Capitol Theatre
310 W. Main Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73102
310 W. Main Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73102
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc.
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Dreamland Nickelodeon, Dreamland Theatre
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In 1906 Adolph Zukor opened Oklahoma City’s Dreamland Nickelodeon and Ballroom. This was before he teamed up with Jesse Lasky in 1912 to form Famous Players-Paramount.
By 1919 the Dreamland Theatre had switched over to Paramount features. At that time the massive upstairs ballroom was ripped out to expand balcony space, a flashy new marquee was installed, and the name changed to Capitol Theatre from March 13, 1921 when it reopened with Agnes Ayers in “Forbidden Fruit”.
Towering so high above Capitol Theatre’s facade the tall upright sign was actually a combination upright and roof sign.
Providing mood music during silent pictures the Capitol Theatre pit orchestra was the finest in Oklahoma City, and a separate Paramount Jazz Band performed on stage during intermissions. It was equipped with a Hope-Jone pipe organ.
Eventually real estate which the Capitol Theatre occupied, became more valuable than theatre use could support, and in 1938 Zukor (who still personally owned the lot) razed the Capitol Theatre to lease the space to a department store concern.
After the Capitol Theatre closed, its expensive signage moved over to dress up Paramount’s southside Circle Theatre (1928-1982).
Check out the site below to view a 1917 photo of the Dreamland Nickelodeon.
Contributed by
Cactus Jack
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Try this link for a Capitol image (hope this one works)-
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Here are direct routes to images of the Dreamland (AKA- Capitol) Theatre. 1917 photos by W. Hine,
facade-
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stage door-
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A 1912 photo of the Capitol Theatre, when it was still known as Dreamland, can be seen on site below. Enter word ‘dreamland’, then hit search…
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Vintage images of the Capitol Theatre can be viewed on this site;
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From dougdawg comes this vintage shot of the Capitol Theatre. Later on a much taller blade sign replaced the one shown here, along with an eye catching marquee.
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Time lines for the Capitol Theatre can be traced on site below.
A 1912 view of the Main St shows this theatre under Dreamland, its original name.
In a 1925 photo the Capitol Theatre is going strong.
c1935 image the theatre has a new glass block Art Deco facelift, but already converted to retail space.
On this link type in “oklahoma city main street”. Look at photos of 1912 & 1935 300 block, 1925 Walker & Main, and 1947 Hudson & Main.
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Another good 1925 look at the Capitol viewed fromm 300 block Main & Hudson.
The 1935 & 1947 views shows the former Capitol Theatre (white Art Deco look with large centerpiece window) on leftside of the eight story Kerr’s Bldge, and also
Gentlemen, I hate to tell you this, but on Cosmo’s 03-27-11 post I entered Capitol Theatre’s exact address of “310 w main, oklahoma city” and came up with historic photos of when this was the Dreamland Theatre, and after its convertion to a Virginia Dare Shop.
This opened on March 13th, 1921. Grand opening ad in the photo section.