Capitol Theatre
326 Monroe Street,
Passaic,
NJ
07055
326 Monroe Street,
Passaic,
NJ
07055
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 156 comments
Hi there, Al. Please know that a substantial portion of our 5,000 visits a month see your name in correct Capitol Theatre context. See http://www.moyssi.com/dedication.htm and http://www.moyssi.com/history.htm#AlHayward (and elsewhere on my site and some of the sites that link in.
Speaking as a guy who was always on the dark side of the lights, John remained in the business, while you and I did not. He’s built his cred fairly, if forgetfully. I felt the same way when you wrote that Harold Klein was the Capitol’s LD. He did the first show on December 16, 1971 but I lit most of all of the rest of them. So history is, after all, only what we recall.
The results of what you did speak for us all, but very few people know anything about any of us. It is the Capitol that they recall, and that is our fault or gift, depending on your point of view.
[CapitolTheatrePassaic] “A Conversation with John Scher"
This is on the Bergen Record’s web site and was produced
by them.
View link
Am I missing something but I did have something to do with the founding and success of the Capitol. After listening to John’s interview I get the feeling that he is on such an ego trip that he has forced himself to forget how it all started. (Amy was there, she knows)
It is remarkable how John Scher has forgotten his roots. Maybe it is some form of memory loss disease. I am looking at a copy of a full page story and photo from the Sunday Star Ledger dated Oct 8, 1972. The headline is “Sher & Hayward, Pop producers creating N.J.’s own Fillmore.â€
Some of the quotes of the story are:
Scher is half of the team of John Scher & Al Haywood (Hayward) Presents.
They have been making realities in the last year- such as creating New Jersey’s own version of a Fillmore East.
Last winter John and Al presented 25 shows at the Capitol, this fall they bought it.
They hope to make it another Fillmore, the first permanent showcase for pop entertainment in New Jersey.
They got together a couple of years ago when both were producing shows at South Mountain Arena.
John deals with the acts and Al takes care of the other business, including booking places and advertising.
Etc, Etc.
Why is it that John Scher never mentions me any of his interviews or stories. When I met John he was working for Monarch Entertainment booking shows in small colleges. He also did weddings and Bar Mitzvah (Mr Jiggs was one of his acts). I had just finished promoting 5 shows (Sly, Chuck Berry, 4 Seasons, 10 Years After, Al Cooper-Butterfield Blues Band) at the South Mountain Arena in West Orange. We became partners soon after that and then WE opened the Capitol Theatre.
Al Hayward
Watch your tongue, Laddie. But—WOW—you found MY beloved Strong Super Trouper®. I could make that thing shine almost as bright as the SuperArc but the power supply had to be goosed, the rod drives speeded up, and you had to constantly tweak the gap to squeeze more photons out of one or the other end of the spectrum, depending on what color gel you were using. If the cues came too hot and heavy and the operator blinked, the rods would collide and create wonderful fireworks for the seats nearby. But what the hey! Show must go on as brightly as possible. The game was not only to outshine every other operator, but to see which operator could arrive latest and still get his light working before Howard opened the show. Jimmy Delahanty still holds the record by firing up the as yet untuned SuperArc with the gates open and pointed right at Howard. The fade up was supplied by the carbons getting hot. The crew there got so good that I am certain that we could have done any act, blindfolded. I miss the smoke and that 5,700°K flame, and the occasional platform fire when the hot stubs missed the can and landed on the plywood. And a HUGE thank you to the guy in the orchestra below who picked up and returned my objective lens when it fell out the front of the Super Trouper and landed on a temporarily unoccupied seat directly below. Could easily have killed someone. Nowadays laddies, there would have been three teams of lawyers battling over what never actually happened. Ah, those were the days—there and at the Capitol and The Bottom Line… . Anyway, here’s a link to some pix of Super Troupers if anyone is interested: http://www.solarisnetwork.com/item_186 . Anybody have a picture of the original prototype Lycian SuperArc?
Hey Rosco I found Rick yesterday and we had a nice chat on the phone. He said he is unsure where the Academy Super Arcs whereabouts. He thinks it may have gone down with the building when NYU had it demolished. However he did tell me that Mike Proscia who was the IA steward for the building got screwed out of some money and took whatever equipment that was of any value and not nailed down with him. Rick told me that he has the house left Super Trooper is at his warehouse. From what I gather is when Delsener gave up the building the new people were not very receptive of having th IA there. BTW Moissy you are older then I am.
