Images: CTA Australian Tour 2006 (used with permission)

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The Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell Street, Sydney.

Originally opened on 3 April 1916, as the “Hippodrome”  a theatre with a 12 metre circus ring in the front stalls and a fly-tower stage for plays, with seating for 1846 on three levels.

The interior of the Hippodrome was converted into an "atmospheric" picture palace with simulated Florentine garden walls and a "sky" ceiling, with a seating capacity of 2972 on two levels. It reopened as the "Capitol" on 7 April 1928. The new theatre had a Wurlitzer organ installed. The architects for this work were J. Eberson & Henry E. White.

The Australia Opera moved in August 1970 after Her Majesty's Theatre was destroyed by fire. The final regular film screenings ceased when Hoyts didn't renew their lease on 15/09/1976 - although by then it had been sublet for Harry. M. Miller for the staging of "Jesus Christ Superstar’.

The Capitol was placed on National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and was restored and reopened 24/01/1995. It hosted an extended season of screenings of 'Gone With The Wind' from 26/10/1999.

 The theatre is now mainly used as 'live' venue.

SIGNIFICANT SYDNEY CITY CINEMAS & THEATRES

THE CAPITOL THEATRE

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