If you enjoy Art Deco architecture and the fact that Don Knotts once clocked in here while he was a student at West Virginia University, this is your spot. The Warner Theatre opened on June 12, 1931, and cost a cool $400,000 to build. It was designed by John Eberson, a man who clearly knew how to handle a budget and a blueprint.
In its prime, the place featured a 50-foot vertical marquee glowing with 6,000 light bulbs of various colors. It was a powerhouse of the single-screen era until the 1970s forced it to pivot into a multiplex. It hosted the national premiere of The Incredible Mr. Limpet in 1964, which is also Knotts' territory, making the place a bit of a full-circle comedy hub.
Things went south in 2010. A combination of competition from newer multiplexes and a deteriorating roof caused by leaks and mold forced a permanent closure. After that, vandals had some fun with the interior in 2014, leading to the entrance being boarded up for years.
New ownership took over in late 2021 with a mission to strip away the multiplex guts and return the building to a single-bay theater for live performances. A restoration expert from Chicago has already scouted the site. Construction is underway by a local firm, with a target reopening date of 2025.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Kyle McLonely
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