Capitol Theatre
890 Rue Sainte Catherine O,
Montreal,
QC
890 Rue Sainte Catherine O,
Montreal,
QC
2 people
favorited this theater
The Capitol opened on 2nd April 1921 for the Famous Players circuit. The opening programme had Cecil B. DeMilles motion picture “Forbidden Fruit” as the main attraction. It could originally seat over 2600 (seating was somewhat reduced a couple decades later) and was one of the most grandiose and luxurious theaters ever built in Montréal. It was called "Canada’s Greatest Playhouse" in opening day newspaper ads.
A main feature of the auditorium was the elaborate coffered ceiling, together with giant Corinthian columns lining the walls. An unusual feature was the organ pipes set into the alcoves above the box seats on the side-walls.
By the 50s, it had become a roadshow house with long runs of blockbuster epics. For instance, "The Ten Commandments" ran for more than a year in 1956-57. Air conditioning was installed during this period of time.
The Capitol was closed and later razed in 1973, to make way for an office building.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Designed by Thomas Lamb’s Toronto office, built by Nathan Louis Nathanson (first general manager of Famous Players Canadian Corp.) and opened April 2, 1921 with the film “Forbidden Fruit”. Although still in original condition and showing films, the theatre was demolished on October 1973 along with the Strand-built 1912 (renamed Pigalle and seen on the right of the photo above) just a few doors away.
Opening day advert:
View link
A 1930’s postcard view of Rue Sainte Catherine:
View link
A similar view on this postcard from the 1960’s:
View link
The year given for this photo is circa 1925.
From the early 1970s, a postcard view of the Capitol Theater in Montreal.
It is too bad this grand cinema was torn down. I read that people tried to save it, but Mayor Jean Drapeau only cared about buildings in Old Montreal. Would be amazing if it was still in operation today. I was 10 months old when it was torn down, so I never went!
A link to a picture of the theatre’s interior
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/MP-1980.390.9/