Capitol Theatre Building (Flint, Michigan) facts for kids
|
Capitol Theatre Building
|
|
The Capitol Theatre, December 2017
|
|
| Location | 140 Second Street, Flint, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000165 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | January 31, 1985 |
The Capitol Theatre Building is a cool old movie theater and concert hall in Flint, Michigan. It was designed by an architect named John Eberson. He made it look like a beautiful Roman garden, which is why it's called an "atmospheric theater." The Capitol Theatre first opened its doors in 1928. For many years, people came here to watch movies and live shows. It was even added to a special list of historic places in 1985!
After 1996, the theater was closed for about 20 years. But don't worry, the owners took good care of it, keeping it warm and safe. Then, in 2015, work began to bring it back to life! The Capitol Theatre reopened in late 2017 and is now managed by the Flint Institute of Music.
Contents
A Look Back: The Capitol Theatre's Story
In 1923, a company bought the land where the Capitol Theatre now stands. They wanted to build a theater and some shops. In 1924, a man named Col. Walter S. Butterfield announced his plans to build a theater there. The company teamed up with Butterfield and changed its name to the Capitol Building Company.
Construction on the building started in 1927. It was designed by architect John Eberson. The building was put together by Henry Vander Horst. The Capitol Theatre officially opened its doors in early 1928.
First Years and Changes
From the day it opened until 1976, the Capitol Theatre was run by W. S. Butterfield Theatres. This company operated many theaters around Michigan. In 1957, the theater got a modern makeover. The lobby was updated, and some of the original colors and statues inside the theater were changed.
After the theater closed for the first time in 1976, its special pipe organ was given to the Flint Institute of Music. This organ is still used today in the MacArthur Recital Hall at the Institute.
A New Owner and Reopening
In 1977, a local grocer named George Farah bought the Capitol Theatre Building. Movies and concerts were held there on and off. However, in 1996, the heating system broke down. This forced the theater to close again for a long time.
Even though it was closed, the Farah family kept the building in good shape. They installed new furnaces to keep it from freezing. They also started some restoration work, but they couldn't raise enough money to finish it completely.
In April 2015, a group called Uptown Reinvestment Corp. bought the theater. They announced plans to restore it. The Whiting, a local arts organization, would manage the theater once it was ready. On December 7, 2017, the Capitol Theatre finally reopened!
The restored theater can now seat 1,500 people. The public areas look much like they did when the theater first opened in 1928. To make the front of the building look balanced again, a part that was added later was removed. The new marquee, which is the sign outside, looks like the one from the 1940s. It uses modern LED lights. The theater celebrated its reopening with a free event on December 8, 2017.
What the Capitol Theatre Looks Like
The Capitol Theatre Building has two and three stories. It holds both the theater and other business spaces. The outside is made of light-colored brick with fancy glazed terra cotta decorations. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay. The building's style is inspired by "fifteenth century Hispano-Italian" architecture.
The front of the building was originally symmetrical, meaning it looked the same on both sides. The three-story theater was in the middle, with two-story shop sections on each side. Later, a third story was added to one of the shop sections, but this was removed during the recent restoration. The shop sections also have office windows above them.
