Capitol Theatre

The Capitol Theatre, typical of most movie palaces, began life on December 25, 1920 with William Faversham in “The Man Who Lost Himself”. Operating as a mixed-use vaudeville and movies theatre, it later began showing movies only.

On each side of the main floor auditorium, which originally seated 2,500, it featured alcoves containing a grand piano on one side and a harp on the other. It also had a working Wicks pipe organ, which was maintained by the Theatre Organ Society. One of the resident organists was Carol M. Allbee. On the walls in the lobby, foyer, and upstairs were paintings, which were retouched in the late-1960’s. By 1941 the Capitol Theatre was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary A.H. Blank.

In the early-1970’s, the theatre switched to Spanish language films. On May 18, 1978 it began screening XXX adult movies. During the 1980’s, it was also used as a Christian Center. From 1990 to 1994, it was a concert hall for country, jazz, and small touring acts, and then for local productions of ballet, community, and college theatre.

Recently, Scott Community College was endowed with the building that includes the Capitol Theatre. It was used as a non-profit rental hall for concerts, theatre, lectures, etc., but was closed in the Fall of 2010. Renovations began in 2022 and it reopened on September 23, 2023.

Recent comments (view all 44 comments)

Therese M. on June 16, 2018 at 7:41 am

Would anyone have a copy of the pictures that were hanging on the the walls, etc of the Capitol building. Send to me.

TIA
Therese Tuckness
2018

Therese M. on June 29, 2018 at 6:52 am

What kind of pleures hung on walls?

Therese M. on July 18, 2018 at 7:51 am

Pictures i mean

DavidZornig on July 25, 2018 at 8:54 pm

History of the Wicks organ at the Capitol added in Photos section. 1998 image & copy added courtesy of the Davenport Iowa History Facebook page.

Therese M. on July 25, 2018 at 9:09 pm

Ty

DavidZornig on July 23, 2019 at 4:07 pm

Ten 2017 photos added credit Dave Parker.

50sSNIPES on December 5, 2019 at 12:00 pm

Actually In 1973, The Capitol Still Ran American First-Run Films In English According To The Dispatch Of Moline, Illinois. At The Time, The Capitol In Davenport And The Parkway In Rock Island Both Played Showdown And The Reissue Of Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins At The Time. So I’m Not Sure If The Capitol Ran Spanish Films For A Very Short Amount Of Time Or Maybe They Started Running Spanish Films By The Mid-1970s.

I Will Find It Out Later On…

50sSNIPES on February 11, 2021 at 9:05 am

According To The Quad City Times, The Capitol Became A Triple-X Rated Theater On May 18, 1978.

DavidZornig on November 4, 2022 at 9:37 am

October 2022 article about renovations.

https://www.downtowndavenport.com/blog-news/blog/local-artists-and-craftsmen-breath-life-back-in-the-historic-kahl-capitol-theatre-building?fbclid=IwAR1vJs8UUFqMqe_1D_z2DZi4fZTv2otMqG74hmHLo5Bo_sHxM0GajJfumFI

Matt Lambros on August 26, 2024 at 7:28 am

I photographed the Capitol prior to it’s restoration. Check out some photos at After the Final Curtain