![Cinema Treasures](/images/app/logo.png?1723737594)
Capitol Theatre
515 3rd Avenue W,
Prince Rupert,
BC
V8J 1L9
515 3rd Avenue W,
Prince Rupert,
BC
V8J 1L9
1 person
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The building still stands but has been converted to retail space, which I suppose is better that becoming yet another church.
Hi all, I am new to the site and looking for help. I am a researcher on a book dealing with cinema in British Columbia. I would love to include reminiscences about specific theatres, photos, or any information about how film and theatres in general affected your life and/or community. This would include rented films, documentaries from libraries, as well as local theatres or film study groups. Any information you would like to share would be most welcome.
Anyone interested can contact me at
Thanks for sharing your love of movies!
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.
It looks like a bank is occupying at least part of the building:
http://tinyurl.com/5b8usy
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);