Capri Theater

A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 189 style 135 special was installed in the Ellanay Theater on 10/30/1918. Status: Junked. In 1927 a Reuter theater organ opus 228 size 3/8 was installed in the Ellanay Theater. Note: With percussions $7,500; later moved to Paramount Theater Amarillo, TX.

Just a guess - L&A? Perhaps the owners of the theater?

You are the grand prize winner in the "Guess how this theater got its name contest":

The Ellanay which opened in 1918, was whimsically named for two El Pasoans named Louis and Andreas.

I'll take the washer/dryer.

If I'm not mistaken, the theater was also once known as the Capri. I believe it was in the area that is now the parking lot for the Chase bank building downtown. This was the theater that held the locally publicized premiere to the ill-fated movie "Manos: The Hands of Fate". The movie was a total turkey and everyone hated it. Around 25 years later it would be featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Comedy Central and would go on to become a cult favorite. Go figure.

Here are 14 photos of the Ellanay Theater.

The Capri was El Paso's Cinerama theater. A complete list of Cinerama presentations in El Paso has been posted on this page.

Moderators/Contributors: I'd like to suggest Capri be added to the top of this page as an alternate name for this theater. Actually, now that I think about it, Capri ought to be the primary name and Ellanay should be the alternate name.

I agree that it should be listed as the Capri. According to this website, the Capri closed in 1983 and has been demolished.

In the mid 1990s, the Capri house a clothing store.

Here is a 1980 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dfaroa

Thanks for the pic, Ken! Brings back many memories. I grew up in El Paso and saw MANY movies at The Capri. The sad thing is there's not many pics of this movie house around. I've searched everywhere and yours is the first decent one I come across. I only wish there were pics of the interior which I remember being quite nice. What I remember happening was that it was shut down due to the construction of The Plaza hotel which still stands in downtown El Paso. It's a shame because the Capri was a treasure. It even had a balcony which is where I used to sit all the time. Awesome pic. Thanks, man.

1980 Day Photo

1980 Night Photo

Thanks for the pics, Lost. Once again you've come through.

Cheers, m8.

Here is a December 1963 ad from the El Paso Herald-Post:
http://tinyurl.com/r3dn3r

Very cool, ken.

Cheers, m8.

I was watching a Tarzan move at the Capri (then Ellanay), with Johnny Weismuller as Tarzan. The movie was stopped and there was an "on-screen" announcement that World War II had ended. This had to be August,1945.

That's an amazing story, Clyde.

That's way before my time. I was going to The Capri towards the end of its life. late 70's - Early 80's. I remember seeing a lot of horror and grindhouse films there. Lots of double features. I always used to sit in the balcony. Loved it up there. I wish they'd never knocked it down...

Capri Grand opening in February 24th, 1961 at http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qRN7tHgc9hrfwEs0Evq-Uw?feat=directlink

Cool flyer. Nice one, Mike.

It's a newspaper ad.