Capitol Theatre Building (Flint, Michigan) facts for kids
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Capitol Theatre Building
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The Capitol Theatre, December 2017
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| Location | 140 Second Street, Flint, Michigan |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000165 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 31, 1985 |
The Capitol Theatre Building is a cool place in Flint, Michigan. It is a cinema and a concert hall. This amazing building 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, it showed movies and hosted live shows. It closed in 1996 but was listed as a historic place in 1985. After a big restoration, the theater reopened in 2017.
After closing in 1996, the Capitol Theatre was empty for 20 years. But its owners worked hard to keep it safe. They made sure the building was maintained and heated. This helped save its historic look. Restoration work began in 2015. The Capitol Theatre reopened in late 2017. Today, the Flint Institute of Music helps manage it.
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The Capitol Theatre's Story
In 1923, a company bought the land for the Capitol Theatre. They wanted to build a theater and shops together. In 1924, a man named Col. Walter S. Butterfield shared his plans. He wanted to build a new theater. The company then worked with him. They changed their name to the Capitol Building Company. Colonel Butterfield became its president.
There were some legal delays, so building started in 1927. John Eberson designed the building. Henry Vander Horst from Kalamazoo built it. The theater finally opened in early 1928.
Changes Over Time
From its opening until 1976, the Capitol Theatre was run by W. S. Butterfield Theatres. This company managed many theaters in Michigan. In 1957, the theater got a modern update. The lobby and front area were changed a lot. The original colors of the atmospheric theater were painted over. Many statues were also removed.
The theater closed for the first time in 1976. Its large pipe organ was given to the Flint Institute of Music. This organ is still used today in the MacArthur Recital Hall at the FIM.
In 1977, a local grocer named George Farah bought the building. Movies and concerts were held there on and off. But in 1996, the heating system broke down. This forced the theater to close for a long time. While it was closed, the Farah family kept it in good shape. They installed new heaters to prevent freezing. They also started some restoration work. However, they could not raise enough money for a full restoration.
Reopening the Theater
In April 2015, the Uptown Reinvestment Corp. bought the Capitol Theatre. They announced a partnership in October 2015. Uptown would restore the theater. The Whiting would manage its shows. On December 7, 2017, the theater officially reopened.
The restored theater now meets modern building rules. It can seat 1,500 people. The public areas look much like they did in 1928. To help with the restoration, a non-historic third floor was removed. This helped make the front of the theater look balanced again. The marquee from the 1940s was copied. It now uses bright LED lights and electronic signs.
The theater celebrated its reopening with a free event. This special event took place on Friday, 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 shops. The outside is made of light brown brick. It has cool designs made from glazed terra cotta. The building's style is like "fifteenth century Hispano-Italian."
The front of the building used to be perfectly even. The three-story theater was in the middle. On each side were two-story sections with storefronts. Later, a third story was added to one side. But this extra story was removed during the restoration. Office windows are located above the storefront sections.
