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When it opened in 1928, the ornate
3,000 seat Keith-Albee cost $2 million to erect. This spectacular movie
palace was one of three atmospheric theaters that designer Thomas Lamb
worked on simultaneously, the others being Proctor's 58th Street in New
York City (demolished) and the Keith-Albee in the NYC suburb of
Flushing, Queens (currently vacant & awaiting its fate). Architects who
designed “atmospherics” borrowed freely from various historical motifs
and employed ostentatious ornamentation, because their mandate was to
provide an opera house for the masses. |
| A recent fire was just one of many
challenges this movie palace has faced over the years, including floods,
mounting financial problems, and the wear and tear of time. Huntington’s
Keith-Albee could be forced to close and potentially fall victim to the
wrecker’s ball as the result of a competing 14-screen stadium multiplex
cinema that is part of the Pullman Square project being built one block
away. Theater owners have said they will attempt to keep the Keith-Albee
open, but financial necessity could force an eventual sale and possible
closure if it is not profitable.
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Copyright © 2005 Preservation Alliance of
West Virginia
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