Capitol Theatre
20 Queen Street,
Port Hope,
ON
L1A
20 Queen Street,
Port Hope,
ON
L1A
1 person
favorited this theater
The Capitol Theatre was Canada’s first theater built for sound movies. It opened on 15th August 1930 and had an original seating capacity of 684. It was designed in a medieval Norman castle theme in an Atmospheric style by architect Murray Brown.
After closing as a movie theatre and laying empty for a period of time, a renovation project began in 1993. This was completed and theatre is now open for live performances.
Contributed by
Jason R, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 27 comments)
Thankyou, but not Canada. It was the Capitol Cinema, Raglan Gardens, Wembley, Middlesex, London, England. But know nothing more about it. Thanks for your interest. Regards, Olive
Hello Olive – I was born and brought up in Wembley, and remember the Capitol Cinema very well. Raglan Gardens is now Empire Way, and the Capitol Cinema was situated just passed the Empire Stadium (which has been rebuilt recently) and the Empire Pool. Unfortunately the Cinema burnt down when I was about ten years old (approx.1936) The Majestic Cinema, in the High Road, and the Capitol Cinema were part of a Group run by a Mr.Morris (I think) who lived in Wembley at the time. I left Wembley in 1973, but if I can give you any further information prior to that, let me know. Regards Sid Thomas
Dear Sid, Thank you for taking the trouble to reply to my search. This is the right Capitol Cinema about which I was enquiring. My mother was Manageress of the cinema restaurant there, and was in charge of the catering arrangements for the ballroom dances, receptions, etc. from 1930 to 1934. She often spoke of all the celebrities that came in, Billy Cotton Snr. was one she mentioned. I remember,when I was young, in the 40’s,seeing Dior and Hartnell dresses she had, I even dressed in them when I appeared in concerts! She died in 1998 aged 94. You don’t happen to possess any photographs of the cinema, do you? I am just completing my mother’s ancestry chart and would love to add this chapter to her life. Thanking you once again. Regards Olive
Sorry Olive, I don’t have any pictures of the Capitol Cinema. I suppose you’ve done a Google search etc. already. Regards Sid
Thanks Sid, I’ll have a search. Regards, Olive
Olive, I have just added a page for the Capitol Cinema, Wembley, Middlesex, in Greater London, UK. /theaters/23641/
Hi Ken, Thank you so much for the information on the Capitol Cinema. I’ve been trying for such a long time to find this, as I recall so many stories my mother recounted of her years working there. I have her reference, supplied by the Cinema Manager (it looks like H. Beck) dated 29th July, 1933. I also have a letter from Gray, Dunn & Co., Ltd., Biscuit Manufacturers of Glasgow dated 25th June, 1934 thanking her for the courtesy shown by her to their Representative on the occasion of his visit. Thanks to you I now have more background to my mother’s career. I am now going to try to find a photograph of the Cinema if one exists. Regards, Olive
The Capitol Theater can be seen in this 1947 photo.
Three pictures of the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope in 1945:
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0012545.jpg
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0012546.jpg
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0012547.jpg
The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope was a purpose built movie theatre in the atmospheric style built by Famous Players Canadian Corporation. After a number of years Famous Players allowed one of their partners Premier Operating to take this over, as it probably wasn’t doing typical Famous Players business!!