Capitol Theater
140 E. Second Street,
Flint,
MI
48502
140 E. Second Street,
Flint,
MI
48502
10 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 47 comments found
Nice panoramic views of this theater on link listed by cinemaporamas! I can see why you would want to save this one. Some blue lighting along the ceiling edges, and some nice artificial greenery would enhance the courtyard feel that John Eberson was do adept at creating.
Here are some panoramic images of the interior of the Capitol, done in December 2010: Capitol Theatre
Good news. The Flint Journal had a story about the Capitol. They have received a grant to get the place back together. Hopefully, they will have enough and not spend it carelessly. I heard it needs new air-conditioning, heating, projectors, outside fire escape and a lot of material things. It can never be restored to look like it did when it first opened. Just get it cleaned up and operational. The marquee is in perfect condition. New marquee letters will be needed too. I can hardly wait. I loved this theater. I just hope the druggies stay away. That is what the theater doesn’t need. Good security and it can succeed as a showplace downtown. That can bring over 2,000 people on weekend nights.
Some vintage photos can be viewed here: http://ford-dealers-usa.com/ViewAllOriginal.htm
Earl Berry passed away August 2009. He had been city manager of the Butterfield Theatre chain in Flint.
His daughter, Pam Peck, had a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church in Flint, attended by members of the Lions and Elk’s club and a few ex-employees. Earl was 90 years old. His wife Vivian passed away three years before. He leaves behind many fond memories. He loved theatre exhibition, his life-long career. His offices were in the Capitol theater.
As a teenager, I worked at the Capitol, from usher, to doorman and assistant manager. I moved to California and then back in 1960 for the renovation. The interior had salmon and gray walls, It looked terrible. They took out all of the things that made the Capitol special. The front entrance was improved from the old one. It was a modern look for that time.
The Garden was open during the renovating and had first run films, as did the Palace, two blocks away. Now they want $40,000,000 to restore it. Are they crazy? Does this include the whole block that contains the theater? There used to be women’s clothing stores, and antique shops there. To the right was Sackrider’s Clothing store, and Beneficial Loan was to the right on the alley. Downstairs was a bowling alley and a small restaurant.
To lease the theater they want $1,000,000 in advance, The theater needs new air-conditioning, furnace, outside fire escape, and much more. They donated the two 35 mm projectors and the pipe organ. They were perfectly well working projectors. Will the owners replace these things? it can be operational for millions less, if it is for the theater only. Yes, Flint needs a downtown theater, but not a $40,000,000 restoration.
Another 1981 photo is here.
The Capitol Theater is listed in 1955 with 1951 seats.
This site has a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/da9g8h
Corrected site for UM article.
View link
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index
This is a June 2008 photo. Is it too late to catch the Mega Bowl on closed circuit tv?
The “Mother, Jugs and Speed” and “Mega Bowl” marquee messages go back to the filming of the film “Semi-Pro” in Flint last year. The two-disc expanded edition of the “Semi-Pro” DVD includes a documentary titled “Four Days in Flint” which includes scenes filmed at the Capitol Theatre including those cut from the finished film. For the filming, the marquee got a makeover so that it became fully functional electrically for the first time in many years.
So does the 2007 photo posted on Nov 2, 2007. As I said, I don’t see any change.
The left side of the marquee is advertising “Mother, Jugs and Speed”, a mid-70s film. I imagine that some filming was going on at the time.
Here is a 2008 photo. I don’t see any change.
what a beautiful marquee. let’s hope that the ‘ol girl will eventually see a reawakening.
This is a more recent photo of the Capitol Theater.
A Barton theater organ size 3/11 was installed in the Capitol Theater in 1927. Note: Organ was moved to Flint Inst. of Music.
Another recent photo of the Capitol Theater can be seen here.
A recent close-up view of the Capitol Theater can be seen here.
The updated URL for the Capitol Theatre Building is…
http://www.capitoltheatrebuilding.com
and there is also a MySpace page for the theater at…
View link
This is a 2007 photo of the Capitol Theater building.
Here is another recent photo of the Capitol Theater building.
July, 2006 photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroitsky/363088505/