Capitol Theatre
220 W. Dominick Street,
Rome,
NY
13440
220 W. Dominick Street,
Rome,
NY
13440
12 people
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Yes, 50sSNIPES, it was truly miraculous! The large glass windows on the office portion of the building were blown out, but the new marquee was left untouched while a building across the street was leveled. There seems to be a protective spirit around that amazing theater. In fact, there always has been!
A tornado on July 16, 2024 hit downtown Rome, but the good news is that the Capitol did not receive any damage. Unfortunately neighboring buildings were severely damage though.
The Capitol’s grand re-opening after extensive renovations is tomorrow night:
https://www.romecapitol.com/the-rome-capitol-theatre-will-re-open-on-july-17-2021/
The issue of the Rome Daily Sentinel published on December 8, 1928, two days before the opening of the Capitol, included an article about the Kallet Theatre chain (PDF here.)
Keep these stories coming in…i love reading those old cinema history
FYI, this week is Cartoon Week at the Capitol. They’re running a dozen Looney Tunes in 35mm. If you’re in the area, check it outâ€"it’s a great opportunity to see a film presentation in a downtown theater.
Too bad the photo links do not work anymore.
That’s a great photo—thanks for passing along that link! That’s actually the new (1939) marquee; we’re going back to the 1928 marquee and vertical sign which we feel is more appropriate to the front of the building. (And ultimately more effective in advertising the place—that vertical sign is 45 ft. high and will actually extend over the top of the building.)
There is a November 1939 photo here from Boxoffice magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/ydsx7wq
Congratulations Capitol Theater folks! How nice to see a bit of the psst returned to the front of the theater – next stop… that marquee! CARRY ON! : )
The ticket booth is back! Pictures (old & new) are here: View link
Hope to see everyone at CAPITTOLFEST this weekend! A great film festival and something the folks in Rome can be very proud of!
I grew up in Rome and the Capitol was my childhood movie house.
I’m now the primary projectionist at the Capitol. We’re proud to continue quality carbon arc projection. We also have variable speed motors with digital speed indication in .1 frames per second for silent film exhibition.
Projectors are Simplex XL with SH 1020 soundheads installed in 1953. We also have Ashcraft Core Lite lamps and a Dolby CP50 provessor.
Thanks. The interior photos are fabulous, but too bad the marquee was taken down along with removing the ticket kios as seen in the 40’s photos.
Very interesting photo with lots of “when in Rome” information!
Great photos, but so sad that the fabulous marquee, the art deco front doors and the ticket kios are all gone!
The Capitol has a new website up and running: www.romecapitol.com Check it out.
Its not the Captitol, it was the COLONIAL Theatre, located at 64 E. Genesee Street. It was located on the second floor with about 250 seats and a raised stage. It was owned by Mr. Cantor from Syracuse. I’m sure I have seen over 100 films there as a boy growing up since we received free unlimited admission because my mother rented space on the first floor for her fabric shop. The theatre is now high end condos.
I’m really sorry, but somehow I wrote and thought the name was the Capitol and in reality it was the COLONIAL. Thanks for the news story as I was in Skaneateles the summer that the Clintons came to visit. They have friends who have a beautiful home along the shores of Skaneateles Lake and it is pointed out from the local tour boat.
I wasn’t either until I visited the town over the weekend and spoke to the Skaneateles Historical Society President, Karlene Miller.
Can anyone tell me about another theatre in NYS that was known as the Capitol located in Skaneateles NY on Lake Skaneateles?
My Grandfather was Joseph Kallet of the Kallet Theatre chain. He was the Managing Director of the Capitol Theatre and three other Kallet theatres in Rome. I grew up in the theatre and now I’m on the Board of Directors. We are very proud of the theatre and hope you check out the Organ Society page for information and pictures.
Joe Pfeiffer, Jr
Having just recently visited the Capitol Rome (and taking a four hour drive to do so), I must say that it was completely worth the visit. The staff and atmosphere is very kind and knowledgable, and the theater is well preserved. Certainly worth the visit!