Capri Theater

I attended this theater in the 1970's when they showed films. They played a rerun of "It Happened One Night" and Frank Capra appeared in person, explained how the film was made and answered questions from the audience. The admission believe it or not was $2.00. After it closed as a movie house it reopened as a combination restaurant/movie. It also held pro boxing at times. It had a extremely modern facade roof in front, not a marquee. It is now closed and scheduled to be torn down due to the widening of Independance Blvd.

The Capri opened in the early 1960s with the Polly Bergen movie "Kisses for My President". I saw the NC premier of "My Fair Lady" at the Capri in 1964 when I was in elementary school. The theater was a real show place, though its "art modern" design looks dated today, and the experience of seeing such a blockbuster film there made a lasting impression.

The address for the Capri Theatre, 3500 Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC.

That should have been 3500 East Independence Blvd.

I recently ..uumm..eplored the Capri and she's in horrible shape. The roof of the lobby has a horrible leak in it and the floors are cracked. The auditoriums are a wreck. The inside poster frames still contained old boxing posters. If you go back into the woods you'll find the remains of her trashed marquee.

BTW, she served as a used car lot between the time that she closed as a theatre and was converted into a boxing center.

I have oddles of exterior and interior photos available.

Anyone know of an Old closed theatre for rent or lease for concerts.
Looking in and around Guilford and Alamance or closely surrounding counties North Carolina.Whomever gives me reliable info will have complete access for all shows for them and a friend at that particular location ,if ,lease is signed for the theatre in which they have directed me to. Facility should be in a condition that only needs minor to no work to begin operations. No multi-plex , but something vintage preferably single screen but two screen unit considered. At least 500 seats.

Thanks

The Capri slated for demolition has received a reprieve in that a legitimate stage presentation is now going on Whether or not this ia a permanent trend remains to be seen. Charlotte needs venues such as this, to vitalize the entertainment aspect of the city. Perhaps the same could occur to the Carolina Theatre.

Muray,

I think that the Carolina has a far better chance for restoration than the Capri. The "new" traffic pattern on East Independence is such a mess and the neighborhood behind the theatre is really high in crime.

Although I hate to see any theatre put up to the wrecking ball I would have to say that the Capri's future isn't to great.

And it is such a neat looking theatre as well...

Thomasina,
I walk by what was the Carolina Theater every morning (Mon-Fri) and it appears to be an empty lot, only the front ticket booth area remains. Am I missing something?

Nope.

In the mid to late 80's there was a mess of a mall called CityFair built right beside of the theatre. As a way to gain control of the Carolina Theatre property the developer of CityFair had the lobby and theatre office area condemed based on reasons that were discovered not to be true during the demolition of the theatre's lobby. It was quite a task for them to raise the sturdy lobby and office area. Luckily CityFair flopped, the developer experiennced huge legals woes and the rest of the theatre remians.

Whenever you approach the Carolina you do see the remaining stonework for the box office. Then you see an obviously empty lot. That is where the theatre's lobby and offices used to be. The next feature you will notice is a massive wall painted with a mural for the Carolina Theatre. Behind that wall and in that building is the Carolina Theatre's auditorium. So basically you didn't miss anything other than the elephant in the corner drapped with a table cloth. ;)

Don't worry, it took me a while to realize what sections of the theatre were theatre and what was missing.

Hey Patrick can we move this discussion over to the listing for the Carolina Theatre? Thanks!

Update on the Capri...

She has apparently recieved a nice overhall and is currently housing the show Menopause: The Musical. No folks.. I'm not making that up.

*hew* I'm so glad that she wasn't raised.

Thomasina Aquinas, in a previous message, you said you had lots of old photos of the Capri. Would you be able to provide a link to a gallery, or just email them? I am dwodeyla@yahoo.com

The photos aren't older..just a sneak into a theatre that was sitting open. ;)

I hope you'll email a few anyway. I'd like to see the place.

I will be sending them via Gmail.

