Theatre
79 McDowell Street,
Welch,
WV
24801
79 McDowell Street,
Welch,
WV
24801
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Additional Info
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This theater was constructed sometime before 1912 (it appears on the first map of Welch, from January of that year), and was one of the first brick buildings in the area along the river, north of the railroad tracks (which once ran where Howard St is now).
The building was two stories, of brick construction, and had a stage tower at the rear. It remained in operation until about 1920, when it was replaced by a much larger structure.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Gus Hill’s 1914 directory lists a theater at Welch called the Welch, playing “R V P” (Road shows, Vaudeville, and Pictures.) The stage was 20 feet deep and 28 feet wide, which sounds like a good fit for this building. It was managed by “Huritz Lopinsky & Bro.” The 1912-1913 Cahn guide also lists the house, giving a seating capacity of 217 on the lower floor and 200 in the balcony. In 1917, a Joe Lopinsky (apparently the Bro.) was noted as owner of an unnamed movie theater at Welch. The 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory missed Welch altogether, but the Welch Theatre was listed in the FDY through the late 1920s.
Typos and errors in the Hill and Cahn guides muddled the owners of the first Welch Theatre. They were Benjamin Hurvitz and partners J. M. (Joseph) Lopinsky and his brother E. H. (Eugene) Lopinsky.
Thanks for naming this one, and providing some background.