Capitol Theatre

In the early 70's it was used by Rev Jesse Jackson for his Operation Breadbasket meetings. That organization later became Operation Push.

The theater which Operation PUSH briefly used prior to moving into its current headquarters was actually the old Embassy Theater, which was razed in the early 1990s.

If this is the Capitol Theatre on 79th and Halsted, I used to go there as a kid during the early 60's. My father, who worked for White Way, changed the marquees, therefore I received free tickets. The theatre was boarded up and in poor shape, but I do believe it stood thru the some of the 80's, and I have a photo I took of it's boarded up shape. At one time, in the 70's, they tried to bring back live entertainment, I do believe seeing and ad to where James Brown played there. Blaban and Katz used to own the theatre. It was quite a thrill in the early 60's to sit thru hours of Sat afternoon cartoon festivals. Also, when House on Haunted Hill played there, they brought a skeleton down from the balcony, and one Sat kids matinee they had horror film actors arrive (some who were not the real people..like Lugosi, as he was dead, but we kids did not know this).

The Chicago Capitol was used as a model for a theatre in Sydney,Australia. This theatre was also called the Capitol and opened in 1928. It once had a 3/15 Wurlitzer pipe organ. The theatre once seated 3,000. Organ restored and moved to Orion theatre at Campsie,Sydney.(1988) Capitol Theatre,Sydney restored in 1995 by Sydney City Council.

I moved two blocks from the theater in 1965 as a 3 year old and still live on the block today and have so many fond memories of Saturday afternoons spent at the Capitol theater. After the white flight to the suburbs in the late 60's, the theater stopped getting first run movies and attendance sagged. It was purchased and used by the Gene Ammons (a famous Blues artist) but they went defunct. Now a big empty space sits there. A church tore it down but ran out of money to build their church, so the land now sits as an eyesore.

WHat a waste they did not convert the cinema to a church.

The facility was in such horrible shape by that time, it would have cost more to rehab, than to tear it down and start over.

A 1926 view of the intersection of Halsted and 79th Streets in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood can be seen here with the vertical sign of the Capitol in the background. Other signage visible includes Cut Rate Drugs, Auburn Park Trust & Savings Bank, and a large sign on the building on the corner of 79th Street which reads in part Madrid, but I can't make out the rest of it.

As a kid living on the southside(69th & Ashland)during the war years until 1953, I went to the Capitol many times, and also the Cosmo across the street. I went to many of the GREAT shows all over the southside, Southtown, Empress, Stratford, Highland, Jeffrey and dozens of others. My Dad & Mom both worked national defense jobs and we always had a buck or two for me to go to the show. Movies were one of the things that kept coming, no matter what. The Capitol had a restaurant next door, called the Capitol restaurant and I worked for a guy that owned some donut and ice cream shops around the city and we made all of his ice cream in the Capitol restaurant. After working(???) we would walk down to the corner(80th Street) and have a "Wimpys" hamburger. Does any one remember these things?

I have lived in this area since 1965, part of the migration that saw many people flee to the suburbs for fear of us "invaders". Saw Leo High School's enrollment drop to almost 300 boys (although it is now flourishing again). The Wimpy's hamburger place stayed around for a few years then closed. The Walgreens on the corner 79th Halstead has been closed for a while too. There used to be a Woolworth's kitty corner from the Walgreens, in addition to a department store named Frank's.

I miss the Capitol theater. It had character, more so than the multiplexes of today.

