Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center
925 4th Avenue,
Huntington,
WV
25701
925 4th Avenue,
Huntington,
WV
25701
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 53 comments
Ed: The Greater Huntington Theater Co. was very careful in the renovation to a multiplex and attempted to leave as much of the original decoration as possible should the theater be restored. Much care was taken not to damage any of the decorative plaster in the auditorium and the lobbies. We are very fortunate that the Hymans took such care.
Remarkable that those decorations were spared the trash bin! Great foresight on the part of the Hymans, if their intentions in storing the items were a matter of thoughtfulness and respect rather than economic haste or efficiency. Thanks for posting, GranadaKeith.
Thanks to all of you who have posted. The Keith Albee is alive and well. In reference to Ed Solero’s post, we have not restored the marquee yet. That project is in the future. One problem we have is that some of the plastic on the attraction sign is in rough shape and there are some broken pieces—if we remove the 1-2-3-4 we may jeopardize the integrity of the sign. We’re working on that.
This past August and September we removed the last vestage of the multiplex by renovating/restoring the Lobby. The ticket counter and concession stand that was a compromise for multiplex operation was removed and the inner lobby was restored. The grand foyer was carpeted as an interim measure until a complete restoration can take place. Thanks to the Hyman family most of the decorations removed during the late 1970s multiplexing were safely stored in the basement of the building. This summer a new counterweight system was installed. So, things are being done, but it will definitely take time and money to completely restore the theatre.
Hmmm. I’m surprised they kept the “1 2 3 4” signage on the marquee after restoring the interior to a single screen.
Lots happening at the Keith-Albee! The Hyman family, which had owned the theatre for the past 80 years gifted it to the Marshall University Foundation in 2006, which in turn gifted it to a new non-profit foundation, Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, Inc, which now runs it as a performing arts center. Their new web page is at http://www.keithalbeearts.org/ Function above should be changed to “performing arts”. Much of its current schedule is performances as part of the Marshall Arts series. Keith Hyman, whose grandfather built the Keith-Albee serves on the board of directors.
The foundation is conducting studies to plan a series of renovations. the first of these commenced late 2006; the removal of the downstairs mini-theatres to restore the auditorium to its original configuration. From their renovation info I see the proscenium is 47.6 feet wide and 25 feet high.
The website above has photo galleries both past and present. The auditorium looks in very good condition; the balcony was never separated from orchestra – the photos are the first I’ve seen of an atmospheric theatre with green sky lighting! Interesting effect. The webpage doesn’t have any recent news about renovations but it has been having performances all spring.
If you do a search on Google Images for “Keith-Albee theater” a number of links come up, including this terrific recent shot of the exterior.
Interesting that Warren wrote at the beginning of this thread that this theater was the least lavish of the three atmospherics he was working on simultaneously at the time. While the interior appointments might not have been as rich and lush as the Proctor’s or Keith’s in New York, the exterior of the of the Huntington Keith-Albee is certainly more intracately fashioned than either one of the other two. Images I’ve seen of the Proctor’s 58th Street show a very plain and utalitarian facade. The Keith’s in Flushing has a facade that is very similar in style to the Keith-Albee, but not quite as handsomely finished or ornamented.
In any event, of the three, only the Keith-Albee survives as an active facility. The RKO Proctor’s was long ago demolished and the RKO Keith’s has been sitting vacant and vandalized for over 20 years and is about to have its auditorium razed and fabulous atmospheric grand foyer co-opted into the lobby of some sort of mixed-use residential/commercial banality.
The new movie “We Are Marshall” had a gala World premiere at the newly restored Keith-Albee the other night. The film depicts the rebuilding of the Marshall University football program after a tragic plane crash took the lives of the entire team, coaching staff and a number of fans back in 1970. I saw some footage of the premiere on one of the network Entertainment tabloid TV shows earlier this week.
Here’s an article from a local newspaper that includes a photo of the theater’s marquee. Here’s another from a local TV station’s website.
A brief article regarding this theatre’s conversion to a performing arts center can be found at View link
Thanks, Brad. Yes, the theatre is incredible. Brad and some friends came up for an ‘unofficial’ tour of the place. The building is in very good shape for a building built in 1928. It is also important to remember that the Keith Albee and the Ohio Theatre, Cols. Ohio, both Thomas Lamb theaters, were being constructed at the same time. The Ohio Theater opened in March 1928 and the Keith in May, 1928.
The Keith Albee Theater will open again this fall with the Marshall University Artists Series productions and the fall international film festival. Look for the Artists Series page on the Marshall U. web pages at www.marshall.edu
I was there recently for about a ten hour tour. This theatre is amazing, and the basement and sub basement took a very long time to go through. The altec Lansing speakers look like little specs from the booth. Also there has to be the largest squirrel cage blower I have ever seen behind the booth for the AC system, with a 50 HP motor.
