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The Mid-Ohio Valley of West Virginia Driving Tour
Item 10 of 22
Standing in New Martinsville, WV since it's opening day in 1920, the Lincoln Theater is a cultural landmark and popular tourist attraction in the local community. Housing a variety of events and shows, including performances by local theater groups, the Lincoln Theater should be a stop for any arts enthusiasts coming to West Virginia, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Lincoln Theater operated between 1920 and 1967. Thanks to local residents and the New Martinsville Parks and Recreation Department, it once again hosts live entertainment and community events.

Lincoln Theater operated between 1920 and 1967. Thanks to local residents and the New Martinsville Parks and Recreation Department, it once again hosts live entertainment and community events.

The Lincoln Theater opened in downtown New Martinsville in 1920. Since that time, the theater has played host to numerous films, plays, and community events. Prominent actress, Gloria Swanson, gave a speech to a packed house in 1925 prior to the screening of her film, "Manhandled." A comedy film starring Swanson and directed by Allan Dawn, "Stage Struck," which was filmed on location in New Martinsville, had its world premiere at the Lincoln Theater in 1925. The silent film has since been archived and restored by the George Eastman House and the British Film Institute. In 1927 new sound equipment was added to the theater and it fully transitioned from silent pictures to “talkies."

After closing in 1967, a group of prominent New Martinsville residents purchased the building and leased it back to the city. It is now owned by the New Martinsville Parks and Recreation Department and continues to entertain Wetzel County and its guests and travelers. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lincoln Theater. West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail. n d. Accessed October 30, 2018. https://wvhistorictheaters.com/region-4-north/lincoln-theater/.