I wonder who the owners of the theatre were. I saw that Blaban and Katz had owned the Capitol. Can anyone give me the first name of the Blaban who was part owner.
Thanks

Living as I did much closer to the Highland (my dad owned a gas station at 77th and Ashland), I only went to the Capitol once or twice, but I do vividly remember the incredible decor which my parents talked about seeing in earlier years. There were "imitation stars" on the celing, of which all but a few were burned out by the time I got there--- perhaps 1959 or so, at which time I would have been 11.
My family was part of the "white flight" (over which, being just a kid, I had no control!), so all my memories predate 1966 or there abouts. But being apartment dwellers, we left rather late (since property values were of no concern to us). For quite a while our building was mixed race, in fact. But rightly or wrongly (I think wrongly) my mother became fearful of some of the guests to other units, and we moved to a "wonderful" neighborhood called Marquette Park a few miles away (although the Lithuanians who predominated there probably weren't that fond of Poles like my mom, or Irishmen like my dad, or "mixed nationality" mongrels like me :).
In any case, I remember the neighborhood around the Capitol theatre very well. A couple of blocks further East on 79th Street was a Chicago Public Library branch of which I have fond memories, going back to the time I was about 5. Also, kitty corner from the Capitol and a few doors north (I think a tobacco store was on the corner), was Mutual bamk, at which my parents had an account. I rode with my dad there hundreds of times as a toddler. By the time I was 12, I made that daily trek myself with a bicycle (we all though 1 mile was a heck of a long ride, back then. One "crazy lady" we knew actually walked it now and then! :).

I also remember the Woolworth on Halsted, and the noticably less fancy (and less nice smelling) SS Kresge (owned by the company that later became K Mart) half a block further down. A block still further down was Star Electronics, at which I bought filter capacitors to fix old tube radios, tubes, and my first 2N107 germanium transistor in about 1959 (yeah, I was a proto goeek back then :).
In brief, this was a great place for me to grow up as a kid, and the Highland and the Capitol theatres were all part of that overall experience. So too was the "neighborhood change" other have here mentioned. I say this because it was in no small part because of that experience that I figured out, early on, that African Americans were basically just folks like anyone else-- only with, on averge, somewhat better senses of humor. ;)

The Capitol Theatre opened on January 19th. 1925.

The comments by San Clemente Moose were interesting. I lived at 77th. and Laflin, one block east of your father's gas station. I passed it every school day on my way to Barton school. It sounds like you lived in the neighborhood. My experiences with the Capitol were much like yours but the neighborhood theater of choice was the Highland. If you would like to communicate about the old neighborhood my email is fordrobrts@aol.com Sounds like you live in San Clement Ca. ....I am in the bay area.

Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency's HAARGIS system. It includes a small picture.

What a pleasant surprise to see the recollections of Chicago's old Capitol Theater! I was an usher there working at 65 cents/hour in 1957 and have many fond memories of the work. We used to wear those fancy blue suits with brass buttons...a real attention getter for the girls. I recall exploring many of the hidden nooks and crannies of the theater and all that art deco. Any other former ushers out there?

As I understand it, from people who went salvaging during the building's last days, the Capitol was in really bad shape when they finally tore it down. My recollection is that it was torn down around '87. So if it closed in the early 70's, that would mean it sat open for around fifteen years before reaching the end of the road.

HAARGIS link does not seem to work B.

The HAARGIS database is currently down.

As a teenager my brother and I would go the Captial Theatre with my father who was very active in civil rights. Jesse Jackson was over operation breadbasket, and he had body guards there, all on the stage where he was speaking and on the floor -they where always dressed in black. He had a great band too playing music, and we would clap our hands in time with the music and raise out right fist to "I am somebody"
C.C.Chicago on Jan. 3, 2007

From the October 14, 1955 Chicago Tribune:


3 IN BRIDEWELL AFTER FIGHT IN S. SIDE THEATER

Three defendants arrested after their refusal to remove their feet from seats in a movie theater led to a fight with ushers were committed to the Bridewell yesterday to work out fines of $200 and costs each were unable to pay.

They are Robert Bavcevic, 18, of 2052 68th pl., a clerk, John DeMaseo, 21, of 2106 68th pl., unemployed, and Robert Granata, 19, of 2030 68th pl., a carpenter. They were arrested at the Capitol theater, 7941 Halsted street.

"I regret that I can't sentence you to jail", Judge James A. Geroulis of Boys Court told them. Unless fines are paid, however, they will have to spend 105 days in the Bridewell.

