly before demolition: http://travelogue.darkpassage.com/show/fairmont/
The ticket booth and screen are gone but speakers and projection booth / snack bar seem to still be standing.
As of 2021 the marquee has been removed.
Supposedly some manner of restoration is in progress:
https://www.facebook.com/philippigrandtheatre/
The building in the picture is on 330 W. Main St., the IOOF building is still standing.
Okay, I’m 100% sure this is Pike St., the tallest building on the right is the Waldo Hotel and the buildings on the left are now all a parking lot.
I’m not sure of this address, there’s almost no commercial buildings at all on Hamill Avenue, though that one building on Hamill does look pretty theatrical. I found this photo in the WVU archives identified as Pike St. after a Thanksgiving snowstorm.
2021 Streetview indicates that the sign has … sorta … been restored. I’ll try to get over there to snap a pic.
This theatre has been (mostly) restored and is currently open again!
https://www.therobinsongrand.com/
I do believe the theatre pictured is actually the Rice theatre, but I could be wrong.
The building was a restaurant for a while but is currently serving as a dance studio (as of 2021.)
The Women’s Club purchased the building in 1958, so it has been closed as a theatre since at least that time. National register listing dates the building to c. 1900.
Address is 26 Bridge Street.
When I was there in 2015, the manager of the bar was nice enough to show me around. The inside at that time was still very much a theatre, and the projection booth was still intact with projectors still in place. HVAC systems had lowered the ceiling but the top of the screen area was still visible via a storage closet upstairs.
Looks like the pub that was there is closed right now, though.
I thought for sure this building was doomed (it was condemned when I was in town in 2012), but the most recent Street View photos show someone is working on it and some of the windows are un-boarded.
The marquee now says SOLD though I don’t know what the plans for the building are.
The building has been demolished.
Google Maps seems to indicate the building was demolished sometime between 2016 and 2020.