Apollo Theatre
National Historic Landmark — Martinsburg, West Virginia — Berkeley County
The Apollo Theatre was built by Harry and Mary Thorn in 1913 to present the newest entertainment craze — motion pictures. With seating for an audience of 1,000, facilities for live performances. and grand halls for community dances, the Apollo attracted top level performers including Will Rogers, Garth Brooks, Robert Duvall, and Little Jimmy Dickens. The building’s design was a collaboration between Martinsburg’s Chapman E. Kent and theatre specialist Reginald Geare, of Washington, D.C. The theater retains its exterior facade and many interior features, such as a ballroom, balconies, and a pressed tin ceiling. Berkeley County Civic Theatre Inc., a nonprofit organization, manages civic use, ongoing restoration, and theatrical performances.
External Links
The Apollo Theatre
Nomination Form PDF
Help build our guide to Apollo Theatre and other landmarks.
Would you be interested in helping us provide more information on Apollo Theatre or other historic resources in West Virginia? Please let a member of our editorial staff know.
Recent Articles
Inside Appalachian Escapes: Themed rentals, escape rooms, and a love letter to West Virginia
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — What began as a search for an affordable retirement option has turned into one of southern West Virginia’s most imaginative...
West Virginia bottler wins silver award at international water competition
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Le Sage Natural Water, of Lesage, has been awarded a silver medal for its purified water at the 36th annual Berkeley...
West Virginia uniquely prepared to dominate 21st-century outdoor economy
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is uniquely prepared to dominate in the 21st-century outdoor economy of the U.S., thanks to its unmatched...
Flood risk outpaces warnings, advocates say, as W.Va. considers changes to resiliency fund
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As the W.Va. House of Delegates considers changes to Senate Bill 390, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition warns that the state...
We asked AI how its own data centers could pollute West Virginia. Here’s what it had to say
(The following article was generated partly by ChatGPT in response to a prompt about how data centers pollute. As ChatGPT is powered by data...
Inaugural W.Va. Outdoor Economy Summit to unite leaders around $2.1 billion growth
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s outdoors are more than a scenic backdrop. They’re a strategic economic asset. That message will take...
West Virginia State Parks Foundation launches online merchandise store
HURRICANE, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Parks Foundation has launched an official online merchandise store, offering supporters a new way to...
West Virginia Travel Safety: What it means for residents and visitors in 2026
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Travel safety in West Virginia is shaped less by headline-grabbing crime and more by geography, weather, and the realities of...
Did Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis secretly meet in West Virginia?
PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Did Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis secretly meet in what is now West Virginia just days after the first land battle of the...
Study finds WVU and its health system account for 17% of West Virginia’s economy
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University and the WVU Health System together generate $14.3 billion in annual economic impact in West Virginia,...