Uh, pardon me East Coast Rocker, but ECR sounds WAY TOO MUCH like EKG to me. Sorry about that. I’m doing fine in the What’s Remaining of My Heart Dept. too, but no need at all to lose any weight. My Capitol Theatre jackets and tees still fit fine! How you doing Mr Haywood!?! I noticed that error too. It’s wonderful to discover after all of these years that you, Spot 2, the Looney Tuner, Brenig and a couple of other anonymous Capitolistas are actually older than me! Thanks! Let’s see who wins the Great Tontine! Uh, maybe we should start one…
Hello there ECR—delighted that we be sharing the same boards. Ric-Lo became Lycian Stage Lighting – http://www.lycian.com/ – as a result of Richard’s being one of my first advertising clients. He’s apparently done quite well for himself—and we who ever tried to tame his first Lycian SuperArc, the one that Candace purchased for the Academy of Music (Burnt by the Sun, anyone?) know exactly why. He and his lovely wife Susan also run a successful dinner theater in Sugar Loaf as far as I can recall. But what happened to the original Numero Uno SuperArc? Not a clue… People in the know, please let us all know! Ciao!
Hey Moyssi is Ric-Lo still around and is he still in the biz? More like the Super Arcs. Did you ever find out what happened to the Original Super Arc used at the Academy? BTW I sw my Cadio dr last week. Other then him telling me to drop some weight I am doing good.
Hello Puznik! While most of this stuff may be before your time, you sound a lot like all the rest of us die-hard Capitolistas. May I suggest a non-commercial visit to http://moyssi.com/ where you’ll find lots of contemporary Capitol Theatre stories, anecdotes, photos, memorabilia and links to performances elsewhere on the Internet. (And, of course, tons of my concert programs.) Enjoy and please share your experience.
Non sequitur: In January 2009 my site had more than 5,000 visits, half of which were referred to my Capitol Springsteen performance page — http://www.moyssi.com/780919.htm/ — where virtually EVERYONE downloaded or linked to Charlie Lang’s signed After Show Pass for Bruce’s show at the Arena…
Just wanted to chime in and say that growing up across the river from Passaic in Garfield, NJ allowed me to walk to see some of the greatest and most influential groups of my childhood. Being born in 1972, I realize that most all of the messages on this board are from years that predate my first visit to the Capitol, which was camping out overnight to buy tickets for Ratt/BonJovi @ The Meadowlands, back in maybe 1984 or so!
Other than a quick glance while camping for tickets, the first time I was ever actually IN the Capitol was November, 1986, for one of Metallica’s first shows back on tour after the death of Cliff Burton. That was the beginning of a brief love affair with the theater, sinc it would only exist for a few brief years thereafter. Yet, I was able to catch some bands that were hugely influential and was able to do so on the soles of my Converse kicks (since I was far too young to drive)!
Bands such as Megadeth, Anthrax, Helloween and the metal gods, Slayer, all provided me with memories I’d love to relive, yet I haven’t any idea where nor how to get any pics or vids of their historic Capitol shows. To relive my youth would be great…I’d invite my lifelong friends over and we’d have a great time reminiscing…I wish the place still stood, because for me, it was intimate, convenient, and smack dab in the middle of the nearest slum to my house I could find! Go figure…nowadays, you can say that about Garfield too!
Ok I am pissed now. I just spent 20 minutes on a comment and when I went to submit it it said I was logged out
I will make this quick before it happens for a 3rd time
Hi Rosie Moyssi
I just made a Yahoo group for those of us who worked at the Academy of Music on 14th st. It is open for all to join
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NY_Academy_of_Music
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NY_Academy_of_Music
WOW!! How great it is to hear how many old friends have fond memories of our beloved Capitol Theatre. Started there in ‘73 (Sly Stone) and stayed til I went w/John Harte & Scott Voorhees doing security for KISS in '77-'80. Then a couple shows before becoming Prince’s 1st Body Guard in '81.
Do you remember the “mystery Bus rides” from the Capitol to Asbury park? John chartered the bus for the security so he was sure we would get there. It was a rolling party, w/Fuzzy on guitar and Big John guarding the can filled w/beer. Black Sabbath w/Billy and I throwing guys off the pier into the ocean and them coming back saying,“wow,what a trip.” Back over the side with them. Sometimes the tide was out. LOL In '75, Dick Carroll and I went to the late DR.Harris’s home, on Lexington Ave.
and met Mrs.Harris. She took us up to the attic of their mansion and gave us the ORIGINAL bluerprints of the Capitol. I don’t know if Dick (I’m the guy that makes this show work) Carroll did w/them. I do know that under the “balcony”,behind the candy counter was a large void that was never entered. There was no way without chopping a way in. on the left was the Office and the right was the “crew room (goin’ up?)” When they were tearing down the theatre, I took my young daughter there,before school. I remember her asking,“Why are you crying Daddy?” A part of my life died!!!
posted by Rev.Ross A.Licata AKA the original ROSIE
Hi Everyone –
My name is James Rarus. I am the person Al Hayward is referring to in the above post of April 25th. I’ve decided to poke my head into your community to say “Hi,” and then, leave you guys alone. But the purpose behind my introduction here is to extend an open invitation to any former Capitol Theatre employees or friends of the Capitol to contact me if you’d care to share stories, or, help me to clarify some facts collected in my research of the last several months. Please reach me at Thank you!
