Capitol Theatre
204 N. Washington Avenue,
Lansing,
MI
48933
204 N. Washington Avenue,
Lansing,
MI
48933
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc.
Architects: George J. Bachmann
Previous Names: Theatorium, Empress Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Capitol Theatre was located at 204 N. Washington Avenue and was managed by Butterfield Theatres of Detroit. It was originally the Theatorium which opened in 1912. It later became the Empress Theatre. It was renamed Capitol Theatre on August 6, 1922. In 1955, the building was owned by the Claude Cody estate. The manager at that time was Harry Hayden, who moved on to manage the Esquire Theatre at 122 E. Michigan Avenue. The Capitol Theatre had a second run policy or as we term it today, a cheap seat theatre.
The second run policy was now in place at the Esquire Theatre which had been closed for several months but was reopened with the closing of the Capitol Theatre and the Southtown Theatre in 1955. All three theatres were managed by the Butterfield Theatre Group.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The status of the Capitol in Lansing should be “demolished”. I tried to find it this weekend but I was told that it was torn down 15 years ago.
This is now the “campus” of Lansing Community College. I guess there could be worse fates for the land that used to house the theatre.
Note that it’s across from the Gladmer and it’s neon sign can be seen on a postcard from 1944 of Lansing’s “Business Section”.
Updated link to the webpage posted by Chuck1231 in January, 2004: View link
Butterfield took over the Capitol Theatre and remodeled it in 1936, according to the September 19 issue of The Film Daily that year.
The caption of the photo of the Empress Theatre that Tinseltoes linked to on August 10 says that the architect was Geo. J. Bockmann of Flint. It must be a misspelling of George J. Bachmann, who designed several theaters in Michigan during the first half of the 20th century.
This opened as Capitol on August 6th, 1922 by Claude E. Cady. Its grand opening ad can be found in the photo section for this theatre.
Post 1922 photo added courtesy of Lynn DeCair. Via Carolyn J. Ray, the Capitol Theatre eventually became Eagles Restaurant.
Apparently, my great grandfather, Frederick Z. Lewis owned and ran the Capitol Theatre in 1923. I obtained this information from a family history published by Fred’s son, Lionel Lewis. Prior to that he owned, ran and lived in the Tulane/Halstead Theatre in Chicago, IL. If anyone can help verify this information or add to it, I will be greatful.
This house was still listed as the Theatorium in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory.