Fine Arts I & II Theatre
627 Congress Street,
Portland,
ME
04101
627 Congress Street,
Portland,
ME
04101
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: E.M. Loew's Theaters Inc.
Previous Names: Kotzschmar Hall, Casco Theatre, Capitol Theatre, Fine Arts Theatre, Fine Arts II Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Kotzschmar Hall opened in 1891. It was set back from the sidewalk by a forecourt. When it was renovated about 1910 into the Casco Theatre, the footprint was extended to the sidewalk with a one-story addition. You could stand across the street and see the upper portion of the Kotzschmar façade above and beyond the new façade. About 1928 the Casco Theatre was renovated into the Capitol Theatre with 535 seats. It was renamed Fine Arts Theatre on November 7, 1956 after another renovation. A second screen was added on December 25, 1970 in an adjacent building on right hand side of the theatre as the Fine Arts II. When the original theatre was closed in the 1970’s and later demolished, the second screen remained open. It was closed on May 23, 1997. That building still exists.
Contributed by
Ron Salters
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Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
The theaters had separate entrances and box-offices. The Fine Arts II became a discount theater in the mid 70’s before becoming a porno theatre.
American Classic Images has a photo of the Fine Arts when it was an adult cinema.
As two different theaters they definitely deserve two separate pages then. The picture shows the Fine Arts II ending its days as the Fine Arts Cinema. Was the original theater’s entrance where the Afghan Restaurant is in the ACI photo? If so, that was a very narrow entrance indeed.
Joe Vogel- Yes, the original entrance was narrow and on the left. Had a small marquee above. You can view the 1941 MGM photo on the THS website, in the “New England Special Collection”, Card # 427.
May 1941 photo (added) and below history courtesy Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page.
“Capitol Theatre entrance May 1941, now Geno’s rock club at 627 Congress Street. The actual theatre can be seen in the distance over the entrance and the Western Auto.
Kotzschmar Hall opened as a small concert hall, honoring musician Hermann Kotzschmar, built by Horatio Nelson Jose in 1891, designed by Frederick A Tompson. It was set back from the sidewalk by a forecourt, behind the building seen here to the left. When it was renovated about 1910 into the Casco Theatre, the footprint was extended to the sidewalk with a one-story subway. About 1928 the Casco Theatre was renovated into the Capitol Theatre with 535 seats. It was renamed Fine Arts Cinema in 1959 after another renovation. A second screen was added in 1970 in an adjacent building to the right of the theatre, seen here; this building had been a Western Auto Store and later Bartlett’s TV and Radio. When the original theatre was closed in the early 1980s, the second screen remained open showing discount films and later adult films. In 1998, it became a performing arts space for a couple years and later The Skinny rock club and finally Geno’s. The original theatre was demolished in 2002.
The building to the left was the Splendid Restaurant and rooms for many years."
This opened during the week of November 20th, 1910 and closed in 1938. It was reopened by E. M. Loew’s as the Capitol theatre on December 24th, 1939. 1910 and 1939 grand opening ads posted.
Reopened as Fine Arts on November 7th, 1956. Another ad posted.
on the ropes in 1997
Last ad placed on May 23rd, 1997.
More events in this theatre’s timeline.
The Fine Arts II opened on Christmas Day, 1970 and the Fine Arts Cinema 1 reopens as the Intown Cinema, which closed in 1982 while the Fine arts theatre remain open. Reopened as Fine Arts I & II on March 16th, 1990, by the owner of the State theatre on an adult policy. More ads posted.