Capitol Theatre

The Capitol was demolished and replaced by an office tower which also housed a replacement theatre, the Capitol Square, with 3 screens. This theatre closed about 3 years ago and has now been converted to office space.

The Capitol in Ottawa was a Thomas Lamb designed theatre very much like the Uptown in Toronto. In the early to mid 1960's when I went to the Capitol many times they also had live shows.
The Capitol was a magnificent theatre but its downtown property value became so high it could not possibly last.

In the book, Palaces of the Night by John Lindsay, two photo captions read:

1) The Ottawa Capitol likely had the most magnificent staircase of any theatre in Canada. This theatre was considered by some to be the best of Thomas Lamb's Canadian designs. The auditorium closely resembled the Toronto Pantages (now Canon Theatre) which also opened in 1920.
2) Many felt the Ottawa Capitol was the most attractive of all of Lamb's theatres.

Closed and demolished in 1970. The last show was a special screening of Mary Pickford's POLLYANNA and a benefit stage show which played to a packed house.

Edward,

Was the special screening accompanied by an accomplished theatre organist? I own a new (through Film Presrevation Associates/David Shepard) 16 mm print and a Beta tape and a laser video disc of Mary's great film with my late hero, Gaylord B. Carter, playing an especially appropriate score. I am wondering if there was indeed a song entitled THE GLAD SONG and if Gaylord used this in conjunction with his scoring of the film through the Matty Kemp Festival Series/The Mary Pickford Company(copyright,1972)?

Calvert Francis
Lawton, Oklahoma
USA

It was actaully on Bank Street, not Queen Street.

It was actually on Bank Street, not Queen Street.

By any chance does anyone know the early 1960s date of the ray charles concert at the capital theatre in ottawa.

Some photos of the former Capitol Theater can be seen here.

I'm trying to gather information concerning a manager of the Capitol Theatre, Mr. Hector Ladouceur. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hi Tom,

I am Hector Ladouceur's grand daughter. I am also looking for information and photoes of Hector and the Caitol Theatre.

Perhaps we can share?

Thanks

This 1958 photo shows a Capitol Theatre in Ottawa. Is that a photo of this Capitol?

Yes, I believe that this is a photo of the old capitol Theatre in Ottawa. I have a piece of it... I bought one of the 8' decorative mirrors from its lobby whemn it was demolished in 1970.

The streetcars are also gone. Shortly after this picture was taken the local government took the streetcars out of service and tore up all the tracks because they thought that the overhear wires were "unsightly". Now (2009) they want to build a $1.2 billion (!!)light rail system in Ottawa. Great planning!!