The Tipton Theater

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A fire on Oct. 21, 1950, gutted the interior of the nearly new Tipton Theater,
but lefy the facade and lobby untouched.

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The Tipton Theatre was opened on March 15, 1947. The plain white mass
 of white stone on the facade, was broken in the center by a huge
80 foot tall tower, which had the theatre name across
the top on two sides. Inside the auditorium, seating
was provided for over 1,000 in orchestra
 and balcony levels.

The Tipton Theatre had a short life as it was
destroyed by fire on October 21, 1951.

Contributed by Ken Roe

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Charleston Daily Mail dated 10/21/51
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HUNTINGTON, Fire at daybreak Saturday destroyed Huntington’s
newest theater and one of its larger department stores. Some fire
 damages and heavy water damage also was suffered by a cafe,
 a furniture store, 5 and 10 cent store and a shoe store.

The flames apparently broke out in the J. C. Penney Co in the 1800
block of Third Ave., in the downtown district. The scene is just
across the street from the West Virginia Electric Co destroyed
by a S200,000 fire on Labor Day. Penney’s was gutted, leaving
only the framework standing. The flames burned out heavy
 transformers in the alley behind the building and leaped into
 the Tipton theater, which fronts on Fourth Ave., the main
 business street.

Tons of water were poured into the ornate
theater before the blaze was brought under control
about 7 a.m., two and a half hours after the first
alarm brought most of the city’s fire
equipment rushing to the scene.

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