Capitol Theatre
20 Queen Street,
Port Hope,
ON
L1A
20 Queen Street,
Port Hope,
ON
L1A
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 27 comments found
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!!
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 Theater can be seen in this 1947 photo.
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
Olive, I have just added a page for the Capitol Cinema, Wembley, Middlesex, in Greater London, UK. /theaters/23641/
Thanks Sid, I’ll have a search. 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
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
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
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
This theatre was in the movie “Tommy Boy.” The vertical marquee was shown twice. Upon checking IMDB, I saw all the shooting locations and cross referenced the other main location besides Canada; Sandusky, Ohio. It was this one.
Thanks Warren, useful info.
Sory, “Olive.” I’d forgotten that there was once a Capitol Theatre in the Haymarket, which first opened in 1925 with 1,700 seats. After a series of unsuccessful managements, it was finally taken over by Gaumont, which closed it in 1936 for major renvoations that included lowering the auditorium floor by taking over a former restaurant in the basement. It re-opened in 1937 as the Gaumont Haymarket, according to “Lodon’s West End Cinemas,” by Allen Eyles & Keith Skone. I would guess that the Gaumont Haymakret has its own listing at CT, but perhaps without mention of an earlier name as the Capitol.
Warren, Thanks for your reply, but it was definitely the Capitol Cinema, London England. I don’t know which part of London it was.
“Olive,” could you possibly mean the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square, London? The Empire was similar to the world-famous Capitol Theatre in New York City, and often compared to it, since both were owned and operated by Loew’s/MGM. The Empire was super-deluxe, so Dior gowns would have suited the place.
This is a recent night view of the Capitol Theater.
Sorry but I am talking about the Capitol Cinema in London, England in the 1920’s.
The Capitol Theatre, (not Capitol Cinema), in London ON has it own listing on CT. Questions regarding the London Capitol should be directed to that site.
My mother, Georgina Lazell, was Head Receptionist at the Capitol Cinema in London in the 1920’s. Was there more than one Capitol Cinema in London at that time. They supplied her with Dior gowns which I remember well. She spoke of many celebrities she met. Can anybody help with any info?
Movies should be another function for this theater. Check the calendar on their website.
Here is a more recent photo of the Capitol Theater.
If the Capitol opened in August, 1930, I seriously doubt that it was “Canada’s first theater built for sound movies.” Not unless there was a moratorium on theatre building in Canada from 1928 up until that time.
This is a recent photo of the Capitol Theater.
1940’s photo of the Capitol theater in Port Hope is here:
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The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope opened on August 15, 1930, in a former fish shop, with the auditorium section occupying what used to be a livery. It was the first theatre in the country built specifically for talking pictures.
The Capitol operated as a cinema for 57 years, finally closing in 1987. The Capitol Theatre Heritage Foundation eventually bought the building, and in 1993 began a process of restoration.
It is now used to showcase both performing arts and films.