:)

The Capri has closed again after a multi month run of 'Menopause: The Musical'. No other presentations are planned at this time. At least the building got a modest rehab and awaits the next person with some ideas for the space.

Does anyone know who runs the Capri? I would love to find out who is in charge of rentals there.

Contact Information for Capri Justin 704-663-5115

The theatre is to be demolished to make way for the Metro Transit System that will run through Independence Boulevard(US. Highway 74)

The Capri opened in 1964. It was first twinned in 1975 and a third screen was constructed along side the original structure a few years after that.

The World premier of the documentary 'Stockcar!' took place here on May 27, 1977.

Capri was saved! It is now a night club called Stir. Not sure what type of club this is but the parking lot is PACKED every Friday and Saturday night. ITs good to see the old girl thriving.

If anyone has photos of Capri from ANY era please email me.

Thanks

Was owned and operated under the Stewart and Everett Theatre chain,which also operated the Village Theatre and the Freedom Mall Cinemas. Carmike acquired the Capri when S&E folded,and at the time was the only theatre chain under Carmike Cinemas that survived along the construction and renovation of Independence Blvd. I heard the cinema has been transformed into a nightclub.

Carmike also owned and operated Town Cinema 6 and University Place.

Okay, here's my little history of The Capri. I don't really know when it opened so will stick with c1965 for now. One thing, it wasn't twinned first and a third screen added--see as follows: The Capri Theatre opened around 1965. It was built and operated by Stewart & Everette Theatres. Unusual ceiling detail (we called them upside-down pyramids but I’m sure there is an architectural word for them) was not only outside but inside the lobby as well. It had one screen and 995 seats with a back center smoking section in the auditorium. (a low wall surrounded these seats and ashtrays were attached—I believe to the back of the seats). It had a real stage with a beautiful gold, satin(silk?)-brocade curtain that was raised just before the previews and lowered between shows (though eventually they stopped doing that). Wonderful to watch the rippled pleats as it rose and fell. They often used a color-wheel on the curtain when it was closed along with background music. Color wheels were also in place in a double-fountain out front. A double driveway with overhang for the comfort of passengers being let out or picked up was between the fountains and the box-office. Ladies’ restroom had a separate lounge area (though not as pretty as the Park Terrace’s). Sometime around 1975 a 2nd auditorium was added--seating capacity maybe around 350? After 1980 the large auditorium was split and the Capri could then call itself a tri-plex.

Picture of the theatre from 1966 posted at my flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricia_assorted_pics/

One more thing: Stewart & Everette did not own/operate the Freedom Mall Cinemas but I have honestly forgotten who did! Only The Village and The Capri were Stewart & Everette's in Charlotte.

Here's a link direct to picture mentioned previously:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricia_assorted_pics/2819184359/

Patricia, I looked all through your flickr pics and could see none of the Capri. Am I missing something?

Patricia,I saw your flickr pics of the Capri Theatre when it was a single screen theatre back in 1966. The showing on the marquee was "Promise Her Anything" with Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood. The picture shows a line of folks stretching towards the parking lot. Interesting. Tell Chuck its in there.

Also interesting that you added to:
flickr pics of the Ansonia Theatre in Wadesboro in 1963 along with the Center Theatre in Monroe and also The Colony Theatre in Wilmington from 1963. Write me sometime. I do have an email address on my site under "raysson".

Opening date for The Capri was set to be October 16, 1964. Some newspaper research at the local library should verify that it did open then. Here is a link to a photo of the marquee in 1975:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricia_assorted_pics/3335994953/

Note - I keep putting an "e" on the end of Stewart & Everett - my apologies as that is not correct!

According to an item in Boxoffice Magazine, November 2, 1964, the opening feature at the Capri was the Polly Bergen-Fred MacMurray comedy "Kisses for my President." You never heard of it? Neither did I, and apparently neither has anyone else. There aren't even any reviews of it at Rotten Tomatoes.

Boxoffice gave the original seating capacity of the Capri as 995. The house was equipped for both 35mm and 70mm projection.