Capitol Theatre
75 Main Street West,
Rochester,
NY
14614
75 Main Street West,
Rochester,
NY
14614
1 person
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During the 1940’s, as I remember it, the name on the early-20th Century marquee read “Comerford’s Capitol”. Originally opened at the turn of the 20th Century a vaudeville house known as Fay’s Vaudeville Theatre. I have fond memories of going there often as a child with my parents. Does anyone remember this old theatre or know of any photos of it?
Contributed by
Charles
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Could the original name have been Fays? The 1926 FDYB lists Fays with 1500 seats and an address of only W. Main Street (no specific #). There is also an Empire at 282 S. Main St., and a Rialto at 197 Main St. There is no Capitol listed for Rochester in the 1926 FDYB.
Here is a photo from the Rochester Archives. The Capitol is visible on the right side of the photo:
http://tinyurl.com/32fwpc
The caption for this early twenties photo states that the theater was then Fay’s Vaudeville. Address was 75 Main Street West:
http://tinyurl.com/ytmoz7
Good find. That confirms what Warren posted in the first comment. A Kimball theater organ was installed in Fay’s Theater in 1925.
I used to see that theatre when I was on to piano lessons at Hochsien around the corner. I think the auditorium was knocked down and just the front was there in the 1980’s.
I used to go there on Saturdays since they showed 3 Stooges movies as an add on to the show. When I left there I would go around the corner to Plymouth Ave & the Grand Theatre and see 2 More movies. Admission was 16 cents for kids back then!!!!!
The links don’t seem to work. Could someone please update so the pictures were available again? Thanks.
Worked at the Capitol from 1964 to 1967, first as an usher then the Manager. Theatre was owned by the Fenyvessy Family who previously had owned about eight theatres in the heydey of movies including the Strand. The theatre was only opened on Saturday and Sunday and was the home of “Action Packed Proven Hits”. From 1965 to 1967 I booked the movies for the Capitol. the top grosser was “King Kong vs Godzilla”. The theatre was the first to show talking pictures. It started out as a vaudville house. The dressing rooms were in dismal shape, not having been used for over forty years.
Moose, I’d like to see some old pix and hear more stories. As a kid, I remeber seeing the outside of the thater and the marquee. I remember when they tore it down. Did it have the stadium seating there? King Kong Escapes as one of the features.