Smoot Theatre
| Address | 213 Fifth Street Parkersburg, WV 26101 |
| Phone | 304-422-7529 |
| webmaster@smoot-theatre.com | |
| Web Site | www.smoot-theatre.com |
Her Renaissance
It the Spring of 1989, only days before scheduled demolition, the Smoot Theatre in Downtown Parkersburg, West Virginia, was purchased on a land contract by a volunteer group who believed the 1926 vaudeville house was too valuable to destroy. Having been closed for a period of three years, it had become dank and dirty; enthusiastic volunteers set about working to clean, scrub, polish all that was cleanable in order to be ready for opening night.
This was just the beginning!
Her History
At the turn of the century, Parkersburg was a boom town - a product of oil, gas and timber industries. This small river town supported seven live theatres! The Smoot, originally built as a vaudeville house, was purchased by Warner Brothers in 1930, and for the next 56 years, was used primarily for movies. During that time period, Warner redecorated the building, transforming it into an exquisite, posh theater.
Her Present State
Since 1989, saving the Smoot Theatre as a facility for the performing arts has been a labor of love by committed volunteers. Their tasks have included everything from researching documents and consulting old photographs to chipping paint and cleaning chandeliers.
Great care has been taken in every area of the restoration. From her beautiful burgundy and cream color scheme to the gilt molding, the Smoot displays a simple elegance of a day-gone-by. Most of the carpeting has been replaced; new, gracefully curved stairs are found on either side of the stage, and the colors in the Art Deco ceiling are echoed in the original chandeliers. The lobby area boasts a hand-cut Austrian crystal chandelier, and the beveled mirrors which line three walls of the lobby reflect the elegance of the rich mahogany and brass doors.
Her Future
The combination of monetary aid from the State of West Virginia, private foundations and individual contributors, as well as from box office receipts, causes the restoration to continue. With ongoing help from the community and the volunteers, the Smoot Theatre's marquee will remain aglow on Fifth Street, and the show will go on!
The Stage Then
In past years, the Smoot's stage has provided performance for many -- the Keith Vaudeville acts, the Hilton Sisters and their saxophones, Guy Lombardo and his orchestra graced the stage, there were dancing girls, elephants, Arthur Lake (Dagwood in the movies), and even Miss West Virginia.
The Stage Now
Today, the same stage continues to provide live entertainment. There is music - jazz, big bands, country, bluegrass, rock and folk. Children's theatre, comedy, dance, lectures, one-man shows, meetings, seminars, and even our famous dessert tours which happen on our stage. And there's still plenty of room for you...come join us.
The Smoot Theatre brings affordable, high quality programming. A grand venue for performing artists, our theater (built in 1926) is limited to 720 seats. The money needed to continue each year comes from sources other than ticket sales. Ticket sales rarely cover the actual cost of any particular program. The Smoot relies heavily on grants from The WV Commission on the Arts, and other arts funding organizations, as well as generous gifts from the corporate sector and from individuals.
In addition to our acclaimed Performing Arts Series, The Smoot Theatre offers annual events such as The Kids' Club Series and Camp Vaudeville. Our famous Dessert Tours, comedy, ballet, Broadway shows, meetings, corporate & civic programs are just a few of the theatre's diverse offerings.
Would you like to be kept informed via mail or e-mail of upcoming events? Call us at 422-Play (422-7529) or leave a message on the E-Mail Us to be added to our developing e-mail distribution list.
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