Metropolitan Theatre, Morgantown, Records, 1910/2000

Access and use

Location of collection:: West Virginia and Regional History Center

West Virginia & Regional History Center

West Virginia University

P.O. Box 6069

1549 University Avenue

Morgantown, WV 26506

Contact for questions and access:: POC: Lori Hostuttler

Email: lori.hostuttler@mail.wvu.edu

Phone: (304) 293-3536

Web: wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu

Restrictions:: No special access restriction applies.
Terms of access:: Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Preferred citation:: [Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Metropolitan Theatre, Morgantown, Records, A&M 3254, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:: 75.38 Linear Feet 75 ft. 4.5 in. (2 document cases, 5 in. each); (59 records cartons, 15 in. each); (3 flat storage boxes, 2.5 in. each); (1 ledger book, wrapped, 2 in.)
Creator:: Metropolitan Theatre
Language:: English .
Preferred citation:: [Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Metropolitan Theatre, Morgantown, Records, A&M 3254, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains ninety years' worth of records related to the history of the Metropolitan Theatre and other respected local arts institutions, such as the Strand Theatre, Morgan Theatre, Morgantown Theatre Company, Morgantown Amusement Company and Westover Drive-In. Materials include movie posters, newspaper clippings, tickets, movie studio newsletters, film stills, operators' reports, payroll ledgers and blueprints, among other material.

Topics include the film industry (marketing, distribution and studios), theatre history (vaudeville, road shows and burlesque), theatre management (supervisory reports, registers, financial ledgers, maintenance reports, receipts and expenses), and other similar topics.

Highlights include handwritten register books featuring the names of various vaudeville acts, 1970s era 3D glasses and film clip art and newspaper plates for upcoming features.

Series include:

Series 1. Administrative Records, 1929-1966 and undated

Series 2. Artifacts, 1959-1986 and undated

Series 3. Blueprints, 1948-1975 and undated

Series 4. Books, 1897-1970

Series 5. Daily and Hourly Reports, 1926-1987

Series 6. Doorman's Reports, 1943-1962

Series 7. Ephemera, 1920-1986

Series 8. Financial Records, 1924-1985

Series 9. Legal Records, 1911-1986

Series 10. Maps, 1960-1971

Series 11. Meeting Minutes, 1925-1958

Series 12. Miscellaneous, 1934-1938

Series 13. Movie Advertising, 1960-1969

Series 14. Operators Reports, 1936-1987

Series 15. Weekly Reports, 1924-1939

Series 16. Addenda of 2000-2005, 1910-2000

This series includes general administrative records such as utilities, suppliers, maintenance, movie rental agreements and employee timecards for the Metropolitan Theatre, Morgan Theatre, Morgantown Amusement Company and Westover Drive-In.

Includes West Virginia University rentals at Metropolitan Theatre, war bond sales, etc.

Includes files A-J and M-N, utilities, suppliers, maintenance, etc.

Includes files C-U, film suppliers, etc.

Includes files N-W, utilities, suppliers, maintenance, etc.

Includes general files A-V

Includes general files

Includes order blanks, invoices, etc.

Including many insurance policies, leases, deeds of trust, War Bond sales

Employee Time Sheets stored in index card box approximately 5 in. of small index card sized time sheets; first and last cards were retained for each employee except in a few cases

Movie rental agreements/receipts

Includes financial records, movie availability, equipment inventory, etc.

Movie rental agreements/receipts (Metropolitan, Morgan Theatres)

Air conditioning manuals, information, spare parts

Includes film contracts, etc.

Includes general files M-R

Includes general files C-F

Includes photocopied meeting minutes; originals are in A&M 3254 box 61

Includes sales contracts, forms, etc.

Contains various small artifacts such as stamps, seal embossing tools and popcorn containers.

Includes 4 rubber stamps

Includes seal embossing tool

Includes two embossing seal tools and five rubber stamps

Popcorn boxes, 6 items, 3 styles

Contains blueprints of the Metropolitan Theatre and Cheat Lake Drive-In.

Cheat Lake Drive-In concession stand/projection booth

Proposed theatre building, architecture and engineering

Metropolitan Theatre

Metropolitan Theatre alterations

Contains various books (mainly reference texts) from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century.

"Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great" by Elbert Hubbard, Volume 10

"Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great" by Elbert Hubbard, Volume 9

"Messages and Papers of the Presidents" by The Bureau of National Literature [Volume 1]

"Messages and Papers of the Presidents" by The Bureau of National Literature [Volume 13]

"Messages and Papers of the Presidents" by The Bureau of National Literature [Volume 16]

"Messages and Papers of the Presidents" by The Bureau of National Literature [Volume 3]

"Options" by O. Henry

"Proceedings of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees"; 2 copies

"The Voice of the City" by O. Henry

"Types of Philosophy" by William Ernest Hocking

"Whirligigs" by O. Henry

The Interrupted Journey" by John G. Fuller

Daily and hourly reports of the operation of the Metropolitan, Morgan and Strand Theatres and the Westover and Oaks Drive-Ins.

Includes movie titles, weather, attendance, gross receipts, shows at "opposing" theatres

Includes performance, weather, attendance, gross receipts

Includes movie titles, weather, attendance, gross receipts, shows at "opposing" theatres

Cashiers report

Includes movie titles, weather, attendance, gross receipts, shows at "opposing" theatres

Doorman's reports for the Metropolitan and Morgan Theatres.

Includes personnel and hours worked

Contains assorted ephemera from the Metropolitan and Morgan Theatres, including tickets, newspaper clippings, programs, posters, movie ad slicks, movie studio newsletters and postcards.

"Preview Comment Cards"

Regarding Metropolitan and Morgan Theatres

Includes Christmas cards, 3-D glasses [12 pieces], American Film Theatre promos

Includes greeting cards, 6% Gold Notes, etc.

Includes movie ad slicks, black and white movie stills [photos]

Includes newspaper clippings [Oaks Drive-In], ad slicks, correspondence

Includes notebook "Independent Film Journal Buying and Booking Guide

Includes tickets for "Tamburitzans"

Includes tickets, "Pass out Checks", special passes, etc.

WV Employment Review

Incuding newspaper clippings, 2 programs for Mindy's School of Dance

Movie studio newsletters, promotions

Now Showing-Marx Brothers small posters [5 items]

Tsintzinans Business Men's Directory

Unopened ream of Voucher Checks, Morgantown Amusement Company

3 postcards, correspondence, 1951 calendar

Miscellaneous; includes movie poster, scrapbook of clippings for Kan-de Korner, International Association of Theater and Stage Employees [IATSE] bylaws, list of motion pictures shown, etc.

Seating chart

Financial records such as invoices, receipts, cancelled checks, payroll records, tax returns and financial statements for the Metropolitan, Morgan and Strand Theatres, Morgantown Theatre Company, Morgantown Amusement Company and Westover Drive-In.

Accounts payable

Audit report

Bank Night Ledger Includes ticket numbers, attendance

Checkbook

Includes 2 savings account passbooks, invoices, and cancelled checks

Includes cancelled checks, insurance policies and payment records, employee withholdings, etc.

Includes checkbook [Mellon National Bank]

Includes invoices/receipts, checking account receipts

Includes invoices/receipts, checking account receipts, etc.

Includes Metropolitan Theatre payroll, balance sheets, High View Gas and Oil, etc.

Includes Morgantown Amusement Company, Parkview Amusement, Metropolitan Theatre ledger pages

Includes payroll records for the Strand, Metropolitan, and Morgan theatres; financial records, movie availability, employment contracts, etc.

Includes payroll records Morgantown Amusement Company

Includes payroll records

Includes tax return, census of manufacturers

Includes tax returns, balance sheets, etc.

Includes Tax Records

Ledger, Morgantown Amusement Company

Ledger books (2)

Check and payroll ledgers, Morgantown Theatre Company and Morgantown Amusement Company (5 items)

Ledger of promotional programs at Metropolitan and Morgan theatres

Ledger sheets [Cowan Baking Company]

Social Security Record Cards

Consumer Sales Tax Receipts

Includes payroll records for Strand, Metropolitan, and Morgan theatres

Ledger (Chart of Accounts-Marvin Motors)

Ledgers, 2 items, Morgantown Amusement Company

Payroll Ledger Sheets

Savings Account Passbooks, 4 items

Tax Returns including ledger/spreadsheets

Includes employee tax withholdings, consumer sales tax, etc.

Includes invoices/receipts, checking account receipts

Includes checkbook stubs, sales reports

Ledger, Chart of Accounts-Marvin Motors

Annual financial statements

Check Registers

Includes 2 ledgers

Includes contracts, receipts, etc.

Includes financial statements, savings account passbook, ledger, etc..

