Capitol Theatre

https://www.gofundme.com/3g675ss4

If anyone in the area is interested in raising money to acquire the Capitol, a lot of the restoration costs could be eliminated using volunteers for much of the work; and donated materials. Just buying and replacing the seats alone will cost $1.75 million. This is about ½ the cost Mr. Kwan thinks the total restoration can be done for. I produce concerts and festivals; and with local volunteer help, hold fundraisers that will raise big $’s (I have the best Jimi Hendrix or John Fogerty impersonators; and some 1960’s recording groups working for me). They often will do a show for the large tax write-off they get. If interested, get your friends involved and then contact my production company.

Again the Capitol is up for sale (June 2012). I’m International Media Manager for an international humanitarian & entertainment nonprofit.

In 2005 we tried to buy the Capitol; and the Garde blocked the sale, by saying (to a CA property owner) they wanted to buy the building and land of a theatre we just opened in Dunsmuir, CA.

Learning that the Capitol is again for sale, I have contacted my boss to see if funds are available for us to finally acquire the Capitol.

There are a few major problems that would have to be adressed 1) Asbestos 2) Back Entrance 3) restoring artwork 4) any roof repair work the city didn’t do 5) adding 1 or 2 elevators, plus electrical, plumbing, ADA Restrooms, etc. I cannot find any pictures of it with a marquee. I did have interior pic’s the city sent; but they were wiped out when my hard-drive crashed. I’m in Medford, Oregon at the moment; but we have an assistant to the CEO near New London. If my boss allows us to get the Capitol, we’ll need a lot of volunteers to help get the place in shape. If we don’t, it will cost a few $ million more than we probably can come up with. A lot of the high cost, is high dollar paid construction labor. We will gladly give regular volunteers some free admissions to events at the Capitol (again, we have to get it first). my emil is If anyone has any of those interior pic’s (when in use, or in need of restoration), please forward them to me. Thanks! Don

This 2010 article in The Day gave the name of the architect of the Capitol Theatre as W. H. Lowe. I’ve been unable to find anything about Connecticut architects named either W. H. Lowe or W. H. Lane on the Internet, but I suspect that the author of the article got the name right.

Growing up in the area, I attended the Capitol to see movies as a youth. My first recollection was Its A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I remember entering the lobby, going up marble steps with brass railings. When Jimmy Durante crashed and kicked the bucket it scared my little brother who was 3 or 4 and he started crying. He wouldn’t stop and my mother (unlike anyone today) gathered us up and took us home. Social courtesy at one’s expense. Can you imagine? Another memory I have is going to see Mark of the Devil in the early ‘70s in my early teens. Ushers handed out vomit bags, which really worried me (I STILL have mine!) because I thought it would be horrible and I didnt want to throw up! Glad to say it went unused. I recall a few people running out during the movie. Grossing audiences out is now de rigueur, sorry to say. It wasnt too long after this the Capitol closed down.
I always go by the theater when Im back in New London. Bank St. and State St. are loaded with history. Many theaters have been there the last century and more.

That organ, now in the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport, is the only one remaining in a theatre with a Symphonic Registrator (40 combinations labelled by the mood they are intended to accompany in a silent movie, such as Love, Mysterious, Children, etc. It works wonderfully when accompanying a picture.

That organ is now unplayable, but the new theatre owner is interested in having it restored.

Some 30 odd years ago I toured the interior of the Ca[ital with the dream of creating what the Garde has become. It would have made a better choice of venue. However even then the restoratiom costs would have been signifacantly more then the Garde.
When I toured the building there was significant water damage from a leaky roof. Plaster damage on one wall was evident.
All the deats on the main level would need to be replaced, but the balcony was in great shape. The balcony had not been in use for years before the place closed. The “private” boxes on the balcony level had no seats.
The projection booth still had its equipment. There were even spools of adult films there. The lobby concession still had popcorn in them.
The decor of the building outshines the Garde. In its day it was a jewel among theaters. Restoration today would run in the millions. Heatin, ac plumbing, electric service, sound, lighting, new seating God knows what else would make it almost impossible. I hope I’m wrong I would love to see it restored. Maybe someone could convince the Pequots that it would be a good idea.

I can’t wait to see this one when it reopens!

Vacant since 1974, the vaudeville venue-turned-movie theater was sold by the City of New London in July to Plainfield, N.J.-based Maxim Development Group LLC. Maxim principals Salvatore Carfaro Jr. and Patrick Gawrysiak plan a two-year, $2.5 million renovation of the building into a live-music venue. Renovation has begun with restoration of the facade.

No other details or schedule have been released.

The page mentioned above by Joe Vogel, View link has a good picture of its exterior as well as the interior, and good background information.

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

This page at the web site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation has an article from 2002 which features a picture showing the water damage in the auditorium of the Capitol Theatre.

The National Trust Website says that it seated 2,500 and that it was Neo-Classical. She has some water damage too. I googled Capitol Theatre New London and I found one picture of the inside, I saw something that looked like balconies, it looks like she needs a lot of work.

This is reputed to be the place George Burns met Gracie Allen while they performed Vaudeville. New plans have surfaced for restoration as a performing Rock and Roll theater in the last month.