The organ was being played while I toured the theatre, by a friend of mine. And I must say that once the Solo chamber is added and the Kimball console installed the sound will be even more unbelievable.
What is also amazing is that the blueprints for this theatre are actually still in the theatre, along with booking sheets that go way back, with details on ticket and concession sales for every movie. The view from the roof is amazing. And seeing the amount of marble and the amount of light bulbs alone was worth the trip to this theatre.
For those of you that don’t think this is enough, the little candy store next door to the theatre is also a time warp. I bought enough candy there to last the ten hours i was in the theatre.
Thanks to Bob E. and GranadaKeith, hope the organ project keeps going smoothly. Hopefully Jelani Eddington will play there in the future. I will drive from Texas again to see him there.
In response to MikeR, the organ is a Wurlitzer Style E with 4 ranks of additional pipes. It was originally installed in the Granada Theater in Bluefield, WV. It was removed from the Granada in 1970 and was in a private residence for years. Our group purchased the organ in 2000 and installed it in the Keith. We do use the organ every chance we can. The plans are to enlarge it into a 3 manual organ with about 16-20 ranks. Get in touch with me if you’d like to know more about the organ. posted by Huntington Theatre Organ Project, Inc. Send e-mails to
Emily, do they plan on using the theater’s organ very much in the future? I saw on the ATOS website that there is a 2/7 Wurlitzer hybrid organ installed in the theater.
The Marshall University Foundation now owns the Keith-Albee, and the board of directors is trying to decide what to do with it. I am working for them as an intern right now. I am their representative for the Keith-Albee, as well as liaison for any public inquiries or interest. Native of the Huntington community, I am working on my Master of arts administration at the University of Cincinnati right now.
If you have any ideas for the Keith-Albee or are interested in supporting its renovation, please email (i know there is no “the” in the formal title, but this is the closest email I could get :) Emails sent to this address will come to me. Thanks!
Emily Morse
There is a series of articles into today’s Huntington newpaper about the future of this theater. There’s a push to convert it into a live performance center which would require the restoring all the original seating and thus eliminating the balcony mini cinemas. Apparently, some heavy hitters are involved and the situation looks favorable. Still, nothing is certain.
This theater is closing to movies Jan 22, 2006!. 2 days, Im going to the final show to be shown in the main theater. Im going to be so sad to see it go.
Ive seen a lot of movies at this theater and it is amazing. I wish that I could see it fully restored because Ive seen pictures of it when it is fully lit and cleaned, its even more beautiful then.
The downstairs bathrooms/waiting room are also amazing. I used to be so frightened going down their when I was a kid. Heck, its still a little scary now. It would be a great area to film part of a horror movie. I watched Scream 2 there and let me say going to the bathrooms were even more frightening when I went afterwards, its much scarier than the movieplex bathroom shown when a character is killed in that movie.
One thing I am very thankful for however is that this theater will remain open for performing arts and there are 4 performing arts shows already scheduled, also the Marshall Film Festival will remain there so at least through that time the film equipment will remain. Hopefully they will keep the film equipment permanently for occasional shows.
I can’t imagine turning a Lamb atmospheric (or any atmospheric) into a 4 screen venue!
The theater is completely open, I work there everyday. I have sent letters to many public officials soliciting help, support, and money to help the Keith stay open. If anyone has ideas for more I can do, please contact me.
Jennifer & Niles;
I am confused here, is the theatre now open as the site says, or is it closed? Please give me the status of the building. If both of you could contact me by e-mail at I would be very interested in discussing with you some ideas about the Keith Albee.
Looking for historical information. My Great Aunt, Rae Eleanor Ball played violin with the RKO circuit (1910-1930). I am looking for any and all information that you may have that showed she played at your theatre. Thank you for your time.
It would be a shame to lose one of America’s last great motion picture palaces. I grew up in Huntington and I can say there is nothing left in Hollywood, where I reside now, that compares to the original Keith Albee of my youth.
I’m an out of towner, but I want to see this theatre preserved! Is there anything I can do to help?
I agree. We as a community need to work together to save this landmark. If you have any ideas please contact me!!
I think we should really pull together and save the theatre. The basement alone is worth restoring and offering tours. I will help as well.
I was a stagehand for several shows at the Keith-Albee. Elephant Man, Mornings at Seven, Pennsylvania Ballet, and A Chorus Line, all part of the Marshall Artist Series. This theater is incredible. It needs to be saved. Any ideas? I want to help.
There is nothing that is going to preserve this monumental building as a theatre, once the multi-plex is completed. It is the cities responsability to bring attention to it seeing as how they have spent so much tax $ on it already. What could happen is… if the Historical Society was notified of the theatre’s history, it would be Nationally noticed and no way could be torn down. That would make it possible to utilize the famous/beautiful building as another means of public use. Maybe an actual theatre, like the Marshall Artist Series, or maybe a place where local bands/singers could go and perform on seperate stages… there are numerous possibilities. Someone just needs to get the ball rolling.
James Lester