Capitol Theatre Memories
The re-opening of the Capitol Theatre stimulates wonderful memories from the theatre’s former patrons. Here is a sample of some of the those "Capitol Memories".
HI Frank:
You may remember me as that bald headed program manager who worked up on the third floor while you toiled away down in the newsroom during your time with Ch. 7. Well, now I’m retired and one of many current and former senior Wheeling residents who have deep and somewhat emotional memories of the Capitol Theatre. I was born in Wheeling in 1926 and the capitol made her debut in 1928 so we share a considerable time span and a lot of fond memories including watching dozens of motion pictures with various "favorite girl friends" in the seat next to me, stage shows, symphony concerts, Jamboree shows and so on. I have even been "on stage" a time or two.. And the father of a high school classmate of mine at Linsly was not only the Advertising Mgr. for the Wheeling Steel Corp. but the producer of the old Wheeling Steel network radio show that aired nationwide and worldwide via the Armed Forces Radio Network back in the 40s. His name was J.L.Grimes and I knew him fairly well. I attended many of the LISTEN TO THE MILL WHISTLE shows and knew quite a few people who were not only cast members but employees of the corporation as well. The shows were usually aired late on Sunday afternoons from the stage of the Capitol Theatre. I remember, in particular, the program of Sunday, Dec.7,1941. The show was rehearsed, performed and recorded but never aired due to all the breaking news coming out of a place called Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Little did I realize on that Sunday afternoon that I would soon be in Pearl Harbor sporting a naval uniform. The ET (electrical transcription) of that program lay on the floor in old J.L.Grimes bedroom for quite a long time after Dec.7. I have no idea whatever happened to it.
Well, the purpose of this rambling thing is not to bore you with a bunch of stuff you probably already know, but to thank you, the CVB, Andy, Denny and everyone else who had anything to do with saving that magnificent and historic structure known as the Capitol Theatre from the ravages of the wrecking ball and extinction.
I hope you guys have received a zillion notes of thanks from old geezers (male & female) like me who have enjoyed a long, on-going love affair with the old girl and are absolutely delighted and relieved that she still stands tall and holds firm to her rightful place in Wheeling history.
Since my wife passed away about a year and a half ago I have moved to a retirement facility in Cincinnati, Ohio to be near my daughter. But I keep up with all the Wheeling news on-line. Good luck with everything coming up in the future at the Capitol. I’m sure Susan Hogan is excited to be "home again". Tell her I said "HI".
Hey, I see the CVB has a full page ad in the current issue of the IN Wheeling magazine. If you happen to have a copy of it handy, check page 39. That pretty "diamond in the rough" in the purple dress is my granddaughter, Diana Vorhees, of Charleston, WV. Her mom is Beth Vorhees of WV Public Broadcasting and, of course, her dad is my son.
Thanks Again !!!
Best personal regards ------- Garry Vorhees . Sadly, Mr. Vorhees pasted away before getting a chance to see a new show at the theatre.
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