Capitol Theatre (Yakima, Washington)
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Mercy Theatre
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The exterior of the Capitol Theatre
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| Address | 19 S. 3rd St. Yakima, Washington United States |
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| Owner | City of Yakima |
| Operator | Capitol Theatre Committee |
| Capacity | 1,500 |
| Current use | Performing Arts Center |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1920 |
| Reopened | 1978 |
| Rebuilt | 1975 |
| Website | |
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Capitol Theatre
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Architect | B. Marcus Priteca |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001895 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
The Capitol Theatre is a special place in Yakima, Washington, where people go to watch live shows. It's located right in downtown Yakima and can seat 1,500 people. This makes it the main spot for performing arts in the whole Yakima area.
Contents
A Look Back: The Theatre's History
How the Capitol Theatre Began
The theatre first opened its doors on April 5, 1920. It was designed by a famous architect named B. Marcus Priteca. When it first opened, it was called the Mercy Theatre. It was named after its owner, Frederick Mercy Sr., who was very successful in the theatre business. Back then, the Mercy Theatre was the biggest theatre in the Pacific Northwest region!
What Kinds of Shows Were There?
In its early days, the theatre showed vaudeville acts. These were fun shows with different kinds of performers, like singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians. Today, the Capitol Theatre is home to the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, which plays beautiful music. It also hosts the Town Hall Series, Community Concerts, and even traveling Broadway musicals.
Saving the Theatre: A Community Effort
In 1972, a group called the Allied Arts Council teamed up with the City of Yakima. They wanted the theatre to become publicly owned. As part of this effort, they successfully got the theatre listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1973. This meant it was recognized as an important historical building.
The Fire and Rebuilding
Soon after the city took ownership, something sad happened. On August 11, 1975, a big fire badly damaged the theatre. Most of the audience area was destroyed, with only the walls left standing. Luckily, the stage area was mostly untouched.
One amazing item saved from the fire was a special Steinway grand piano. It had been signed by Henry E. Steinway, the president of Steinway and Sons!
After the fire, the theatre was carefully rebuilt to look just like it did in 1920. They even added a new basement with restrooms and a meeting room. A famous artist named Anthony Heinsbergen, who had painted the original ceiling murals, came out of retirement to repaint the dome. This was his very last project!
A Grand Reopening
The rebuilt Capitol Theatre had a grand reopening ceremony on November 4, 1978. Governor Dixie Lee Ray was there to dedicate the theatre. The event featured a sold-out performance by the famous comedian Bob Hope. It was a big celebration for the community!
Images for kids
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The interior of the theatre
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The stage
