Capitol Music Hall Shuttered

The future of Wheeling, W.Va.’s Capitol Music Hall is up in the air since the 77-year-old venue was shuttered January 6th by facility owner Live Nation.

Venue GM Kelly Tucker-Jones said LN officials are re-evaluating the theatre, which reportedly has seen layoffs in the wake of the new company’s restructuring, but couldn’t say when a decision may be forthcoming.

On the books at press time was a January 28th show with Bill Engvall and a February 14th concert with Cherish The Ladies in addition to two performances by the Wheeling Symphony and one performance of “Cats.”

However, Wheeling Symphony Executive Director Susan Hogan said a group of corporate and government leaders is working on revitalizing the Capitol, which was built in 1928 for $1 million.

Hogan told The Intelligencer newspaper that if negotiations took more than a couple of months, she hoped Live Nation would allow the symphony to rent the hall this spring and complete its season.

The closure also puts the future of Saturday night radio show Jamboree USA up in the air. The country music showcase, which has been held at various theatres since 1933, is one of the oldest live radio shows in the nation outside of the Grand Ole Opry.

A call to Tucker-Jones was not returned at press time.