Charleston Municipal Auditorium - A Historic Music Venue

The Charleston Municipal Auditorium, located in the Civic Center of Charleston, is one of the oldest and largest theaters in West Virginia. It serves as a musical and cultural hub of Charleston for the past 78 years.

Charleston Municipal Auditorium History

The Charleston Municipal Auditorium was built in 1939 and emulates the Art Deco style of architecture that was popular at the time. The monolithic circular building, constructed of concrete and steel, recalls to mind the proportions of the Colosseum in Rome. In 1999, the auditorium was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Charleston Municipal Auditorium Events

This public auditorium is host to a wide variety of events that require a space this size, such as big-name concerts, dance, theatrical performances, symphony orchestras, film presentations and lectures. It is often home to touring Broadway performances and is the site of the annual The Nutcracker performance in Charleston. It also hosts sporting events, such as basketball, and ice skating shows. All in all, it is a very versatile venue and crucial to the events culture in Charleston.

Charleston Municipal Auditorium Seating Layout

The exact layout of the seating depends on the type of event you're going to see. But with an overall capacity of 3,483, it is one of the largest venues in West Virginia. It can accommodate a normal thrust stage, as well as a theater in the round setup, with floor seating for music and theater performances. During sporting events, the tiered seating is utilized, of which there are two levels. Because of the voluminous size of the space, acoustics can sometimes be an issue, which is why sometimes portions of the auditorium are sectioned off for performances. This also helps to ensure all seats have good visibility of the stage.

Charleston, West Virginia

Charleston is the state capital of West Virginia and thus serves as the political center of the state. The Municipal Auditorium lies right in the heart of downtown Charleston along the Kanawha River and near the Charleston Civic Center and the West Virginia State Capital Building. The early 20th century was a time of huge growth for Charleston due to natural resources, such as coal and gas, and the rise of the railroad. It was during this time that the Charleston Municipal Auditorium was built. This area is also home to the Charleston Town Center, the biggest city mall east of the Mississippi, which opened in 1983.

Trivia

On New Years Eve, 1952, Hank Williams was scheduled to play at the Charleston Municipal Auditorium, but due to snow his flight was cancelled, and Williams died the next day of heart failure in the backseat of his Cadillac on the way to his next gig.