Martin Theatre #2

Lawrence Kethley went all-in on a new theatre building on Main Street in Martin, Kentucky. The 1,000-seat venue cost $200,000 and likely didn’t actually seat those 1,000 people. But that’s what he said so that’s good enough. The post-war, New Martin Theatre definitely opened on November 9, 1947 with a live stage show supported by “The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap” starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. It replaced a smaller 430-seat Martin Theatre which was also on Main Street.

The primary entertainment for the coal mining community was films but live performers over its operation included Roy Acuff, the Smoky Mountain Boys, a personal appearance by Sunset Carson, along with magicians, hypnotists and female dancers. The population peaked at 1,000 and went south along with the Martin Theatre.

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