Capitol Theater
201 S. Main Street,
Newark,
NY
14513
201 S. Main Street,
Newark,
NY
14513
2 people
favorited this theater
This lovely theater was located in Newark, NY and many folks from Wayne County, NY will no doubt remember it. The Capitol Theater was opened December 31, 1925. By 1941, it was operated by the Schine Circuit. It was a “neighborhood theater” in that it ran films after they completed their runs in Rochester or Syracuse.
In later years, it showed adult films in addition to major titles to stay afloat. Shortly before it was to be restored by the state, the Capitol Theater burned to the ground during a showing of “Footloose” on June 15, 1984. The site is now a parking lot.
Contributed by
Mark Goodrich
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
I have driven past this theatre many times (having grown up in Union Hill), and couldn’t believe such a gem of a theatre existed so close to home. I remember the old fashioned, pre-neon, marquee, and the art deco fixtures on the interior (probably from some slight modernization done in the early 30’s). I couldn’t believe my eyes when I went home for a visit back in the 80’s and saw nothing at this site but a gaping vacant lot. What a disappointment.
I show the following for the Capitol Theatre, the opening date is given as Dec. 31, 1925. The closing date and date of the fire is listed as June 15, 1984. I also show 1129 seats listed for this theatre.
Beautiful memoirs of the theatre:
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I think it was run by Countrywide Theatres when it burned. I remember the screen was set up on the stage and tilted slightly back. Once you were into the movie for a little while you stopped noticing the slant.
The Capitol showed Caligula when it first came out. No other theatres within 50 miles would touch it. Not even in Rochester or Syracuse.
I worked there back in the mid 60s. It was a wonderful theater. Under the stage there dressing rooms for performers in the early days of the theater. The hardest part of the job was changing the marque on Sunday nights afterthe last show, using a 20' wooden latter while balancing a wooden box of steel letters. Winter made it more challenging! It was a sad day when it burned down……beautiful theater! !
I worked as the daily janitor at the Capitol Theatre in the seventies. The theatre was cool with wings, orchestra pit, a balcony, carbon arc projectors and a blue clock. It was an event to see a movie there.
Oh, God! I DO definitely remember that blue clock!
The address was 201 South Main Street. A parking lot located to the right of Salvatore’s Pizzeria is where the theatre building once stood.