I was an usher at the Capitol Theater from 1960 until 1964. During that time I took several pictures of the theater including several views of the lobby. You can enjoy seeing them by clicking on the links below:

The Foyer www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/capf.jpg
Front Lobby www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/capfl.jpg
Upstairs Hallway www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/caphup.jpg
Lobby looking east www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/caple.jpg
Back Stage Light panel www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/caps.jpg

Thank you Bob, for those pictures.

They bring back such fond memories of many Saturday afternoons spent at the Capitol theater.

Looking at those pictures makes it seem like only yesterday to me, although is it approaching decades since I have been there.

Thanks so much, again.

Does anybody out there remember the old Capital Theatre, when Jesse Jackson back in the l970's was there with Operation Breadbasket. Does anyone remember his body guards that was always dressed in black attire. He would have us raise our right fist and he had a band that was out of sight.

Billy 4-9-07

I am glad you enjoyed seeing the pictures from the Capitol Theater. I have added several others from my personal collection. Here They Are:

http://www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/capcan.jpg
http://www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/capu2.jpg
http://www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/capproj.jpg
http://www.sunlitevideo.com/pics/manager.jpg

Those are really neat. Hard to imagine the place was so severely decayed by the time they took it down from looking at them.

OMG! I am simply blown away by stumbling upon this site.And many thanks to you Bob for posting such wonder pics to re-kindle fun, warm and exciting memories of days gone by.

As for me I truly remember the days of the Capital Theater. Looking at those pics reminded me of standing in a long line early to see the wonderful what they called back then "Stage Shows". We would see everybody form James Brown to the great entertainers of Motown. My all time favorite was going to see Jackie Wilson, I can remember jumpimg on stage and assisting in the ripping off of his shirt lol.

Maaaaan! I must have hung on to the sleeve of that blue shirt until
in dry rotted. The stage shows were always on a Saturday, I would be sure to do my chores all week to make sure my mom had no reason to
tell me no. After standing in such a long line, when the doors would
finally open we'd run down the isles taking our place up front, I
remember it would always start with a movie and then the show and
this would repeat itself all day long until around midnight. I can
remember seeing movies like Cool Hand Luke, True Grit and Whatever
Happen to Baby Jane which (scared me to death).....we'd see such movies like these before the show would begin. I'd often times get so rapped up in the shows that I would forget that I was to be home before dark and you know what that meant lol. I remember Wimpy's
next door where they sold those good little hamburgers with the shoe strings fries on those little white paper plates. Does anyone remember Walgreens it was on the corner of 79th and Halsted? They had really great hamburgers and milkshakes too. My mom would send me to Walgreens to buy those 5 pints of icecream, I think they were something like one dollar for all 5 pints. When I think about it now
we live on 76th in May St. just before Racine Ave. When I think about it now maaaan! that was a long walk but we'd take that walk several times a day. My mom would send me to Frank's Dept. store, Woolworth's and there was a shoe store called Big Ben's you could get shoes for something like $5.00. I also remember there was a place directly across the street from the Capital called the Sunset
Ballroom you had to go upstairs. We'd go there on Sunday evenings from 4:00pm to 11:00pm. where you could dance the evening away and as usual I'd alway stay past my time and would often times look up and see my mom coming to get me. I tell my kids that those were the days and that they have no idea what good clean fun was.

I also remember when Operation Bread Basket began to use the Capital
Theater for it's meetings. I remember also getting into trouble by the Rev. Jesse Jackson for talking doing a service. It was an afternoon when the guest was Clarence Williams III from Mod Squad was there. Rev. Jackson made myself and my friend pick up paper in front of the Theater needless to say I when outside place the can on the ground and ran lol. Again, I say thank you for the wonderful memories and I know I'll visit again.

