Capitol Theatre
306 George Street North,
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3H2
306 George Street North,
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3H2
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Book in the works about Peterborough movie theatres.
https://www.peterboroughmoviehistory.com/
Below link shows that George Street in Peterborough also had Paramount and Odeon Theatres in thei “theatre row” in 1961.
I will research those and add them to CT.
https://www.ptbocanada.com/journal/2019/4/23/peterborough-downtown-was-once-movie-theatre-row
I uploaded two pictures I was able to find.
The Capitol Theatre in Peterborough was a Famous Players partnership situation where a local person managed and operated the theatre under Famous Players instructions and then split the profits in equal shares. I don’t know the name of the partner here because he passed away many many years ago!
More research/updates/corrections: The Capitol Theatre building still exists. It has not been demolished, but has been converted. Who knows if any of the original interior still exists? The Showplace Performance Centre is still active (in the former Odeon Theatre). The Vibe Nightclub is now called The Venue, and is currently operating (the former Paramount Theatre). There are web sites for both the Showplace and Venue. As mentioned before, the Centre Theatre (on George Street) has been demolished.
This theatre was a run by a partner of the Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
The above spectrum/2010 comment, mentioning the parking lot, may have been referring to the newer building to the right of the Capitol. The google image shows Brant Office Suppply in a recent building. This building took the place of two properties, between the Capitol and Odeon theatres. The business, beside the Capitol, was Comstock’s Furniture and Funeral Service.
If you look at the side wall of the third building, it appears to be old brick. You can see this wall from the front, on George St. and from the back, on Water Street. It looks like an addition has been made to the rear of the Capitol building, as well. There used to be a building, at the corner of Charlotte and Water, that extended over to (and in front of/up against) the rear of the Capitol Theatre. This building can be seen in the postcard photo. It has been demolished and has exposed the rear of the Capitol building. There is a sign (partially obscured) on the building that says: PETERBOROUGH DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT… To the left, you can see the side wall and some of the roof contour.
Looking again at my postcard and the google image, I think the Capitol building still exists, but has been altered inside and out. The building that houses the Peterborough Inn & Suites, is a vintage structure that appears in the postcard photo. It is the second building from the corner of George & Charlotte. The Capitol is the third building, from the corner, beside the PI&S building.
Another theater, called the Centre, was located on the next block of George Street. It has been demolished and replaced. The Centre was on the block between Charlotte and Simcoe Streets, the second building past the vintage structure with the tower (at George and Charlotte). It was the third building from the corner of Simcoe Street. I have no other information about any of the four theaters.
Aside from the Capitol, there are two other theaters on the same block. Use the google image to see the Odeon (the Showplace Performance Centre) and the Paramount (the Vibe Nightclub). You can also see the rear of both buildings on the google image (King, then Water Street). I don’t know if either of the theaters are still in use.
I have a l958 photo postcard, which is an aerial view of Peterborough. The Capitol Theatre is the third building down from Charlotte Street. The address is 299 George Street North on the google view, and shows a new/recent building.
Nothing there but a parking lot accopuring to google photos.