Capri Theatre
1045 East Fairview Avenue,
Montgomery,
AL
36106
1045 East Fairview Avenue,
Montgomery,
AL
36106
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The theater did survive the following: a fire, a flood, and financial famine. It was once raided by the Montgomery Police Department for showing X-films at one point.
Unlike most theaters, When the Clover opened its doors with Jack Benny in “Love Thy Neighbor” as its grand opening attraction, people are not allowed to sit at the balcony, possibly because of repairs or wasn’t even finished yet, I don’t know yet for sure. Its advertisement reads: “THE BALCONY WILL NOT BE OPEN”.
Before the fire in the early 70’s, the snack stand was in the middle.I would see the James Bond movies up there. Reissue of the sound of music.I also saw My Fair Lady and the greatest story ever told.I also remember seeing the cut up porn back in the early 80’s, before it was raided, by D.a Jimmy evans .I think for sneaking in an uncut version of Debbie does Dallas.I also finally heard their stereophonic sound system when the reissue of Fantasia was held in 1977.I was too young to see Flesh for Frankenstein in 3d and the stewardesses in 3d when it was played up there, but, I wanted to see it.
Grand opening ad in the photo section.
This reopened on December 21st, 1962 as Capri with Boccaccio ‘70
The Capri Community Film Society which has been leasing the theater on a month-to-month basis for twenty-seven years has finally been able to buy the theater, giving it a more stable future: View link
Not much of a picture on the night view.
An item about the Clover Theatre, as yet unnamed, appeared in Boxoffice, August 17, 1940. The item gave the location as Cloverdale Road and Fairview Avenue. The new house for R.B. Wilby’s Alabama Theatres was designed by Montgomery architect William J. Okel. Okel designed a few other theaters but I’ve not yet tracked them down.
Boxoffice Magazine of July 19, 1941, said the Clover Theatre had opened on Friday (the 19th was a Saturday that year.) According to Boxoffice, the theater had “…ultra-modern appointments and decorations.” The seating capacity was given as 700. The first manager was Don W. Randolph, formerly of Asheville, N.C., and the projectionist was B.P. Bopkins.
Great movie house!!! Currently plays independent films!!! Great southern charm!!!