Capitan Theater
1001 Shaw Avenue,
Pasadena,
TX
77506
1001 Shaw Avenue,
Pasadena,
TX
77506
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 29 comments
Grand opening ad posted.
This place is going to waste and being slowly dismantled. I have seen no improvements, but if there was City and community support, I’d like to see it changed to a Jam Band, Jamtronica, Electronica venue along the lines of the always busy Joy Theater in NOLA. It’s become an icon for live music in NOLA and it would mean new customers for Pasadena businesses and revenues for city, county, state and federal entities.
Email me for more.
Linkrot repair: The February 4, 1950, Boxoffice page about the Capitan Theatre can now be found at this link.
The first phase of the Corrigan Center was built in 1948 from 1001 Shaw Ave. to the Capitan Theater’s 1045 Shaw Ave. address in the north section of Pasadena. Architected by Raymond F. Smith, the Capitan would open Nov. 19, 1949 by Phil Isley of the Isley circuit and who would open the very similar Granada Theater in Houston. The first films were “Impact” and “San Antone Ambush,” with star Monte Hale of the latter film in attendance. The murals by Colville Smythe of L.A.’s Nat Smythe & Son had oceanic-themed walls with Neptune on a sea horse and Europa riding a bull among the dolphins while the ceiling had a giant mermaid and compass. Seashell-themed carpeting and a spacious and inviting lobby had to be a pleasant surprise for moviegoers. The 11,529 square foot theater was quite a jewel for Pasadena.
Just across the way in 1956, the second portion of the Corrigan Center opened so that in addition to the Capitan, adding a J.C. Penney’s, a W.T. Grant five & dime variety store, and an A&P supermarket. The Corrigan Center had become the economic center of Pasadena and the 1,600 seat theater was a major focal point despite playing mostly second-run fare. But by the end of the 1960s, the Gulfgate Plaza had become the Gulfgate Mall and the Almeda Mall opened six and twelve miles away, respectively. Times were changing quickly and audiences were driving to the General Cinema Gulgate Cinema I & II and the AMC Almeda 4 to see the latest releases. The Capitan was in trouble along with its neighboring Pasadena single screeners. So in 1970 — during the porno chic era of movie exhibition — the Pasadena would switch to X-rated films and – because the city’s Red Bluff Drive-In was also in that space – the Pasadena would even show XXX fare, as well, and would also try Spanish language films before stopping film exhibition around 1976.
The Capitan became a church for a period in the 1970s and when that ended, new theatrical life came from Hispanic film exhibition in the 1980s. That would be the last film projected in the theater. The three-time loser combined with the economic downturn of the Corrigan Center area left the theater in deep trouble and boarded up. In a last ditch effort to salvage the theater, the City of Pasadena bought the Corrigan and devoted $190,000 to fixing the exterior of the theater which remained beautiful from the outside from 2000 to 2014 awaiting a new owner. But the city’s gamble didn’t pay out as the interior of the theater deteriorated and the city’s economic fortunes weren’t too bright. Given the theater’s dismal track record over the past 45 years, the city sold the Corrigan Center for a loss in July of 2014 to a chemical company based in New Jersey. Just prior to the announcement, the theater’s marquee, theater boxes, doors and many other elements were stripped from the premises. There was little doubt that the theater – though still standing in 2015 – would be a casualty in the near future barring an a miracle by Neptune, Europa, or a contemporary capitalist.
My father was projectionist here during the 50s & 60s. I used to ride my bike there every Saturday and spend the matinee there with him in the booth, where he taught me to splice film and use the equipment. I had free passes to give away which made me pretty popular. I remember the manager, other projectionists, the lady selling tickets, the huge speakers behind the screen…pretty cool to a 12 year old boy! Sam
From Pasadena Texas a photo of the Capitan Theater.
Great building. This link includes historic photos of the theater: http://www.houstondeco.org/1940s/capitan.html
Don, My late father was from Post 1919-1939. I was able to visit Post some years after my dad died. Got a couple of theater pictures there. I have not yet checked to see if they are posted…but I would imagine you have beat me to it! Thanks for the reply. Jeff
West Texas is home jefferyintexas.
Don…
Don,
Are you from the Houston area?
Thanks,
Jeff in Texas
From the early 1970s a newspaper ad for the Capitan Theater in Pasadena.
A photo set of the Capitan taken before and after its restoration.
Does anyone have an update on the preservation/renovation status
of The Capitan as of Oct. ‘08?
Some of the interior auditorium elements like stage drapes and side walls are like the former Picwood Theatre in West Los Angeles. Both theatres were built for the Phil Isley Theatre chain. The FDYB lists this theatre as seating 608 people.
A view of the Capitan Theater’s twin, the Granada in Houston.
Current interior and exterior photos of the Capitan are online at www.houstondeco.org
This article was in the Deer Park Progress on 5/13/77:
http://tinyurl.com/2kmdev
Preservation alert:
http://tinyurl.com/ysjbwp
It does not look good for the magnificent CAPITAN. We were there and took pictures 3/19/07. It still looks great on the outside, but is trashed on the inside and has gradually become isolated in an industrial area. The only thing that will save this one is lots of $$$$. Also the city of Houston is no longer turning the neon on. (Please take a look at the link KenRoe posted above for a night-time view.)
Here are a few of the images I took.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/428682518
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/428682501
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/428682461
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/428682440
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/428682425
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/428682418
Another night time photo of the Capitan Theater:
http://flickr.com/photos/oneeighteen/115519254/
I looked inside this theater in late summer of 2004. They were renovating it. I remember seeing a screen, maybe some seats downstairs & the balcony seats were still there. Projection booth was gutted with one projector base still standing.
Photo:
View link
This IS the theater on 225. Huzzah.
Is this the theater on highway 225? If not, which one is on 225? Thanks
i am the director of a not-for-profit in pasadena with some great ideas for the refurbishment, use, and marketing of the capitan to assist the community and at-risk youth. if anyone has any information about who owns the theatre, what future plans entail, etc.., i would greatly appreciate this information.