Includes ledger pages

Includes payroll and blank ledger book

Includes payroll records

Includes payroll stubs, receipts , invoices

Incuding payroll records

Payroll and withholdings

Includes ledger, cancelled checks, checkbook, savings passbook, audit reports, etc.

Includes payroll records, ledger pages for Strand, Metropolitan, and Morgan theatres

Including Comuntzis Restaurant, Comuntzis Realty company

Includes Morgantown Amusement Company, etc.

One individually wrapped ledger book.

Contains miscellaneous contracts, such as leases, deeds of trust, and affidavits, as well as the deed of sale for Westover Drive-In.

Deed of Sale for Westover Drive-In

Deed of Sale for Westover Drive-In [Includes map]

Includes miscellaneous leases, affidavits, agreements, correspondence, etc.

Including various deeds and deeds of trust

Several maps of Morgantown and one of the greater West Virginia area.

3 Morgantown, 1 West Virginia

Meeting minutes of the Morgantown Amusement Company and Morgantown Theatre Company.

Minutes and notes Morgantown Amusement Company Board of directors meetings

Includes meeting minutes, financial statements in notebook

This series contains an assortment of miscellaneous items with unknown connections to the Metropolitan Theatre's history.

Tax returns by accountant M.F. Hirsch, financial records of the Cowan Baking Company and the Kan-di-Korner, 1934-1938; the 1938-1939 financial records of the Tri State Aviation Corporation; and the 1938 financial records of several Morgantown businesses such as the Gump Bus Line, Selmar Glass company, Chico Milk and Ice Cream company, and Morgantown Hardware Company. There is also information regarding Monongalia County School Board and the 1938 bond issue.

A Numbers Racket file containing six items: the 4th edition of "Number Secrets" booklet documenting "new ways to forecast the probable future performance of ALL numbers", an 1938 edition of the "National Number News", and four sheets of printed numbers;

Includes U.S. Air Corps Aircraft ditching [crash] reports, 58, 313, 314, 315th Wings including mission, accident/damage reports, crew names, interviews, etc.

Advertising materials for films shown throughout the 1960s.

Includes clip art and newspaper plates for upcoming features

Daily reports of the operation of the Metropolitan and Morgan Theatres and Westover Drive-In.

Includes movie title, running time, personnel, attendance, gross receipts, shows at "opposing" theatres

Includes movie, shorts titles, studio, running times, rental fees, etc.

Includes movie title, running time, personnel

Includes movie title, running time, personnel, attendance, gross receipts, shows at "opposing" theatres

Includes movie title, running time, personnel

Includes movie title, running time, personnel, attendance, gross receipts, shows at "opposing" theatres

Includes movie title, running time, personnel

Weekly reports of the Metropolitan and Strand Theatres from the 1920s and 1930s, including films shown and Vaudeville acts performed.

Includes movie titles, studios, Vaudeville acts, etc.; Includes about one inch of records for 3-4 years

Contains various blueprints, administrative records and ephemera added to the collection in 2000 and 2005.

Grand Theatre register books

Handbill from Mary Pickford film, photo postcard of vaudeville performer, Constitution and By-Laws of the Morgantown Local 578 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Projectionists, memo notebooks

Handbills, seating chart, advertisements

Metropolitan Theatre, Strand Theatre, Swisher Theatre and miscellaneous theatrical programs

Clippings about longtime Metropolitan Theatre employee, Mose Gottlieb, Wide World War paper

War bond application, pamphlets

Film distribution company contracts; newspaper and radio advertisement records; food and beverage vendor invoices; and business records and correspondence, 1963-1987. Scattered issues of Filmack's "Inspiration" newsletter for theaters, 1954-1955. Outgoing invoices and check duplicates for 1969.

Metropolitan Theatre Preservation Foundation newsletters, National Register of Historic Places application, newspaper clippings about preservation work, labor contracts

Metropolitan Theatre meeting minutes

Metropolitan Theatre blueprints and scale drawings

Acquisition information:

Gift from Metropolitan Theatre Preservation Foundation, via Yagle, R. Karl, 1997/03/10. Addendum from Metropolitan Theatre Preservation Foundation via Judith Dinardi, 2000/02/16. Addenda from Metropolitan Theatre Preservation Foundation via Richard McEwuen, 2005/06/10 and 2005/07/14.

Physical location:

West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: West Virginia & Regional History Center

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Theater.
Theaters - Morgantown.

Collection