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The Capitol Theatre was built on the site of the Palais-De-Dance in Kepler Street.

The owners of the former Palais and Hotel Mansions (which were both destroyed by fire on the 22nd of February, 1929) built the Capitol Theatre. The architects of the original design were Bohringer, Taylor and Johnson.

The Capitol Theatre opened on the 12th of April 1930 with the sound on disc film “The Hollywood Revue” (M.G.M). The theatre originally seated 1,150 people (750 in the stalls and 400 on the balcony).

Architecturally, the building is treated with a modern adaption of the popular Mediterranean style, with textured walls proportioned with openings and touches of ornaments. The main structure is comprised of sandstone, steel framing, and reinforced concrete. The Spanish Mediterranean style is continued throughout the auditorium.

Several Spanish balconies and windows adorn the auditorium walls’ proscenium splays, whilst the foyer is heavily panelled. The deep proscenium gives way to a wide stage opening with an elliptical top. Decorative plaster panels complete the Spanish effects in the stage area.

In the 1970s, Warrnambool Amusements Ply. Ltd. took over the running of the Capitol Theatre which saw a redevelopment of the foyer.

The original foyer design had a split staircase leading to the top foyer on the right hand side of the bottom foyer with a small ticket box located between. Upon the takeover by Warrnambool Amusements, the split staircase was replaced with a single double-width staircase, and the ticket box was relocated to the left hand side of the foyer. Before this, a lolly shop occupied the current ticket box and candy bar location.

Photo - Courtesy of Vintage Victoria

Contributed by Greg Lynch -