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Capitol Theatre

Jefferson City, MO
111 West High Street
, Jefferson City, MO 65101 United States
(map)
Status: Closed
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Art Moderne, French Renaissance
Function: Parking Garage
Seats: 997
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Robert O. Boller
Firm: Boller Brothers
Add a photo for this theater!
The Capitol opened on June 5, 1935 as part of the Dubinsky circuit and was located right across the street from the Missouri Capitol Building. It joined the Durwood chain in 1948 and closed on May 15, 1970.

It was later converted rather hastily into a one level parking garage. The sidelights and balcony were left intact and the seats were simply replaced by asphalt. Tattered bits of the red stage curtain remained hanging above the exit for the next 25 years, and storage shelves set high on the walls were made from old placards advertsing golden-age movie house events such as "Bank Night".

The building is still intact today.
Contributed by Charles Van Bibber


YOUR COMMENTS

 
I assume French Renaissance describes what the interior used to look like? The facade is late art deco.
posted by Seth on Jun 30, 2004 at 4:04pm
The front facade is not the original, it was updated in a remodel by the Durwood chain. The original style both inside and out was French Renaissance.
posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 30, 2004 at 6:30pm
Noticed that the function is incorrectly listed as movies. It appears that the building is still a parking garage, there is a garage style door instead of a lobby. There are also a barber shop and a university office on either side of the door.
posted by Seth on Oct 13, 2004 at 7:58pm
anyone have any pictures whether vintage or recent?
posted by SNWEB.ORG on Oct 31, 2004 at 6:15pm
I've got a picture. I'd use the add photo feature if it worked.
posted by Seth on Oct 31, 2004 at 8:06pm
Seth feel free to send them to sean@snweb.org
posted by SNWEB.ORG on Nov 5, 2004 at 12:36pm
Here is a photo of what the exterior looks like today.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/Missouri%20Theatres/CapitolTheatreJeffersonCityMo.jpg
posted by Chuck1231 on Jul 26, 2005 at 2:21am
You can find out more history at:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/11022.html
posted by misskitty76 on Feb 26, 2006 at 7:50pm
I recently went to the Capitol Theatre and took some new pictures of what the theatre looks like now. It is really neat. I would love to buy it and fix it up. Does anyone know where I can post pictures of this theatre, like possibly another website that has information on this theatre?
posted by misskitty76 on Mar 3, 2006 at 5:54pm
Here is part of an article from the Jefferson City News and Tribune dated 1/6/35:

Dubinsky Bros, yesterday announced the purchase of the Krafft Motor Company building, 111 West High street, and that the erection of a new theater on the site would begin February 1.

The announcement was made by Ed Dubinsky, head of the firm, who arrived yesterday. He said the deal was closed Thursday. The building was owned by the Farm and Home Building and Loan Association of Nevada and for the past several years had been occupied by both E. W. Decker and the Krafft Motor Company.

The new theater will have a seating capacity of 1270 persons. The floor will seat 900 and the balcony 370. The distance between the last seat and the stage will be approximately 118 feet. Mr. Dubinsky was accompanied by Robert Boller of Kansas City, theater architect, who has built modern theatres in St. Joseph, Kansas City and cities in California, Kansas and Missouri.

The Miller Theater will be closed as soon as the new theater is completed and will remain closed for the duration of the Dubinsky lease, which expires February 1, 1936.
posted by ken mc on Feb 16, 2009 at 2:41pm
Here is a view of the interior. No balcony parking.

posted by Lost Memory on Feb 19, 2009 at 10:51am
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. From the Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 4/3/70:

Stanley H. Durwood, president of Kansas City based American Multi-Cinema, Inc., today announced the sale of the Capitol Theatre in downtown Jefferson City to the Central Realty Company, an affiliate of Central Trust Bank. At the same time Durwood explained that AMCI will continue to operate the theatre for at least one year with options for continued operation at the end of that tune.

In announcing the finalization of sale arrangements Durwood explained that the new Ramada (4) Theatres offer a completely new concept in motion picture exhibition which has met with immediate acceptance in major markets across the country where AMCI operates. The four auditions under one roof allow for a much wider diversification of film fare for the patrons selection and this, combined with the latest innovations in theatre equipment and patron comfort to a great extent makes obsolete past methods of theatre operation.

"While the Capitol has been and always will be a theatre of which we are very proud we feel the Ramada (4) Theatres represent the future of our business and, like any successful business we are building for the future as we see it," Durwood said. Sam Cook, President of Central Trust, said that the Central Missouri Realty presently owns property adjacent to the theater and is considering development in this area, at a future date.
posted by ken mc on Jul 21, 2009 at 7:21pm
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