Here's a long and rather amusingly depressing review of the Capitol Theatre from the April 3, 1928 issue of weekly Variety:

"One year ago, this theatre was making more money than any other house on the south side. Today it's not making any. Deteriorating stage shows, miscellaneous succession of inferior stageband leaders, and more to be had for your money elsewhere

"Monday night a small group of customers huddled in the center section of the prettiest theatre in town. Overhead a series of artificial clouds wafted gently across an artificial sky. Tiny stars blinked in perfect mechanical succession. Fountains spurted cylindrical streams of water with never a waver, and gleaming statuary stood about in unabashed nakedness born of Grecian confidence.

"The picture was 'One Mad Hour,' First National's version of Mme. Glyn's sex lore. It reeked and customers snorted continuously. Sympathetic chuckles when the heroine sailed over a cliff after reading a sign saying the wages of sin is just that.

"After an interval allowed for contemplation, Caesar Linden led the pit orchestra in a collection of songs having the word 'moonlight' in their titles. At one point six chorines in long robes turned right and then left, and kept doing it, while another gal did the splits and things.

"MGM's '40,000 Miles with Lindbergh" [short subject] was started, but stopped before Lindbergh appeared. Vitaphone recording of Earl Burtnett's orchestra was not in union with the picturization, and it also was jerked because the customers were singing a rhapsody in boo.

"Transferring from pit to stage, the orchestra whanged into 'Tulip Time,' a presentation act with Dutch scenics. As an opener, eight ballet girls worked a mild routine in Dutch costume. Then another band number led by Caesar Linden, who will soon be replaced by Dell Lampe. It's no mystery why.

"Charles Curry came on without his girl partner and tapped capably, but without distinction. He was followed by the eight ballet girls in a boy-and-girl Dutch number, moderately good. The morgue atmosphere lifted when Milton Watson, local favorite, sang three pops. Watson previously has always worked in B&K houses, and this opposition appearance indicates trouble.

"As a fill-in, six musicians donned comedy costume and imitated a German band, with pretty good results. Charles Curry reappeared with his partner, Miss Alexander, in an eccentric dance routine, which was fair. The closing act, Eva Mandell, is recently from vaudeville. She's a plump singing comedienne and looks okay for the new field. Most of her material is special and has to do with her excess baggage.

"Closing brought everybody on stage, with the Dutch windmills turning and the band batting out loud notes. This presentation offered no inducement for encores. It was entirely devoid of class and, with very few exceptions, was very quietly received."

As a young child, I lived on Emerald Avenue (near 80th) with my parents on the top floor of a 2-flat. My mother made my brother take me to the Capitol Theatre to see Walt Disney's Peter Pan in 1954. Until now, I had forgotten about the stars on the ceiling. I also remember Wimpy's and riding the streetcar with my mother to kindergarten at the Oglesby Elementary School. I drove through the old neighborhood in the early 80's. Very sadly, it looked like it had been hit by a bomb.

Well Janis, people that look like me moved into the area in the early 60's (79th and Peoria, still live on the same block), facilitated by people that look like you who were in such a hurry to move to Oak Lawn, Stickney, Palos, Evergreen, etc.

I went to Oglesby three blocks down the street at a time when the Chicago Board of Education put trailers in the parking lots to relieve overcrowding instead of building new schools or heaven forbid, bus us to half empty schools across the dividing line of Western Avenue.

As for the "bombed out" look, you should take a drive down 79th street now (you will be safe) - you would not recognize it. Yes, Franks Dept Store, Walgreens, Woolworth, Kresgee, Burt's, HFC, Highland Bowl, etc. are gone. But now there is a LaSalle Bank, CVS Drugstore, sitdown restaurants, a reivigorated Leo High School, SafeALot grocery chain, new 6th District police staton, etc.

