Capitol Theatre

There is a photo of this theatre on page 156 of A Guide to Canadian Architectural Styles By Shannon Ricketts, Leslie Maitland, Jacqueline Hucker. According to this the architects were W. Dodd and Company and that it was in Spanish Colonial style suggesting that this cinema was an atmospheric.

It closed in 1981 and was converted into a mall/retail.

There are more photos at the National Libray of Canada, refernence ACCESSION: 1973-402
REPRODUCTION: PA-095059 (copy negative number);

I worked at the Capitol Theatre from 1979 to 1981 as a doorman and usher. The theatre was operated by Famous Players and during my short years at the theatre, I have discovered quite the theatre is quite rich in its history. It was originally a live theatre. Remnants are evident behind the movie screen as on each side, were the Men’s and Women’s Change rooms. In the basement, there were large storage rooms for props and costumes. The original chandeliers were sold and the Orpheum Theatre (Granville Street, Vancouver, BC) bought one of the chandeliers in the 1970s. I recall as a kid, throwing my popcorn box at the chandeliers and the usher catching us. The actual number of seats were 751. More later. I will find my pics.

The building still stands but has been converted to retail space, which I suppose is better that becoming yet another church.