Star Theatre
734 Charles Street,
Wellsburg,
WV
26070
734 Charles Street,
Wellsburg,
WV
26070
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The opening date is wrong. Correct address was 734 Charles. The building was constructed between 1907 and 1913, when the map shows a garage in the rear, and an office in the front. It may have been a dealership of some sort. By 1923, an auditorium had been added at the rear. This is now gone, and the front seems to be an antique store.
During the war years, circa 1942, when I was 12 years old, I used to hang out at the Alpine Theatre. My Cousin, who carried film between the Alpine and the Star Theatres, on “bank night”, (because there was only one print available between 2 theatres) got drafted. He asked me if I wanted his job, which gave me access to the projection booth, and eventually I learned from the projectionist (Wanda) how to run the projectors. Her husband had already been drafted. I shared During the war years, circa 1942, when I was 12 years old, I used to hang out at the Alpine Theatre. My Cousin, who carried film between the Alpine and the Star Theatres, on “bank night”, (because there was only one print available between 2 theatres) got drafted. He asked me if I wanted his job, which gave me access to the projection booth, and eventually I learned from the projectionist (Wanda) how to run the projectors. Her husband had already been drafted. I shared this position with a Naval Reservist from Bethany, who was attending college there. He was eventually called to duty, which allowed me to take the job as projectionist. At 12 years old, I worked as a projectionist at the Alpine for a few weeks before management realized that I was under age per the labor laws, and as a result, they had me teach the Janitor to run the projectors. Once I taught the new projectionist their job, I was re-assigned to be the ticket-taker for movies.Eventually the projectionist at the Star Theatre (Dick) was drafted, allowing me to return to the projection booth, which I enjoyed, until around Christmas time, 1951 at the Star Theatre. Once Dick returned from the service, he was allowed to assume his job as the projectionist. This resulted in me evaluating my options, and I went into the U.S. Air Force on January 7, 1952. I spent my military career as a photographer, stationed at various bases overseas and in USA. After military retirement, I returned to the projection booths for over 30 years in various locations. Richard C. Biggs ()
Chuck, the Palace became the Alpine. See the Alpine page for the history, as far as I’ve been able to discover it.
The opening of the Alpine circuits new Star Theatre in Wellsburg was reported in the January 2, 1937, issue of The Film Daily. The specific date of the opening was not given, but it could have been in late 1936.
At least three times in 1936, the magazine reported on another theater project then underway in Wellsburg. The Mascolino brothers, local merchants, were planning to enter the theater business with a new house. On August 6, the Mascolino brothers said that their theater would be ready to open by Labor Day, but apparently it didn’t. I haven’t found any later mentions of their project.
It’s possible that the Mascolinos cut a deal with Anderson and Urling, and that the Alpine circuit took over their project, opening it as the Star. I’ve found Anderson and Urling’s intention to open a second house in Wellsburg mentioned only once in Film Daily. Their announcement might have been a feint to intimidate the Mascolinos.