Robey Redux | Chickens in the Road

Sep
20

Open since 1907 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Robey Theatre in Spencer, West Virginia is one of the longest continuously operating movie theaters in the United States. In 1941 when my dad was 16, he could take a date to the Robey for twenty-five cents–movie tickets, popcorn and Cokes included. The movies in release then were titles such as The Maltese Falcon and Citizen Kane. This week, 16 went on his first date.

*Movie showing: The Bourne Ultimatum.

*Tickets for two: ten bucks.

*Taking your first date to the same theater your grandfather took his first date to sixty-six years ago: priceless.

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19 Responses
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9-20
9:26
am

That is beautiful. Tickets for one in NY is $11.

Dru - Reply
9-20
9:29
am

Hope 16 had a good time on his date. :thumbsup: As for going on a cheap date, don’t you wish you could still do that!!! Or fill your car up with 5 dollars. But, then you wouldn’t have the technological advances we have nowadays. I guess you have to give up one for the other. Hope everyone has a great day today.

Leanne

leanne - Reply
9-20
11:03
am

That is really neat! And I totally agree… priceless!

Cole

Nicole Reising - Reply
9-20
11:37
am

How cool is that! I think it is awesome that the theater has been around that long.

Crystal B. - Reply
9-20
11:48
am

That is definitely priceless.

And isn’t the popcorn you get at the movies the best ever. :thumbsup:

Susan - Reply
9-20
12:39
pm

Aww, that’s too cool :thumbsup:

Lis - Reply
9-20
1:30
pm

*Putting this story in your post: AWESOME!

Melissa L. - Reply
9-20
2:20
pm

That is so cool!

Tori Lennox - Reply
9-20
3:02
pm

awww . . . that is just too cool for words. You’re right. That is priceless.

Cheryl S. - Reply
9-20
3:29
pm

At least your movie theater is still open—so many of the old ones have closed their doors for multi- plexes.

Estella - Reply
9-20
4:05
pm

He’s dating already? Yipe!

Alice Audrey - Reply
9-20
5:07
pm

Aw, that’s so sweet. Wonderful bit of family continuity.

I haven’t been to a movie in so long I don’t even know how much it costs. Must be at least $10 for adult tickets.

-Kim

Kim A. - Reply
9-20
6:33
pm

That’s so neat! So, how’d his date go? *G*

Brandy - Reply
9-20
7:02
pm

Definitely priceless and so sweet. It depends on where you go around here but it’s around $9. I remember going into town and dressing up to go to a movie lol.

catslady - Reply
9-20
8:38
pm

Way cool! I love old theatres…

Marty - Reply
9-21
12:58
am

I lived in Spencer from 1968-1971 and saw movies in the Robey. Thanks for sharing the picture. I enjoyed remembering those days.

Crystal G - Reply
1-5
9:03
pm

Hi,
Just discovered your blog. I have to say you bring back memories. I was born in Spencer but moved to Ohio in 1961. I went to the movies there and there was a skating rink upstairs in a building in town. I remember skating there. I remember the Walnut Festival. Thanks for the memories.

Dorothy - Reply
4-23
8:26
pm

I have been to some old theaters, such as The Strand, in Shreveport LA…and old ones in small towns..like out of “The Last Picture Show”..I LOVE old things like that. Loved hearing your family history on this old theater!

Donna - Reply
9-16
10:42
pm

My mam and aunt worked at the robey when they were young women. They can tell lots of stories about the life and time growing up at the movie theater. My aunt passed away a few years ago but mon is still getting around at 89 years young.

Bill - Reply