Capitol Theatre
Main Street,
South River,
NJ
08882
Main Street,
South River,
NJ
08882
2 people
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The Capitol Theatre on Main Street was opened January 20, 1928 with vaudeville and the movie “The Cat and the Canary” starring Laura La Plante. By 1957 it was operated by the Snaper Circuit. It was closed in the late-1960’s or very early-1970’s. It was a single screen, which never went porn, never went art house, and never twinned.
I remember hearing stories of live events being staged there in the 1930’s. In the 1970’s it was converted to house a millinery manufacturing operation.
Contributed by
taotv
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
A Robert Morton organ was moved to this theater in 1928. This organ came from the Grove Theatre in Irvington, NJ.
1930 postcard:
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Greetings from St.Peterburg, FL. This picture Post-Card dates way before my time….. But,very much as I remember it in the early 60’s. Small Town USA – somethings never change. Many Thanks to the person who shared this picture!
Listed as open in the 1944 FDY. Listed in the 1961 FDY as part of Triangle-Liggett Theatre Service.
Also listed as part of the Snaper Circuit in the 1961 Film Daily Yearbook. Was it common to be part of more than one circuit?
Triangle-Liggett Theatre Service was a film booking company, while Snaper Circuit was a independent theatre owner, who by the way ran everything he leased or owned into the ground, until they closed or had to be demolished.
Bernice and “Tiny” Heppel ran the Capitol Theatre. They were both super-size people. I don’t remember Tiny’s first name. They were great people. They had a little girl who was adopted when they were older – in their fifties. Bernice used to call for her during the shows “Beverly” – wonder what ever happened to her?
Tiny died in the late 60’s early 70’s and the theatre was shut down.
I have many fond memories of the theatre – they used to show a lot of kids films.
I remember the Sat. matinee in the 50’s. Yes, 25 cents. You got several cartoons, a short or two like Flash Gordon or The Three Stooges and two features. My mother who lived there in the 30’s and 40’s remembered seeing The Three Stooges live on stage. I believe the huge chandelier was saved and moved to the Imperial Music Center, but I don’t know if either still exist.
Have fond memories of the Capital Theatre. As a pre-teen in the mid to late 50’s my sister and I went to many Sat. matinees. My dad also would take me on school nights. I remember seeing “the Ten Commandments”, “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and “Rebel Without a Cause”.
This opened on January 20th, 1928. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
Found on Newspapers.com