Capitol Center
123 Summers Street,
Charleston,
WV
25301
123 Summers Street,
Charleston,
WV
25301
1 person
favorited this theater
Built circa 1912, the Plaza Theatre presented 10-20-30 cent vaudeville and stage plays. Destroyed by fire around 1922, it was extensively redesigned and rebuilt with movies in mind. For many years, as the Capitol Theatre, it was noted for its exceptional sound and picture (the screen was carefully curved to counteract distortion). The last major film to play the Capitol Theatre was the premiere of “Star Wars”.
The theater closed a few years later, in the mid-1970’s. A private group began restoration in the 1980’s with the intent of opening the theater as a performing arts center, but capitalization was insufficient. The building was donated as a tax loss to West Virginia State University, which now calls it the Capitol Center.
The only regular performances are the Sunday services of River Ridge Church, which lacks a building of its own.
Contributed by
Charlie Cooper
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
In the Fifties the Capitol Theater, and other properties in Charleston, were owned by the Middleberg family. Their nephew, Kelly Reed was my best friend in High School. We would see free movies and explore backstage. The, then new, CinemaScope screen was awesome. What a wonderful old movie palace. I’ll never forget it. Thanks Kelly.
Jack Whittaker
Palm Springs, California
Here is a June 1950 ad from the Charleston Gazette:
http://tinyurl.com/yqgemf
I’ll never forget my father taking me to The Capitol Theater for the premier of Star Wars over 30 years ago.
The Capitol Center can be seen in this recent photo.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985
Plaza Theatre (added 1985 – Building – #85003408)
Also known as Capitol Theater
123 Summers St., Charleston
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Wiggins,P. Norwood
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Performing Arts
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Business, Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture, Work In Progress
Current Sub-function: Theater
Here is another 2008 photo.
The year given for this photo is 1979.
An April 2009 photo is here.
Here are my photos of the interior and exterior of the theatre. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nessachan/sets/72157626951557681/
Here are my pictures from August 2011.