THE HEART OF THE CITY

LOEWS AND
CAPITOL THEATRES

103 King Street East

CURRENT STATUS (1999)
Present Owner: 1136116 Ontario Ltd., Ancaster
Present Use: Joe Buttinsky’s Bar and Wing Joint
Heritage Status: Listed on the City’s Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest

BUILDING INFORMATION
Date Built: 1917
Original Owner: Marcus Loew, American theatre / hotel magnate (building owner); Mills Bros. (land owner)
Original Use: Loew’s Theatre (vaudeville and moving pictures)
Subsequent Uses: Theatre name changed to the Capitol in 1922 and closed in 1971; auditorium subsequently demolished and front section preserved and converted to a restaurant
Previous Building on Site: Unknown to present

ARCHITECTURE
Size: Frontage: 22.61 ft.; height: two storeys
Design and Style: Early twentieth century transitional
Architect, Builder: Thomas W. Lamb (architect, New York); P.H. Secord & Son (contractor)
Construction Materials: Façade: limestone
Architectural Integrity: Façade: moderate (limestone façade largely intact; original entrance altered and cornice removed)
Architectural Features: Opulent façade characteristic of early twentieth century vaudeville theatres and movie palaces: large semi-circular "Sullivanesque" window (now covered by a hemispherical canopy) framed by a classically inspired composition of pilasters, a bracket-like keystone over the round arch, and a low-relief frieze panel with a row of modillions above (originally surmounted by a widely projecting cornice); entrance originally featured a large suspended illuminated sign marquee (removed when entrance was remodelled in 1958)

The Loew’s theatre, which would later be known as the Capitol theatre, opened on New Year’s Eve in 1917. That night stood as an example to the popularity of the theatre: 1500 people remained in line for tickets despite a sold out show. The theatre, erected by the Loew’s Corporation, and designed by Thomas W. Lamb, an architect of international fame known for designing Radio City Music Hall in New York, cost 225,000. It stood as the 218^th theatre in the Loew’s chain, and was Hamilton’s largest theatre. The Loew’s Theatre stood as Canada’s second largest theatre for the longest time.

The theatre, luxuriously decorated and furnished, had a seating capacity of 2,268, and was known for showing silent movies featuring such stars as Charlie Chaplan and William S. Hart. The chairs were covered in heavy green Russian leather. The lobby floor was made from marble, had brilliant lighting, large plate glass mirrors, and photographs of the monarchy decorating the walls. The orchestra pit and balconies were covered in gorgeous, deep rose-coloured carpets. There was a rich velour canopy, lined with gold fringe and decorated with the Ontario Coat of Arms in the centre, which rested over the curtain. An engulfing dome of coloured stained glass served as a skylight. An open water well stood in the foyer where theatre patrons would throw in coins before entering the orchestra pit. The exterior of the theatre had an enormous canopy that stretched over the crowd. There were continuous performances between one thirty and eleven in the evening.

In 1922, the theatre was taken over by the Hamilton Theatre, and the shareholders of Hamilton Theatre Limited (Pantage Theatre). These two groups voted to unite the two theatres under a central management. The controlling company was to be known as the Hamilton United Theatres Limited. As the Pantage shareholders held the majority of the stock, they were named form the board of directors. The theatre, under new management was to be known as the Capitol Theatre, and reopened in September 1922.

In 1926, an organ was brought into the Capitol after serving a Winnipeg Church for years. There were 1,300 pipes fabricated in Woodstock. The Organ took nearly six months to install. The Capitol theatre now showed educational films, news, comedies, cartoons, and musicals. This theatre was to become a motion picture theatre as the demand for large theatrical presentations and vaudeville died following the arrival of "talkies". Some of the movies shown include: "The Guns of Navarone", "The Eddie Duchin Story", "An Affair to Remember", and the "Al Jolson Story". Each day, after the showing of the last film, a midnight rock show was presented.

In 1930, the Capitol was taken over by Canadian Famous Players Corporation and remained in their control until 1946, when it was turned over to the Canadian Odeon Theatre Chain. In 1958, the steel canopy of the Capitol, which had been in place since 1917, was torn down as a result of a general renovation project. The limestone front was sandblasted and a thirty-inch canopy, which had a hidden series of light in it, replaced the old canopy.

On August 31, 1971, movie operations ceased – it was a sign that an era had come to an end. On January 10, 1973, demolition of the theatre commenced. Many of the items were sold on auction. The rear portion was torn down and replaced with a parking lot and the front portion of the theatre was transformed into stores.

View the seating plan

REFERENCES:
Clipping File – Hamilton – Motion Pictures Theatres-the Capitol. Special Collections. HPL.
Clipping File-Hamilton-Burlesque. Special Collections. HPL.
Clipping File-Hamilton-Motion Pictures theatre-Odeon. Special Collections. HPL.
Clipping File-Hamilton –Organizations and societies-Hamilton Area Theatre Organ Society. Special Collections. HPL.
Hamilton News Scrapbook, Volume M4. Special Collections. HPL.
Hamilton Cue, June 84. Special Collections. HPL.
Loew’s theatre. Special Collections. HPL.
Our Heritage Scrapbook. Special Collections. HPL.