In the 1920s, vaudeville entertainment was at its peak. The "Keith-Albee Circuit" was the premiere vaudeville booking company in the eastern United States, and a number of theatres were built just to accommodate their popular acts. The Keith-Albee Theatre in Huntington, West Virginia was one of those places.
The Keith-Albee Theatre was built in 1928 in Huntington, West Virginia.
It was built by the famous architect Thomas Lamb, and cost over $2 million in 1928.
Today that's the equivalent of about $28 million dollars, but with the increase in prices of many of the materials, it would probably cost much more to rebuild today.
The Keith-Albee is one of only eight "atmospheric theatres" ever built by Thomas Lamb, and the only one left that is still operating today.
The auditorium is designed to create the illusion of being entertained outdoors in a magnificent courtyard.
The auditorium is painted as if it's surrounded by a village, with stars twinkling overhead in a cloudy sky.
The Keith-Albee also has several smaller auditoriums, which are works of art as well.
The Keith-Albee was built with a Wurlitzer organ, which was sold in 1950. However, restoration efforts have tracked down the original organ, and it is part of the theatre once again.
The theatre today hosts concerts and films, so modern audiences can still enjoy this architectural wonder.
Here's a video about the restoration of Keith-Albee's sign, by YouTube user ParisSigns.
You can read more about other restoration efforts here.
You can visit the Keith-Albee Theatre, now known as the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, at 925 4th Avenue Huntington, WV 25701. For upcoming events and more inforation, see the theatre's website.
For another historic theatre in West Virginia, check out the Robey Theatre in Spencer, West Virginia. It's one of the oldest movie theaters in the country.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!