Virginian Theatre
705 Lee Street East,
Charleston,
WV
25301
705 Lee Street East,
Charleston,
WV
25301
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True.
Shame this is just a parking lot, now. Such a beautiful theater. I think I remember it some from my childhood, but I can’t remember if I watched any movies here.
1979 Photo
1983 Photo
The Virginian was one of the nicer theaters in Charleston. Nice long marquee stretched the entire front of the theater. As a kid, I remember seeing the silent version of “The Greatest Story Ever Told"
every Easter and The original "The Thing.” (Both movies scared the s*#t out of me but for differnt reasons.) Also the premier of DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” OH. Moses, Moses, Moses!
Good times.
I seem to recall an incident involving a tractor trailer smashing into the marquee of the Virginian after cutting a turn too sharp. This was a beautiful theater with a large balcony. The Virginian played “The Absent Minded Professor” day and date with the Rialto as the crowds for the film were huge. I saw the film at the Virginian as the Rialto was sold out for all performances the day we attended.
Here is a 1949 ad from the Charleston Daily Mail:
http://tinyurl.com/2bvkty
A Moller theater organ opus 2843 size 3/10 was installed in the Virginian Theater in 1920. That organ was replaced in 1922 by a Moller theater organ opus 3452.