Capri Theatre

The Pix Theatre opened in 1940 by Van Downing as a 500 screen first run movie theatre. The theatre was a vibrant theatre throughout the entire time it was open. It was closed in 1957. Reopened in 1962 as the Capri Theatre. By late-1970’s and early-1980’s, it was obviously feeling the heat by the other multiplex theatres that had opened in Jackson.

By the early-1980’s, the theatre had switched to second run films then eventually an adult/porn theatre. It has been abandoned since the mid-1980’s, home to a clothing shop for so long but recently reopened for community entertainment purposes.

The Pix Capri Theatre is no longer open for first run movies and will go through a lot of work to restore it. Once restored, it is expected to become a venue for performing arts, a few first run films, mostly second run films, independent films and diverse background films. Although it needs a lot of work, the auditorium is gutted, has been for quite some time, but it doesn’t stop the theatre from being used. By 2016 it was used for special events.

In March 2021 a renovation of the theatre was announced and there will be a 10-lane bowling alley built adjacent to it. The Capri Theatre was reopened in January 2022.

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

kencmcintyre on January 23, 2008 at 8:53 pm

This site discusses the renovation of the theater:
http://www.fondren.org/capri.html

ahollis on January 31, 2010 at 5:12 pm

What child of the 60’s can forget the Saturday Matinees that Mr. Ad Orkin showed at his Capri Theatre. I can remember JACK THE GIANT KILLER, ZOTZ, 13 GHOSTS (with ghost glasses), ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, and THE MAGIC SWORD.

I think my love for movies was nurtured here.

The theatre as the Capri was Jackson’s roadshow theatre, with the showings of THE BLUE MAX, THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES, OLIVER, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and GONE WITH THE WIND (1969 release). Other films I remember seeing here were 2001 A SPACE ODESSY, CAT BALLOU, THUNDERBALL, GOLDFINGER, ROMEO AND JULIET (1968).

CSWalczak on May 17, 2012 at 1:16 am

According to this article, this theater will be renovated as a dine-and-view with seating reduced to 200 in the original auditorium with two smaller screening rooms built behind the theater.

Joe Vogel on October 21, 2012 at 11:11 pm

According to Movie Theatres in Twentieth-Century Jackson, Mississippi, by Jerry Dallas, (Google Documents link) the Pix Theatre closed in 1957 and reopened as the Capri in 1962. Except for a brief closure from August to November, 1980, the Capri then operated continuously into the mid-1980s.

crumbmuncher on December 29, 2016 at 10:03 pm

I remember going to see Saturday morning cartoon movies at the Pix as a youngster. When the theater was converted into the Capri, I saw the blockbuster Lawrence of Arabia there in 1962 and the movie Zulu in 1964.

clingcom on September 8, 2017 at 5:17 pm

The photo that is included here is a still from the production of “The Help.”

DavidZornig on October 24, 2019 at 8:38 pm

Plan announced to reopen.

https://www.wapt.com/article/movie-theater-eds-burger-joint-coming-to-fondren/29580774?fbclid=IwAR1M_pOQhKdC4uk6GFBLeLck6yirrkR7MwPeSVpiNIjTfTCHgsFu3BFgdgU#

rivest266 on January 7, 2022 at 6:24 pm

Official website: https://caprimovies.com/ is now live

pixcapri on March 11, 2023 at 5:15 pm

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