Capitol 6
805 Yates Street,
Victoria,
BC
V8W 1M1
805 Yates Street,
Victoria,
BC
V8W 1M1
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 56 of 56 comments
Interesting Jason that the Odeon is still going strong across the corner, yet this one doesn’t. Very strange indeed.
I have hundreds of Capitol pics to post, including original 1981 construction and opening day photos. I have completely documented this cinema over the last two months. Both upper and lower lobbies, all six cinemas, concession, projection booth and exterior are all photographed (SOME of them are posted on here). As well I’ll be shooting more photos (mostly exterior, day/night) and video today and tomorrow.
Sadly, despite the coolness of the cinema and its HUGE Cinema #2 (one of my favorite auditoriums on the planet featuring one of the best sound systems), the theater was not making money whatsoever. Attendance has dropped catastrophically over the years to the point where you’d have less than a dozen people in the entire building for a set. It’s depressing considering how busy and profitable this cinema used to be. Cinema #2 still has the highest seating capacity for any cinema on the island.
Odeon doesn’t have stadium seating either, unless you count #5, which was the balcony of the original 1949 theater. The 1997 expansion and the downstairs auditoriums are still flat. Odeon is still going strong and likely could get another modern renovation in the future.
What a shame. Still looks like a viable theatre, interesting architecture according to all the photos on Cinema Tour. This will leave downtown Victoria with only one major theatre complex, the Odeon. Does every cinema nowadays HAVE to have stadium seating?
Capitol is closing Thursday, October 17th as this was not one of the theaters up to sale to Landmark Cinemas of Canada. Many photos, comments and more notes to come.
https://www.empiretheatres.com/theatres/victoria-empire-capitol-6-cinemas
The future is currently looking iffy for the Capitol 6/Empire Victoria as the Empire chain plans on splitting its theatres between Cineplex Entertainment and Landmark Cinemas in a sale as part of Empire’s exit from the theatre business (see link below):
Empire selling University Heights theatres, uncertain future for downtown’s Capitol Six
Personally, I hope Landmark picks up the Cap 6 as well and keeps it open because I’d hate to see another theatre disappear from the downtown area following the losses of the Haida, the Coronet and the Vic/Towne (the latter as a regular venue) over the years. Those who are turned off by the stadium-style experience of places like the SilverCity at Tillicum Mall and the Cineplex Westshore in Langford have found appeal in the older-style downtown houses like the Cap 6 and the nearby Odeon.
Capitol 6 is all digital projection as of September 2011. Large screen #2 has the largest capacity of any cinema in Greater Victoria.