Here at 202-208 Massachusetts Avenue stands the Capitol Theater Building in Arlington. This landmark mixes commerce, residences, and theatrical magic. Built in 1925 by the Locatelli family, it stands as one of the area’s earliest and finest motion picture theaters.
The Capitol Theater Building earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Architect William J. Drummey designed it. Albert Locatelli’s theater chain included this gem. The Locatellis also built the Ball Square Theater and Central Theater in Somerville.
Back then, constructing the Capitol Theater Building cost $500,000. The building housed 11 stores and office space. The second floor held offices. The third floor had 15 apartments.
Imagine the theater in its prime. A large pipe organ filled the air with music. Sixteen hundred seats welcomed moviegoers in the orchestra and balcony. Vaudeville acts graced the stage along with films.
The Capitol Theater Building changed hands several times. From the 1930s to 1990, ownership shifted. In 1989, it was divided into multiple screens.
During the 1960s, renovations modernized the theater. Original details like granite columns were covered not destroyed. The 1990s brought a restoration. The theater returned to its 1930s style. The multiplex conversion preserved the original aesthetic. Each screening room kept its distinct character.
Theater 1 now occupies the original orchestra seating area. The stage remains with soaring ceilings. Gold leaf and plaster details adorn the space. Other screening rooms fill the former balcony and backstage.
The Capitol Theatre first opened its doors on November 25 1925. It was a neighborhood movie house. It offered 1600 seats. It had a stage with dressing rooms for vaudeville acts. The vertical sign is now gone. But the main marquee remains.
By the early 1940s, Paramount Pictures Inc operated it. They used their subsidiary Mullins & Pinanski. In 1986, the grand lobby was restored. Granite columns and gold leaf reappeared. They had been hidden since the 1960s.
In 1989, the Capitol Theatre became a multiplex. It had five screens. Each auditorium was decorated in the original theater’s style. Auditorium 1 has the original proscenium arch. It has a large movie screen and beautiful plaster designs.
The organ was removed in the 1960s. As of 2007, auditorium 2 has 159 seats. Auditorium 3 has 150 seats. Two auditoriums in the former balcony have stadium seating. Auditorium 4 has 197 seats and auditorium 5 has 203 seats. Auditorium 6 has 97 seats. It was added on the site of the old stage in 1990. Some say it is haunted.
The Capitol Theater stands as a testament to Arlington’s past. It’s a place where memories were made. The Capitol Theater Building continues to entertain.