Capitol Theatre

Closed on May 18, 1963 with “Drums Of Africa”, and was last operated by the Pennsylvania Paramount Corporation (also known as the local division for the Paramount Pictures Incorporated chain).

The August 23, 1926, issue of The Scranton Republican said that Michael Comerford’s new Capitol Theatre in Hazleton was scheduled to open on Labor Day. That would have been Monday, September 6. Jack Theakston is right about the likely architect. Every house built by Comerford in the 1920s that I’ve found attributed to an architect in newspaper or trade journal items has been attributed to Leon H. Lempert, Jr., or the firm of Leon H. Lempert & Son.

My father,Tony DeCosmo,was the Chief Projectionist at the Capitol Theater for many years and worked there till it closed in 1963.I remember the ladder that lead to the roof of the building.We watched John F. Kennedy campaign in front of the Altamont Hotel (just a few doors away) from the Capitol roof.I believe the company that actually owned the theater had some sort of clause that prohibited the building’s use as a theater after the Capitol closed.In fact I’ve got hundreds of memories of the Capitol,most of which are very good.

Here is a photo showing the original marquee and exterior.