Flint’s Historic Capitol Theatre Opened in 1928 – Then and Now [PHOTOS]
Flint's historic Capitol Theatre first opened in 1928.
On December 7th, 2017, the revitalization of Flint, Michigan continued with the grand reopening of Flint's historic Capitol Theatre. Since 1928, the Capitol Theatre has entertained the masses in Flint with concerts, movies, and more, but not without a few hiccups along the way.
After opening in 1928, the Capitol Theatre stayed open under the operation of W.S. Butterfield Theatres until closing in 1976. In 1977 the theatre was purchased by George Farah, a local grocer. Under Farah's ownership, the Capitol Theatre presented movies and concerts until 1996 when the heating boiler broke beyond repair. The theatre then closed again indefinitely.
SEE ALSO: Behind-the-Scenes at Flint's Capitol Theatre
After almost 20 years of dormancy, the Capitol was purchased by the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation. Renovations to the building were announced in late 2015. After two+ years of renovations, the Capitol Theatre once again welcomed guests on December 7th, 2017.
A couple of weeks ago, I was given a behind-the-scenes tour of the entire theatre and it was amazing. Our long-time friend Chris Everson, the Technical Director of the Capitol Theatre and other venues in Flint, was kind enough to share a lot of the history of the building and its place in Flint.
During the tour, he showed me some original photographs from the early days of the theatre. While some things were upgraded during the renovations, there are so many other things that are completely original to the building. From original marble stairs to original signs and light fixtures, the Capitol Theatre is still filled with amazing, historical pieces.
Check out some of the then and now photos of the Capitol Theatre below. Also, if you haven't been inside the building since the renovations, you need to go check it out. The pictures just don't do it justice!