Cine Capri Theatre

Channing, thanks for the memory jog … I do remember Nick Salerno introducing a reconstructed version of “A Star is Born” in Neeb Hall in the early 80’s (I attended ASU from 1981-1985). His show on Channel 8 was “Cinema Classics.” The theater I’m trying to remember was definitely on Broadway Road, just East of Rural, it was a single screen and got split into two near the end of its existence. Last thing I saw there was “The Hunger.” It was a big white stucco building with a marquee. I don’t recall the University II at all, just a new AMC multiplex they built on University and Rural, which is probably still there. It’s funny how movie lovers like to reminisce about movie theaters. Last time I was in town I was pleased to see that Harkins still has the one small art house, the Camelview. Our French teacher in high school would take us there on field trips to watch French movies like “Madame Rosa” and “Argent de Poche.”

You are so right! I did eat at the Caf Casino near the Cine Capri, but I went many, many times to the one on Scottsdale Road. It was a rather unusual cafeteria-type setup, with round outdoor patio tables, complete with umbrellas, but indoors! It must be gone now, too. The mall that was across from it (it’s on the tip of my toungue, but I’ve drawn a blank on the name) is also gone. When I was there in the Fall of 2000, it was closed and just about to be torn down. Was it at Scottsdale Rd. and Thomas? Speaking of Scottsdale Road, how about the El Camino? That was a great theater, gone now too, I suppose. I saw the first “Star Trek” movie there in 1979. I saw “Lethal Weapon” at the Kachina, and also many movies at a white stucco theater in Tempe near Rural Road and Broadway (“Jaws”, “Chariots of the Gods”, I’m dating myself!). That one was a single screen that was split into two and then it died at some point. Can’t remember the name, unfortunately. Also, there used to be a small movie theater on the ASU campus near the School of Art. What was the name of the movie critic who would appear on Channel 8? He taugh some film courses and would introduce films there. Talk about senior moments, I know it was Nick something or other …well, that’s enough rambling!

This sight doesn’t tell you, but the architect of the Cine Capri was Ralph Haver. He was responsible for a lot of Phoenix’s now much sought after mid century architecture. Shame it was torn down to make way for the ugly piece of glass crap that litters 24th and Camelback now.

The Cine Capri was built in 1965 and 66' as a roadshow hard ticket theatre. It opened in the spring of 1966 with THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY(20th-Fox)

Actually, Cineplex Odeon did run the Cine Capri for period of time. When Henry Plitt sold the entire circuit to Garth at Cineplex it included Arizona. I know that the Indian and the Miracle had closed and I believe that the El Camino was also closed by that time but I can’t remember for sure. That being the case, it would leave only the El Dorado and Foothill in Tucson and the Capri in Phoenix as part of the deal. Cineplex then turned over the operation of the Capri to Cinemark who ran it before turning it over to Harkins. Sorry for not making the lineage of its operators more complete before.

The Cine Capri was built by ABC Intermountain Theatres and was designed by Henry George Greene who also designed all the ABC theatres of that era including the El Dorado in Tucson, AZ, the Regency in Salt Lake City, UT, Century Plaza in Los Angeles and the list goes on. When ABC got out of the movie theatre business, it was taken over by Plitt Threates who ran it until Cineplex Odeon took over Plitt. Mr Greene truely loved “continental seating” and used it in many of his designs.

Agreed. Although Harkins says it has a 70 ft screen – 10 feet larger – because of the stadium seating, it makes the screen seem a lot smaller than what the real Cine Capri had. Just goes to show that they don’t know how to build them anymore.

Mike – yes, goto: View link

The Cine Carpi is now open again by the Harkins chain in Scottsdale.

I do not know how it is, but it is there.

Mike