Capitol Theatre

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

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

Ten 2017 photos added credit Dave Parker.

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

What kind of pleures hung on walls?

15th Anniversary December 1935 photo added courtesy of the Retro Quad Cities Facebook page. Haven’t fully cross referenced what’s on the marquee yet.

Reopened on December 29th, 1968. Grand opening ad in photo section.

1937 photo added courtesy of the Retro Quad Cities Facebook page.

I see this building has all been but abandoned. What a shame. I am 63 years old and this was the cream of the crop of places to go as a teenage to see Elvis, Buddy Holly, and all the other greats in movies. John Wayne and Roy Rogers. What happened to our society that such grand and out of this world this building was to so many of us Iowa Farm-girls? Why it was a total dream to walk into this glamorous, exciting place so you could watch your favorite heroines and hero’s come to life on the giant screens of yesterday. Let’s not let this building go to waste, surely there is someone or some group that will or could bring this theater back to it’s former glory. I use to run my hands down the railing to go to the restroom, and touch the carpet, the shiny walls in the bathroom. I mean your reading this from a gal who didn’t even have socks to wear at 10-12 years old that hadn’t been through a couple cousins before me already.. My Dad was disabled from bad heart condition aggravated by shrapnel he still had in his body from WW11 and we never even had a soda pop till I was 14 years old. Please let’s show our grandkids how beautiful the Capitol Theater was back in 1956 and how much it meant to us 60+ farm girls in Iowa..

I have many fond memories of the Capitol Theatre when my husband and I worked there. To me the highlight of the season was the “Silent Movie Nights” where a guest theatre organ artist was brought in by the local theatre organ group. A theatre organ concert, sing a long and silent movie accompanied by the organ was included in the ticket price. I also remember the local organ group playing a mini concert for the senior citizens on Wednesday afternoons which also included a special old movie usually a musical. My husband wanting to make it affordable for the pensioners and only charged $1.00 admission. They loved it!

Looks like they’re planning to do more renovations beyond lobby and restrooms – primarily in the backstage area.

Also they’ve expanded beyond concerts; their current schedule includes ballet and opera as well.

A company called Nvents has just taken over management for the Capitol Theater. The bathrooms have been expanded plus a bar, more lighting and stage improvements have all been added.
Here’s a link to the website.
http://thecapdavenport.com/

It looks like it’s going to be a more of a concert venue.
At least it’s being used!

The Capitol is in need of more than a coat of paint. The roof is leaking over stage right, most of the upper left balcony has lost its plaster on the side wall, the paintings on the auditorium ceiling have damage, the basement usally has a ½ in. of water etc. In addition the lobby has one unisex restroom, the mens restroom is located in the basement and the second floor may not have any that are working.

Many issues must be addressed if this house is to survive. All efforts to entice a local theatre performance group to make the Capitol “Home” have failed, evan though the QC area has a symphony, two ballets, an opera co. and a fistfull of performance groups. The Adler has crowded the Capitol out, at least funding-wise. The community will have to want to keep the theatre alive.