Apollo Civic Theatre

The Apollo Civic Theatre is a historic community theatre and former movie house at East Martin Street in Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States. It was commissioned by theatre owner H. P. Thorn and designed by Washington architect Reginald Geare together with local architect Chapman E. Kent, and it opened on January 19, 1914 with a gala ceremony. As constructed it seated about 1,000 people and was used for moving pictures, vaudeville and touring concerts, making it one of the first theatres in West Virginia built specifically as a movie house. Upper floors provided meeting spaces for large groups. For decades the Apollo served as the town's picture house, showing first-run films under its marquee. In 1973 the Berkeley County Civic Theatre began performing there, and the venue became a home for community theatre. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and is included in the Downtown Martinsburg Historic District. In 1987 the operating company took the name Apollo Civic Theatre; that same year the marquee that had reached out over Martin Street since 1937 came down after a storm, and the facade waited decades for its lights to return. Today the Apollo is operated as a community-supported facility. Its mission is to enrich the community by fostering creativity, inclusivity and connection through the performing arts, with a particular focus on engaging and empowering youth. Programming spans mainstage productions, touring concerts, youth theatre and classic movie nights, staged in a 475-seat auditorium that, along with a ballroom, is also available for weddings, receptions, recitals, lectures, films and workshops. The venue describes itself as "The Miracle on East Martin Street" and marked its centennial with a "100 Years of Apollo" retrospective. In 2025, for the first time since 1987, a brand-new marquee lit up over East Martin Street, funded by the Berkeley County Commission. The theatre also announced a new marquee, new leadership, a new menu, more youth theatre and a brand-new website as part of its recent renewal.

The Apollo Civic Theatre traces its origins to 1913, when theatre owner H. P. Thorn commissioned Washington architect Reginald Geare, working with local architect Chapman E. Kent, to raise a Classical Revival showplace on East Martin Street in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The theatre opened on January 19, 1914 with a gala ceremony, offering about 1,000 seats for moving pictures, vaudeville and touring concerts. It was one of the first theatres in West Virginia built as a movie house, and its upper floors provided meeting spaces for large groups. Above the stage hangs the Apollo's original rigging: scenery flown by hand on hemp rope, tied off to wooden pins. More than a century on, it is described as one of the last real hemp-rope pinrails left in existence, and it still runs every show. For decades the Apollo was the town's picture house, with first-run films glowing under the marquee. A 1945 snapshot shows Ida Lupino's "Pillow to Post" topping the bill over a busy East Martin Street evening. In 1973 the Berkeley County Civic Theatre took the stage, and the Apollo became a home for community theatre. In 1979 the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing it as a landmark worth preserving; it is also included in the Downtown Martinsburg Historic District. In 1987 the operating company took the name it carries today, Apollo Civic Theatre. That same year the marquee that had reached out over Martin Street since 1937 — its flashing lights a downtown landmark — came down after a storm, and for decades the Apollo's facade waited for its lights to return. The theatre continued as a community-supported facility, presenting mainstage productions, youth theatre and other programming. In 2025, for the first time since 1987, a brand-new marquee lit up over East Martin Street, funded by the Berkeley County Commission and celebrated by community leaders and neighbors. The theatre also announced a new marquee, new leadership, a new menu, more youth theatre and a brand-new website. Today the Apollo describes itself as "The Miracle on East Martin Street," a cultural landmark on East Martin Street since 1914, and states its mission as fostering creativity, inclusivity and connection through the performing arts for the whole community, with a particular focus on engaging and empowering youth.

• 2025

  For the first time since 1987, a brand-new marquee lights up over East Martin Street, funded by the Berkeley County Commission.

• 1987

  The company takes the name Apollo Civic Theatre; the marquee that had reached over Martin Street since 1937 comes down after a storm.

• 1979

  The Apollo is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1973

  The Berkeley County Civic Theatre takes the stage, and the Apollo becomes a home for community theatre.

• 1945

  The Apollo operates as the town's picture house; a 1945 snapshot shows Ida Lupino's "Pillow to Post" topping the bill.

• 1914

  The Apollo opens on January 19 with a gala ceremony, with about 1,000 seats for moving pictures, vaudeville and touring concerts; one of the first theatres in West Virginia built as a movie house.

• 1914

  The original hemp-rope pinrail rigging is installed above the stage and remains in use more than a century later.

• 1913

  Theatre owner H. P. Thorn commissions Washington architect Reginald Geare, with local architect Chapman E. Kent, to build a Classical Revival showplace on East Martin Street.

A historic, community-supported performing-arts venue and cultural landmark focused on accessible, inclusive theatre and youth development.

• Mainstage productions

  Season productions such as 9 to 5, the musical; How to Train Your Dragon; Elf the Musical; and The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Apollo Shadow Cast.

• Youth theatre

  Youth programming including Between the Lines, Jr with opening act Madagascar: A Musical Adventure, Kids.

• Classic movie nights

  Screenings such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Apollo Shadow Cast.

• Venue rentals

  The 475-seat auditorium and ballroom are available for weddings, receptions, recitals, lectures, films and workshops.

1. 1Home - Apollo Civic Theatreapollocivictheatre.org
2. 2Our Company - Apollo Civic Theatreapollocivictheatre.org
3. 3About Us - Apollo Civic Theatreapollocivictheatre.org
4. 4100 Years of Apollo - Apollo Civic Theatreapollocivictheatre.org
5. 5Apollo Civic Theatre - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Apollo Theatre (Martinsburg, West Virginia) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org