Cinema Capitol
Via 20 Settembre 97,
Rome
00187
Via 20 Settembre 97,
Rome
00187
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Additional Info
Architects: F. Dinelli, K.H. Gunther
Functions: Bank
Previous Names: Cinema Stadium
Nearby Theaters
Located in the Palazzio di Vetro (Palace of Glass) which was built in 1940 (and was so futuristic, it looks like a 1980’s building). The ground floor originally contained the CIM department store. In the basement was the 1,100-seat Cinema Stadium. In 1949 it was re-named Cinema Capitol. It was an air conditioned theatre.
The Cinema Capitol was the first in Continental Europe to have stereophonic sound installed when Richard Burton in “The Robe” opened on 27th November 1953. The CinemaScope screen was 45 feet wide. The Cinema Capitol was closed in 2003.
On the sixth floor of the building was the Arcobaleno Theatre, a small 250-seat cinema which screened films in their original languages (in Italy, films are mostly dubbed into Italian), and in the 1950’s it was very popular with Americans living in and visiting the city.
Today, the department store & cinemas have closed and the building is now a branch of the Bank of Italy.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
On December 6, 1949 the film Riso amaro (Bitter Rice) opened here and at the Cinema Corso.
It seems this place was also called the Stadium. Under that name, on May 18, 1940, the program listed in Il Messaggero was of a stage show: “Ultima recita – Sulla scena: Grande Varieta'.”