Capitol Theatre

My Grandfather managed the Capitol theater for many years. I saw my very first movie there when I was four years old. It was "Sleeping Beauty." My mother had one of the gilt mirrors from the theater hanging in our upstairs hallway for many years and had a couple of the original straight-back chairs. She also has photographs of my grandfather with some of the performers and an article from the newspaper about the theater and my grandfather when George Gershwin used to play the piano (before he was famous) in between Vaudeville skits.

The Capitol Theatre seated 1668 people.

The correct address on the Capitol is 292 Main Street. 290 would put it on the corner.

The Capitol had Charles E. Horn as architect, and first opened on December 28, 1920. After the Capitol closed in 1968, the auditorium and stage housing were converted into a 78-unit residence for senior citizens.

This is just down the street from the Ansonia Opera House. The railroad (Waterbury to Bridgeport) runs just behind the building. From the side of this building you can see the lobby is all that remains while a similar shape but different facade is the new senior housing. Standing in front but walking around to the right, you'll see the Water Street Sports Cafe on the right. Turn to the left and you'll see a small doorway in the brick entranceway between the lobby and former auditorium. This hallway is a small parklike feature to the area with some benches and goes through to the other end. There are 2 fiberglass portals on the front of the building.

I saw Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster at this movie palace in 1964. It had a huge marquee.

A Hall theater organ was installed in the Capitol Theater in 1920.