Capitol Theatre

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Capitol in Everett has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre had an entrance in a one-story building. There was a rectangular marquee with "Capitol" in big letters on its front. Above, sticking up in the sky was a big vertical blade sign. On each side of the entrance was a narrow poster case, and there was a center boxoffice. The Report states that the Capitol had been showing MGM films for over 10 years, that it was over 15 years old and in Good condition, and had 1432 orchestra seats and 523 balcony seats, total: 1,955 seats. In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Annual, the Rialto in Everett is listed as being part of the Warner Brothers circuit. Theatre historian Don King wrote on the MGM Report that he believed that the Capitol had been built by Mark of the Strand Theatre in New York, and that he thought that the theatre survived for awhile as a church.Can anyone confirm ?

Correction to the above: it was, of course, the Capitol which was listed as part of Warner Bros. circuit in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac (not "Annual").

To Ron Salters Re .....Capitol and Rialto theatre in Everett Ma.
The Capitol indeed was operated by Warner Brothers. They did not own the building and were tied to a lease. When TV came in they did not survive. They never even air conditioned the Theatre although they did air condition the lobby entrance. In the fifties they closed then reopened as a real cheapie. I believe they charged 10cents to see real oldies. Eventually they closed and the building became an Assembly of God church. That lasted for a number of years snd the building then was converted to office space which is what it is now. Rialto info to follow......Sam S

Additional info on Capitol Theatre.....Its interesting to note that in the 50's before the Capitols initial closing Everett in effect had 2 first run theatres. The PARK and the CAPITOL. Through a formula first run product was split between the two theatres. This made for great choices for Everett moviegoers., One particular weekend comes to mind when the PARK ran White Christmas and the CAPITOL ran A Star is Born.....Not bad for a city the sizes of Everett.

From the researh librarian at the Parlin Memorial Library in Everett the Capitol opened on September 6, 1926 by Moe mark of the Mark Strand New England Corporation. Although the Mark Strand Corporation of New York was merged into the Stanley Company of America just about the time the Capitol opened it was not until November of 1929 after Warner Bros. acquired the Stanley Company that the Capitol and its sister theatres in Lynn and Worcester became part of the Warner Bros. theatre circuit.

The newspaper account in the Everett Herald and Republican indicated the Capitol opened with a Symphony Orchestra and Wonderful Pipe Organ. The organ make was not listed but it was an Austin 2 manual, 9 rank organ.