New Star Theater
6 E. Main Street,
Richwood,
WV
26261
6 E. Main Street,
Richwood,
WV
26261
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The New Star Theatre was built in 1922 to replace the earlier Star Theatre which had been destroyed by fire. The New Star Theatre continued until at least 1950.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
And this is a modern (2006) photo of the New Star Theater that I was trying to post when you rudely interrupted me. LOL
Bonus: The address is 6 East Main St.
I knew that.
I know that you knew that. :P
But did you know that this is the rear of the New Star Theater.
Had you bothered to read my doctoral thesis, “Pre-War Posterior Structures in Western Virginia Architecture”, you would not have asked me that question.
Well Doc, I think this was called the Star Theater at one time. Here is a poster for the Star Theater.
Those are the guys who did the Beverly Hillbillies theme song.
This is another vintage photo, probably from the 1940s.
Many buildings in Richwood were destroyed by a general conflagration on August 15, 1921, and the original Star Theatre was among them. The original Star was listed in the 1913-1914 Cahn-Leighton guide as a 500 seat, ground floor house, but the theater had been in operation since at least August, 1908, when it advertised in various issues of The Billboard that it was seeking a piano player.
Here’s an item from Exhibitors Trade Review of December 3, 1921: “RICHWOOD, W. VA.— Charles Halt will build to replace Star Theater recently burned.”
The NRHP registration form for the Downtown Richwood Historic District says that the New Star Theatre was designed by Huntington, West Virginia, architect Levi J. Dean.
Is this theater still around? I am in the process of buying and rehabbing the Philippi Grand and if it proves profitable I want to work on reopening other theaters in WV, KY, OH, PA, MD, and VA. There are so many wonderful old theaters with more character than any modern cookie cutter places.
Erasmus: The Star Theatre building is still standing, but the interior has long since been reconfigured for use as retail space. You’d essentially have to build a new theater inside the shell, assuming the building is even on the market.