March 9, 2006
RUTHERFORD ON FILM: State of Art Stadium Seating Theatre Opens in Logan, WV;
Features Modern Adaptations from Keith Albee
By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
Logan, WV (HNN) – Before Wednesday night, March 9, 2006 people in and
around Logan, W.Va., had to drive an hour to see a movie. Not anymore.
Cinema 8, owned by Ronnie and Dianna Barnette with Derek Hyman and the
Greater Huntington Theatre Corp.(GHTC) as a partner that handles
administrative and bookkeeping duties, brings state of the art stadium
seating, wall to wall curved screens, high back loveseat chairs and digital
sound to an area that has long been without its own theatre.
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Since the Logan Theatre ceased showing movies almost 20 years ago, filmgoers have had to attend either a tiny, sloped floor twin cinema in Chapmanville or drive an hour to Marquee’s Southridge complex or venture 45 minutes over a mountain to a four screen complex in Gilbert.
When the price of gasoline began increasing, the Barnette’s and Hyman thought moviegoers would appreciate a theatre close to home.
Prior to constructing Cinema 8, Dianna Barnette drove to Huntington to see the Keith Albee. “We saw how beautiful it was and thought we would like to take that kind of thing to Logan and make it more of an event to come to a movie,” Barnette said.
When decorating the new eight screen complex, she chose to add several old style lamps that resemble those at the Keith. Since the ticket booth comes back into a lobby which has a raised ceiling, Barnette needed something to fill up the big empty space. “I wanted a gold Oscar, but I got on line and saw the two Blues Brothers. They were perfect.”
Once inside the lobby, patrons flow into a line that leads down a hallway to the auditoriums. Just to the right of the concession stand, Diana has an opulent chandelier.
“I had to fight for my chandelier; you know how men and contractors are. But, see how good it looks? It turned out great.”
After passing through space where tickets are torn, you enter a hallway to the auditorums. On the walls are pictures of movie stars. However, they have two particularly special watercolor-esque photo collections. The first includes photos of the interior of the Keith Albee. The other collection has shots of downtown Logan, the Logan Theatre, and two early 20th Century theatres that were on the second story.
Again, Ms. Barnette created a piece from the elegant Keith and adapted it to Logan. “We wanted this to be kind of an old world theatre, not the luxury or hip hop style [of today] … the gold’s and burgundy’s come together.” Located at the Fountain Place Shopping Center on Corridor G, the theatre offers first run films. On weekdays, the cinema opens around 4 p.m. with matinees on Saturday and Sunday. An early Saturday morning show will be offered. In the summer, the complex will have matinees daily.
“I’d like to try midnight movies too,” Barnette beamed. “I think here would be a good place … a lot of teens do not have a lot to do, so they can come up here.”
Actually, Logan offers few entertainment opportunities aside from sporting events and summer plays at the state park.
“People are so excited,” she said. “I’m glad everybody like it.”
Hyman’s office will handle bookings, accounting, and administrative matters for the complex, which seats around 1,450.
