Today in Wheeling History: September 23—Capitol Theatre officially reopened after extensive renovations, restoring its role as Wheeling’s cultural centerpiece (2009).
The Capitol Theatre, located at 1015 Main Street in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, is the largest theatre in the state and a cultural cornerstone of the Ohio Valley. Designed by Wheeling architect Charles W. Bates and constructed by contractor Ralph Kitchen, the theatre opened on November 29, 1928, with four performances and tickets priced at sixty cents. Built at a cost of over $1 million, the Beaux-Arts style building featured 3,000 seats, a $50,000 Marr & Colton organ, and ornate plasterwork. Originally intended to support an eight-story hotel above, the foundation was reinforced with steel from J.E. Moss Iron Works, though the hotel was never built.
The Capitol quickly became a hub for entertainment, hosting movies, stage shows, and concerts. In 1933, WWVA radio launched its Jamboree program at the theatre, which evolved into Jamboree USA—America’s second-longest running country music broadcast. The venue welcomed legends like Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn. After closing in 2007 due to safety violations, the theatre underwent major renovations. On September 23, 2009, it triumphantly reopened with a performance by country star Brad Paisley, marking a new era for the historic venue. Today, it hosts the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and touring acts, preserving nearly a century of artistic legacy.
To learn more: Capitol Theatre official history page (https://tinyurl.com/mrkv4695), Historic Wheeling’s Capitol Theatre profile (https://tinyurl.com/4nykm8m4), Capitol Theatre concert archive (https://tinyurl.com/yc7xm6k5)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, The Clio, Weelunk
The Capitol Theatre, located at 1015 Main Street in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, is the largest theatre in the state and a cultural cornerstone of the Ohio Valley. Designed by Wheeling architect Charles W. Bates and constructed by contractor Ralph Kitchen, the theatre opened on November 29, 1928, with four performances and tickets priced at sixty cents. Built at a cost of over $1 million, the Beaux-Arts style building featured 3,000 seats, a $50,000 Marr & Colton organ, and ornate plasterwork. Originally intended to support an eight-story hotel above, the foundation was reinforced with steel from J.E. Moss Iron Works, though the hotel was never built.
The Capitol quickly became a hub for entertainment, hosting movies, stage shows, and concerts. In 1933, WWVA radio launched its Jamboree program at the theatre, which evolved into Jamboree USA—America’s second-longest running country music broadcast. The venue welcomed legends like Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn. After closing in 2007 due to safety violations, the theatre underwent major renovations. On September 23, 2009, it triumphantly reopened with a performance by country star Brad Paisley, marking a new era for the historic venue. Today, it hosts the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and touring acts, preserving nearly a century of artistic legacy.
To learn more: Capitol Theatre official history page (https://tinyurl.com/mrkv4695), Historic Wheeling’s Capitol Theatre profile (https://tinyurl.com/4nykm8m4), Capitol Theatre concert archive (https://tinyurl.com/yc7xm6k5)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, The Clio, Weelunk
RSS Feed