Capitol Center for the Arts
44 S. Main Street,
Concord,
NH
03301
44 S. Main Street,
Concord,
NH
03301
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Uploaded two exterior and one interior photo. Note: name should be Capitol Center for the Arts.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Capitol; it’s Card # 477A. Address is “Concord St.” There is an exterior photo taken April 1941. Condition is Good. The report says it opened about 1925 and shows MGM films. There are 974 orchestra seats and 443 balcony, total: 1,417. Competing theaters were the Concord and the Star.
The Bektash Temple and Capitol Theatre were designed by Manchester architect Chase Roy Witcher. Motion Picture News of February 27, 1925, said that bids would soon be taken for the $250,000 project. Construction proceeded slowly. The Temple was dedicated in October, 1926, and the theater went into operation in early 1927.
This was the “date” place during my high school years in the early 60’s. I remembr going to see Ivanhoe (with a young Liz Taylor). The place was pretty basic, but the movies were fun and the concessions were even more basic. There were no soft drinks available from the staff. They only came from a coin operated dispenser in small cups.
Later in the 70’s they would host the Gile concerts (free). I also remember going to see Warren Miller ski documentaries. Remember, NH had a lot of skiing then and more now. Some of the early Gile concerts included Mitch Miller, and also vatious military bands.
Regarding this theater’s timeline, I have a performance list that states David Bromberg (singer) performed here on 3/13/83.
Re: Dresden…“twice at Carnegie Hall in New York"
My mistake. That was actually Avery Fisher Hall.
From the outside you would never know that this is a classic movie/vaudeville theatre, unless you walked around the side and back of the building and could clearly see the original part of the complex. The original entrance and foyer (though I have never seen them) were entirely restructured to give a “modern cultural center” look to the place, creating a kind of functional if radical hybrid. There is a large waiting rooom off the new lobby where banquet functions can be provided.
The auditorium is a place of simple elegance, and the Egyptian motif alluded to in the description is rather subdued and employs the asp symbol in various decorative configurations. The waiting area has some nice framed Capitol publicity posters of mostly early sound movies that played here: Four Sons, Unfaithful, Ladies Love Brutes, Dawn Patrol, East Lynne, The Vagabond King, Remote Control, Little Accident, Once a Sinner.
The theatre maintains a professional 35mm projection booth, and there is a big-screen movie series in addition to the cultural and theatrical bookings. This year people can see Rear Window, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather, Babe, The Magnificent Seven, Grease, A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races.
The William H. Gile Community Concert Series provides several FREE programs a year, through an endowment. Last night I saw, absolutely free, the renowned Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra here. Earlier in the week thay had performed twice at Carnegie Hall in New York at premium prices!
A wide variety of Broadway plays, popular acts, opera, children’s programs, dance, symphony add to the yearly line-up which includes something for every taste.
The Capitol Center for the Arts represents what can be successfully done with old theatres in towns across America where they have not been wantonly destroyed.