The Metropolitan Theatre has been a hallmark of Morgantown’s artistic and cultural presence since the day it opened its doors for the very first time on July 24, 1924. Over the years, its stages have seen dance recitals, films, comedic acts, musical performances, entertainment from West Virginia icons like Don Knotts and far, far more. The theater recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and the Morgantown History Museum is spotlighting its rich history and local impact with an exhibit that runs through this month.
Built by architect C.W. Bates for the Comuntzis brothers, The Met was the paragon of luxury in its early days — it was one the first theaters in the country to install an air conditioning system and one of the few theaters in the country to show films on a pre-release basis, with Morgantown viewing some titles up to 60 days before nationwide release.
Its rich history includes a long list of local and major acts, numerous renovations, a couple of closings and reopenings and hundreds of thousands of guests over its lifetime. Now, the theater sees performers from near and far and welcomes more than 35,000 guests through its doors each year. That’s part of what the Morgantown History Museum’s exhibit aims to highlight: The Met’s longtime prominence in regional arts and entertainment, local economy and downtown recreation.
The Met’s history is well-documented, as is the history of theater in Morgantown on a larger scale. Between collections of the Morgantow.