The newer Capitol Theatre actually opened in May 1977 by owner Shorty Brown, who also operated the older Capitol until that theater’s closure. The entrance lobby of that theater was saved and the entrance hall was moved to the Old Town building in June 1978.
New owners took over the theater in 1995. The reason why the website says “established in 1995” is because of new owners, not when the theater opened. It was scheduled to close on March 31, 2026.
A 1959 aerial view shows the drive-in, but IT WAS SO DAMN SMALL! It was so small that I cannot tell the exact capacity at the time. It appears that its capacity expanded to a normal-sized drive-in during the 1960s, as well as an updated concession/projection building, and remained like that until its closure in September 1993.
Its very likely that the Alpine was renamed the Valley in early 1958, most likely around February of that year. It was still open the following year, but its closing date remains unconfirmed.
The Prince Edward Theatre actually began screening movies during the 1910s as part of its mixed policy of movies, vaudeville, live performances, and performing arts among others, but didn’t became a full-time movie theater until April 11, 1935, when Famous Players acquired the theater and relaunched it that day with Warner Baxter in “Broadway Bill” along with the Happy Harmonies cartoon “The Lost Chick”. The Prince Edward Theatre was also the dominant first-run mainstreamer for not just in Charlottetown, but in all of Prince Edward Island. It was also the first in the island to receive CinemaScope.
Unfortunately the dominance was taken over by the nearby Capitol Theatre following the devastating December 13, 1955 fire at the Prince Edward Theatre. The fire happened during the early hours at approximately 2:07 AM local time, with its last performance being held on the previous day, December 12, 1955 with Bing Crosby’s “The Country Girl” along with the Popeye cartoon “Car-azy Drivers”.
The Capitol Theatre opened its doors on December 5, 1927 with Raymond Keane in “The Lone Eagle” and the Our Gang comedy “Love Me, Love My Dog”, and was a replacement of an earlier Capitol Theatre nearby that closed the previous day. The Capitol was part of Famous Players throughout its history as a movie theater.
Prior to the nearby Prince Edward Cinemas' opening in April 1973, the Capitol and the Centre Theatre were the only indoor first-run movie theaters in Charlottestown. However, that number was downgraded from three to two when the Capitol Theatre closed as a first-run movie theater during the mid-1970s.
I think the Belle and the McCarthy are separate theaters, but I could be wrong. The McCarthy last operated as an Odeon before closing on May 6, 1961 because of the McCarthy being sold to Famous Players, but the new owners didn’t announce anything on reopening.
This was once operated by CinemaShowcase, before it was taken over by Empire Theatres in Late 1987. Empire closed the Yarmouth Triple in November 2000 when the Studio 5 opened nearby.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on March 18, 1980.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Once operated by Armstrong Circuit.
Chakeres operated the Celina 5 until UEC Theatres took it over in October 2018.
Expanded to six screens on May 2, 1986.
Opened in November 1947 and closed in May 1977 when the newer Capitol Theatre opened nearby.
The newer Capitol Theatre actually opened in May 1977 by owner Shorty Brown, who also operated the older Capitol until that theater’s closure. The entrance lobby of that theater was saved and the entrance hall was moved to the Old Town building in June 1978.
New owners took over the theater in 1995. The reason why the website says “established in 1995” is because of new owners, not when the theater opened. It was scheduled to close on March 31, 2026.
This is not a second-run house. This is a first-run house only.
Once operated by Empire Theatres.
Once operated by Cineplex Odeon.
This is built on the site of the 440 Twin Drive-In.
When did it reopen its gates?
Once operated by Chakeres Theatres, and later by Armstrong Circuit.
Once operated by Chakeres Theatres, and later by Armstrong Circuit.
Opened in 1998.
The State Theatre actually operated as early as 1938.
A 1959 aerial view shows the drive-in, but IT WAS SO DAMN SMALL! It was so small that I cannot tell the exact capacity at the time. It appears that its capacity expanded to a normal-sized drive-in during the 1960s, as well as an updated concession/projection building, and remained like that until its closure in September 1993.
A photo of the original marquee sign was also presented at the right.
Its very likely that the Alpine was renamed the Valley in early 1958, most likely around February of that year. It was still open the following year, but its closing date remains unconfirmed.
The Prince Edward Theatre actually began screening movies during the 1910s as part of its mixed policy of movies, vaudeville, live performances, and performing arts among others, but didn’t became a full-time movie theater until April 11, 1935, when Famous Players acquired the theater and relaunched it that day with Warner Baxter in “Broadway Bill” along with the Happy Harmonies cartoon “The Lost Chick”. The Prince Edward Theatre was also the dominant first-run mainstreamer for not just in Charlottetown, but in all of Prince Edward Island. It was also the first in the island to receive CinemaScope.
Unfortunately the dominance was taken over by the nearby Capitol Theatre following the devastating December 13, 1955 fire at the Prince Edward Theatre. The fire happened during the early hours at approximately 2:07 AM local time, with its last performance being held on the previous day, December 12, 1955 with Bing Crosby’s “The Country Girl” along with the Popeye cartoon “Car-azy Drivers”.
The Capitol Theatre opened its doors on December 5, 1927 with Raymond Keane in “The Lone Eagle” and the Our Gang comedy “Love Me, Love My Dog”, and was a replacement of an earlier Capitol Theatre nearby that closed the previous day. The Capitol was part of Famous Players throughout its history as a movie theater.
Prior to the nearby Prince Edward Cinemas' opening in April 1973, the Capitol and the Centre Theatre were the only indoor first-run movie theaters in Charlottestown. However, that number was downgraded from three to two when the Capitol Theatre closed as a first-run movie theater during the mid-1970s.
I think the Belle and the McCarthy are separate theaters, but I could be wrong. The McCarthy last operated as an Odeon before closing on May 6, 1961 because of the McCarthy being sold to Famous Players, but the new owners didn’t announce anything on reopening.
This operated as early as 1949. Its original screen was destroyed after heavy winds blew it down on January 13, 1950.
This was once operated by CinemaShowcase, before it was taken over by Empire Theatres in Late 1987. Empire closed the Yarmouth Triple in November 2000 when the Studio 5 opened nearby.
The Empire Studio 5 actually opened its doors on November 10, 2000.