Port Hope Capitol Theatre, Port Hope, Ontario

Designed by Canadian architect Murray Brown and constructed in 1930, the Capitol Theatre was one of the first cinemas in Canada created specifically for the presentation of “talkies”. Famous Players commissioned its construction on Queen Street in Port Hope, Ontario, a small town on the shores of Lake Ontario, about a hundred kilometres east of Toronto. Queen High, starring Charles Ruggles and Ginger Rogers, was the first film shown at the theatre when it opened in 1930. Its twilight sky ceiling, nocturnal ambiance, and interior walls that evoke a medieval castle make it a remarkable example of a small-town atmospheric style theatre.

The Capitol Theatre is an outstanding example of an atmospheric theatre, a short-lived, but very popular trend in North America in the late 1920s. A simple two-and-a-half storey building on the exterior, inside it is designed to resemble a medieval English garden. The interior possesses the essential elements of an atmospheric theatre: a ceiling with stars, nocturnal atmosphere, and walls decorated with trompe-l’oeil motifs to give patrons the impression of being seated in a romantic outdoor amphitheatre. The lower auditorium walls are grey, painted to imitate Caen stone, with paintings of trees on the upper sections. The stars, which were originally painted on the ceiling, were replaced with little lights during the restoration. The exterior of the building features a marquee suspended on chains to resemble a drawbridge. This component, combined with the diamond paned windows, is consistent with the medieval chateau decor of the interior, although somewhat inconsistent with the distinctive Egyptian motif of the sign. The building was highly innovative for its time: designed to be completely fireproof, it was also the first building in town to make use of steel girders. In addition, its patrons were provided with the most up-to-date comforts and services. 

Closed in 1987 due to declining audiences, the Capitol Theatre Heritage Foundation was created in 1993 – with major local support – to save the building. It was subsequently restored and then reopened in 1995, as a multi-purpose theatre. Its high level of architectural integrity and excellent physical condition make it a rare example of its kind still in operation in this country.