He was 73 years old and saw an ad in the local newspaper for a maintenance position at the Capitol Theatre. He applied, interviewed, and got the job, and Cliff VanScyoc continues to report to work eight years later.
The Marshall County native worked a 40-year career for a single employer, retired in his early 60s, and has worked side jobs ever since. VanScyoc had cut grass and performed in odd “fix-it” positions before discovering the best job he’s ever had.
“When I first retired, I started mowing something like 10 years to make some extra money, and then I did a couple of other things to make ends meet,” the 81-year-old recalled. “But then I saw an ad in the paper for a maintenance position here. It’s only part-time, but I don’t want anything more than that.
“Ever since I got this job, I try to do as much as possible so management doesn’t have to call a contractor. I figure if I do that, it’ll allow the decision (makers) to spend the money on other things I can’t fix. That’s fine with me,” VanScyoc explained. “I just want everything to work the way it’s supposed to when people come here for the shows. They deserve that because they’re buying the tickets, and that’s what makes everything work the work it’s supposed to work.”
That includes the curtains, each and every seat, the ladies permanently poised and posed on those balconies, and the lighting, the carpeting, and all other facets that need fixing from time to time. Why? Well, it’s a love affair that began many decades ago.
“I was in my early 20s when I first came to the Capitol, and back then I lived on a dairy farm out in Fish Creek. We ran that dairy farm, and I also worked for ConocoPhillips Oil then, too. I ended up working for that company for more than 40 years,” VanScyoc said. “I started out high school as a laborer and I ended up as production superintendent before they bought me out so I would retire.
“Did I want to retire? No. But it was a good deal and I took it,” he said. “I’m 81 years old so that means that was almost 20 years ago already, but here I am now and that means everything worked out for the best for me. I can’t think of a better way to spend my days making sure this theatre is ready for its next show. I was amazed with this place that first time I walked in here, and I want it to be like that everyone else.”
And that explains why VanScyoc is so protective of the venue, too.
“If you want to come in here and cause damage, you know, on purpose, I’m going to have a problem with that,” he said with the straightest of faces. “The main reason I love the Capitol so much is because of how unique it is. There’s really no other theatre like it, and they sure don’t build them this anymore. Just look at the architecture. Look how great it is, and that’s why I take it to heart when I do what I can do to keep it the treasure it is.
“I’m not the manager here, but I might be the gatekeeper because of how protective I am of the theatre, and I’ll stay over, too, if they need me to work more,” VanScyoc said. “I take care of all the maintenance. If anything needs repaired, I repair it. If I can’t repair it, I call in out contractor. It’s an old building and it needs taken care of. It needs a lot of love and care.”
Thanksgiving 1928
It remains the largest theatre stage in all of West Virginia, and nearly 100 years ago, it cost just $1 million to construct.
The greatest performers of at least three generations have walked onto the historic stage, a platform that remains today 100 percent original, and since the Wheeling Convention & Visitors Bureau acquired the venue on April 3, 2009, superstars such as Jerry Seinfeld, John Mellencamp, and The Avett Brothers have been headliners, a series of Broadway shows have appeared each fall and winter seasons, and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra has called the Capitol home ever since.
It is a staple, a memory maker, a reason to still travel to downtown Wheeling, and a gem respected through the country if not the world, and those are reasons why VanScyoc stands guard on a daily basis.
But (here comes the question everyone wants asked!) have some souls stayed behind?
“Are there ghosts here in this building? In this theatre? Not that I have encountered,” he insisted. “I’ve been here at the Capitol during all hours of the day, and I’ve been here completely alone many, many times. If there were ghosts here, don’t you think they would have said something to me by now? Maybe an old performer or something who has come here before? Well, that hasn’t happened.
“What we do have here is a pretty cranky boiler system,” VanScyoc reported with a chuckle. “It sure does clank and clunk and bang and carries on pretty good. So maybe that’s what has scared some folks.”
But there is one angel this maintenance man wants to help now that the $31 million streetscape has caused the removal of the “Jamboree Stars” from the front of the legendary music hall, and that is the recently passed Slim Lehart. The “Wheeling Cat,” who passed in early August, was honored along with more than 20 others who helped make Jamboree U.S.A. second only to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
Oh, and VanScyoc has an idea how to resurrect the stars once the brass plaques have been cleaned and restored.
“I know they had to do it, but I hated to see those stars when they took the start out of the sidewalk in front of the theatre. Sure, we’re getting new sidewalks out there, but I wish they could have worked around them somehow,” VanScyoc said. “But now that they are being refurbished, I think they should get Brad Paisley up here where he started and give him a star. Maybe he could do some shows, too.
“I hope he reads this story somehow and thinks it’s a good idea and actually comes back,” he said with a smile. “He’s a Marshall County kid like I am so I think it would be the right thing for him to do sometime. He came back after that horrible flood and helped people, but maybe this time he can come here so we can honor him. That would be wonderful, I think.”
For now, VanScyoc will continue walking his daily floor-by-floor rounds in his personal quest for perfection, and he’ll likely tighten down a few seats or change a couple of light bulbs or clean the dressing rooms along the way.
“But listen, I enjoy coming here every day. There’ll be a day I can’t,” VanScyoc said. “At my age, I really never know when that day will come, so for now, I will do what I want to do and that’s come here and take care of this beauty. I see myself as lucky to be able to do that at this stage in my life.
“I guess you can say I’m blessed in that way,” he added. “I came here as a very young man and it was beautiful then, so I’m going to do everything I can to keep it that way for everyone else.”
