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Moundsville, WV 26041

The Strand Theatre

The History of the Strand Theatre

The Strand Theatre held its grand opening on Monday, November 15, 1920. The first pictures featured were Norma Talmadge in "The Branded Woman" and Fatty Arbuckle in "The Garage." Admission prices were 17 cents and 33 cents.

The Strand Theatre was the first structure to be built on the  corner of 5th Street and Jefferson Avenue. It took eight months to construct and cost an estimated $100,000. It was the first  steel-framed structure in Moundsville, M.A. Sybert, promoter, owner, and manager of the theatre, and local contractor Thomas Shimp & Sons, made  certain that the new building was  technologically up-to-date, and included many modern amenities including central heat, Class "A" fire rating and the steel beam reinforced walls and ceilings.

The Strand ran first-run movies from 1920 until it closed in 1968. In its heyday, as many as 5 different movies where shown each week. While not showing films, Sybertís Strand hosted a variety of Vaudeville acts, minstrel shows and thespian productions. Groups of performers visited Moundsville on showboats that traveled the Ohio River.

The theatre operated regularly until 1968. The Strand sat empty for eight years until it’s reopening in 1976. The theatre ran   first-rate movies for another 20 years until it closed in 1996. The curtain fell for what was to have been the final closing of the historic part of Moundsville’s uptown.

The Strand Theatre Preservation Society

The Strand Theatre Preservation Society was  incorporated on December 4, 2000, for the purpose of restoring the historic Strand Theatre to its original grandeur and providing Moundsville and the surrounding areas with a facility to house all expressions of the arts. The Society has pledged to provide a state of the art facility while maintaining the integrity of this building so rich in history. 

To date, nearly $1.3 million has been raised through State and Federal Grants, corporate, community, and individual grants, and fundraising efforts.  Phase I, the exterior of the theatre, has been completed.  The first portion of Phase I was the replacement of the roof and repair or replacement of the box gutters and rainwater leaders.  Additional funding allowed the brick to be chemically cleaned and re-painted bringing it back to its beautiful yellow color.  Beginning in  the spring of 2005, work began on the repair or replacement of the windows and doors and the restoration of the original exterior emergency stairs.  Additionally, all decorative metal work and trim were repaired and painted and a replica of the original marquee was put into place completing the face-lift of this beautiful theatre.  The hardware for the doors, as well as the globes that will sit on the corners of the marquee,  has been ordered and should arrive shortly.

Recent funding will allow us to move the work inside and begin Phase II which includes all electrical and plumbing as well as the installation of a new HVAC system.  Presently, we have about ¼ of the money needed for the completion of Phase II.

For More Information Visit the Strand Theatre Website

www.StrandTheater.org