– James
Last week I was interviewed by phone for a couple of hours about the Capitol Theatre. The writter is doing a book about the Capitol and Bruce’s show there. I will post more info on the book as it developes.
Good to see some new posts. Shoeshoe please do not take offense to what is going on here. The Capitol was a shrine to many of us who grew up in that area. I for one enjoyed countless shows there for a 10-12 year period. The memories are cherished ones. These comments are all part of the history of the Capitol,as well as a small part of the history of many of our lives. Please do not take offense but let us enjoy a part of our youth once more. Come on this IS nostalgia!
Aw, the Capitol…
I worked there in ‘84 and '85 – first concessions during concerts, then movies (cough, interesting experience) – then box office – then answered phones for John at the Meadowlands.
I couldn’t miss it more. What an experience for a true 80s child from Clifton. I still dream about the place and am glad I wasn’t around for the demolition. If only I’d been there in the 70s…
Thanks. Just contact them thru the contact page. Updates are made in the first few posts when all the important info is added in these comments. But to watch 500 comments for little tidbits is no doubt daunting to anyone.
Thanks you Ralph and Ed, and thank you Shoeshoe for your many well-researched and documented contributions to different pages on Cinema Treasures, including more than a couple of Capitols. Ed too seems to be there on many of these pages as well. Ralph, sitting in his armchair somewhere in Britain (notice his spelling) is, I’m sure, a very dedicated participant in things music-theatrical. So let’s all keep involved with what we know and do best. Shoeshoe, I need your help! Have you figured out how to get this website to update its theatre info at the top of the pages? I’ve got blueprints, for heaven’s sake! -Moyssi
I second that emotion, Ralph W.
I see the point shoeshoe, is making, but I would prefer to see recent posts as a widening of the focus – I realise some they may not be strictly Capitol-related, but this is all interesting stuff straight from the guys who were on the spot (no pun intended) at the time, and questions asked and answered here could all help to document a very important period in not just the Capitol but also adjacent venues… my vote – from an armchair viewer located in a different continent – is please carry on with the nostalgic musings…
Didn’t mean to offend, shoeshoe, but it’s not clear to me what the function of this page and site if it isn’t nostalgia.
Those of us who worked or enjoyed the Capitol are trying to put our wistful memories together to arrive at something closer to actual history. I’ve tried many times to correct the missing, incorrect, or incomplete info at the top of this page regarding style, function, seats, chain and architect with no reaction whatever from whoever controls this site.
If anyone else thinks that this sort of nostalgia is inappropriate, please say so. I’ll be happy to hang it up….
While I love hearing about this nostalgia, somehow it’s detracted from the matters of hand on this page and site.
Well then, I’m convinced it was the 3-show run at the Stanley and the mystery is how did I get to work those shows? Harold Klein and I partnered to direct lighting at the Capitol and The Academy of Music (thanks to Candace Brightman) and The Bottom Line (thanks to John Scher), but I don’t recall Howard Stein promoting any shows at the Stanley. Candace was the Dead’s LD, so my role would have been as a spot op or board man hired by Howard, Candace, or another promoter due to our rep in NYC and NJ. But I sincerely doubt that I would have worked for anyone locally other than John.
Does DLH or anyone else know who promoted those Stanley shows?
My wife Barbara worked in the box office at the Capitol. Her girlfriend Debbie was the back stage hostess. They both went to a show at the Central Theater. It was not put on by John or me as she remembers me telling her she should not be going to shows run by the competition. It may have been Ron Delsner or Howard Stein. Both were running shows in NY about the same time John and I opened the Capitol. She remembers seeing Dave Mason at the Central.
As for filming shows at the Capitol- as far as I remember they were not done while I was partners with John. He may have started doing filming after we split up in 1973. And John was not managing the Dead while we were partners. We produced the Dead twice while we were partners. Once at the Capitol and once at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. Both I think were in 1972.
Joe’s comment about John Scher just raised another possibility about those shows at the Stanley: When did he begin to manage the Grateful Dead on this side of the Mississippi?
Just an aside, but I think it’s safe to say that most every show was filmed at the Capitol, quite a large percentage as it happens, but I know of at least one show for certain that was not filmed – Ozzy Osbourne’s April 1981 performance. (This has just been confirmed by John Scher himself.)
Moyssi, thanks again for the info.