Capitol Theatre

This theatre was built in 1929 by the Daylight Theatre Company, Limited whose principals were Mr. Byers and Mr. Butler. The Daylight Theatre Company were Famous Players partners in the operation of the Capitol, The Daylight, the Broadway, and years later the Midtown A & B. In the late 60’s the Daylight Theatre was renamed Paramount at the suggestion of Famous Players Limited!

May 11th, 1929 grand opening ad is at View link

Midwest Group is doing a wonderful thing. I have been in contact with Midwest, there’s was long, hard and arduous road to get the marquee relinquished to them, and I – am so grateful to them. I don’t believe that the marquee will be attached to “an ugly condo”, all their work would be in vain. Mr. Ken Achs reputation seems to proceed him and Colleen Wilson will have great plans for the unveiling in a most prestigous manner and building. Kudos to the whole Midwest Team!

MJ (aka RubyRed)

Thanks everyone for all your emails. Yes, the Midwest Group has the original Saskatoon Capital Theatre marquee now. It is no longer in its sad state od decay. It is redau for paint but we have still not paintied it, so anyone with knowledge of it original colors is welcome to send us that info to add to our research. We do have the paint chips from the under layers and have been researching theatres of that era to take it back to its original colors which were many as shown in the old paint buried beneath the newer paint layers. We are just waiting to find a building in our portfolio to best showcase the marquee. Award winning heritage property developer Ken Achs will over see the restoration. We will update at midwestgroup.ca and we will also post on this website when we find a location for it. Meanwhile know that is is no longer decaying and is safe and any of you who know Ken’s work will know it will be a first class restoration.

Some good news about the Capitol’s grand marquee:
‘The Mid-West design team peeled away deteriorating outer paint to discover the original multi-coloured paint scheme. Paint chips were kept so that it can be restored as closely as possible to its original colour scheme. The marquee was then sandblasted and prepared for re-painting and intricate electrical re-wiring. The restoration project is expected to cost about $80,000 and will be completed once the Mid-West Group has identified an appropriate building in its property portfolio on which to showcase it.“
Go here—> http://www.midwestgroup.ca/diversity/heritage/

34 new images of Capitol, some colour, taken the year before its destruction have surfaced. They make my heart hurt. What a loss! Click here—>
View link

RubyRed – No, I haven’t seen the marquee. I live in Montreal, which makes anything related to Saskatoon sort of difficult.

Calgary has a horrible track record with old theatres. It’s not an arts city; but an epicentre for conservative oil executives, who don’t give a damn. That makes people like you, that much more necessary.

Since you’re there, I say savour what few theatres there are left, ie. The Plaza, The Uptown. Do keep me up to speed, though.

Elissa – my sentiments exactly. I was speaking with my cousin in saskatoon this morning and we were discussing the building and the Capitol artifacts. He said he was going to do some investigating of his own on the A. Cook bldg., etc. I said the very same thing, that they should be in a museum for all to see. Cities, do some very funny things, as in Calgary too. Maybe a call to the City or the newspaper may prompt something – who knows. I trust that you have not seen the marquee in real life either? If found the write up in the paper as well, that you quoted….interesting.
Thanks. If I hear anything more, would you like to know?
Ruby

Certain items from the Capitol can be found on display at the Hose & Hydrant Pub, off Broadway. Among them, a ticket kiosk, wall sconces, and chandeliers.

You can see some pictures here—>
http://www.hoseandhydrant.com/gallery.html

Read my previous comment on where other items are being hidden.

Reading Greg McKee’s comments was very nostalgic. I was born & raised in Saskatoon. In 1972 I moved to Calgary, but still came home to visit family & friends.
I worked at the CAPITOL THEATRE during 1968-69 as an ushrette and at the candy bar as a “candy girl”, during my high school years. Mr. Sutherland was the boss and was often found sitting in his favorite chair in the candy bar foyer watching the crowd as they entered the theatre to get their goodies & watch the movie. I loved my job there & it was the 1st job I had. I can smell the smell of the theatre as if it was yesterday and I remember the decor & the carpets well, the whole theatre was light up like a GOLD PALACE. The balcony was spectacular, the theatre was like no other. The small photos from Elissa Hamilton was very nice to see – I wish that there was more.
I was absolutely devasted and mortified when I come home to visit & thinking I wud go to the theatre & see a movie that my family told me the city destroyed it. What were they thinking – such a beautiful building should have been preserved for our generation to see today.
I wonder if that Marquee is still sitting in the compound? If Greg McKee has an email address or if anyone else in Sasktoon knows where it is, please let me know at my email address as I am interested in obtaining a photo too.

I have the 1935, 1945, 1951, and 1955. The IMPA that I have are 1961, 1964, and 1975. Not much info in those but they should be handy for verify later theaters.

I picked up three IMPA listings so I can give you a hand with these circuits.

I know it was in 1967.