Wow what a wonderful trip down memory lane! Thank you all. My Dad Harold Bryles, was the first TV repair man in the area. Television may have played a big part in the theatre losing it's appeal though.I was aways so happy to go to the Capital Theatre. As a young child when I was taken to the cry room, which was my agenda anyway. I loved that big over stuffed bear and the wooden ferris wheel, I think there was a merry go round as well. I loved those stars in the ceiling and the fountain with the big fish! Later I received my first kiss in the balcony! What was the restauant across the streets name?I used to get a Green River drink there it had big windmills on
the sign it may have been called the Green river not sure. Karmel Korn was next door,also had that great fudge,Wimpy's bugers.
Now I have my own show to go to I'm playing a stand up string bass tonight and now reside in Maine. Check us out my name is Ellen at: pauldubeentertainment.com

I'm pretty sure the Capitol was never part of the Balaban & Katz chain. It, and the nearby Highland, were, for certain, part of the Stanley-Warner chain when I went to them frequently in the 1950s. I used to get free passes for these theaters because I had a newspaper route, delivering the "Southtown Economist." I liked the palatial interior decoration of the Capitol, especially the "star" lights in the ceiling. The Highland's interior was more modest.

The October 28, 1956 issue of the Southtown Economist reported the end of manager Richard Berry's career at the Capitol after 31 years. He was an usher when the theater opened in 1925.

Did he retire or get fired?

Hi all.

My dad was the Manager there for quite some time.
He left I believe in 1956 and went to work as an Engineer for the Chicago BOE.

OMG ken I just saw you post about my DAD, thanks so much.

You know during the Depression my Dad,(Richard BArry) was the Chief of Service and FIRED his brother (Edward, Bus Barry), my Grandmother made my dad hire hem back----it's such a funny Story.

Jim Barry

He was the Manager during the war Years and they always had Live show. I have ALOT of Pictures and the one he Loved most was the Picture of him and Ann Sheridan.

The Annex was resteraunt, but next door to the North was POPCORN JOE's, then the Bus Turn around, then the Auburn Park Chamber of Commerice (my dad way the Secretary) Then the Annax.

Hi UofICPA.

I grew up @ 8012 S. Peoria and I am so Glad things are so safe there.

The 6th District has the 2nd highest rate of Murders in the City.

Leo High School has gone from 1200 intergated students to 300 students in a segragated setting that still depends on it White alumni to keep the School going.

Merchants have been driven out because of there ethnaticity--ie:
Korean, Arab, Jewish etc.

No theatres left, no Fine Dining, no shopping malls (remember 69th and Halsted was a mall that Failled, because of Crime.)

The Capitol was the regular theatre visted by my folks. Once in awhile they would take me along. The Capitol was an atmospheric theatre and vastly different from the very plain 30s Beverly which was the movie house I normally went to. I was fascinated by the decor and twinkling stars in the ceiling. The Capitol had a 3m 17r Wurlitzer theatre organ. After the talkies made their appearance the main cable was axed and the organ console stored back stage. It was removed in the 60s and is currently installed in a suburban Chicago home. The water tank on the roof of the auditorium had a structure with lights around it which made to resemble the Capitol dome.

The Capitol sat as a decaying hulk for many years on South Halsted Street before it was finally torn down:

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=capitol&catpagesize=25&ProductID=26068

It reminds me of the Royal in South Philadelphia, or the Imperial in Inglewood, CA. Both sat empty and rotting for years, although the Royal has been saved. The Imperial was razed for a strip mall.

Here is the Capitol in 1962:
http://tinyurl.com/c2bo4o

Here is a March 1968 ad from the Woodlawn Booster:
http://tinyurl.com/pxnm8z

1982 Photo

Looking at the picture brings back so many memories. I lived at the time in the 60's at 8013 S. Emerald Ave. Me my sister and friends would go there to see movies and stage shows. I don't know if anyone remembers when the Jackson 5 played there with Jackie Wilson. I was there for the rehersals because my stepfather played in the band. My sister and friend got Michael Jackson to give us his phone number, we call but Joe did not let us speak to him. I also got piece of Jackie Wilson's shirt it was a blue shirt. I remember getting in trouble from my stepdad for ripping the man's shirt. Those were the good old days.

Hi, all

I have alot of pictures from the Captiol, dating back to the 40's.

And Before, when my dad was a usher and Chief of Service

Jim Barry

We would love to see them jimbarry.