Capitol Theater

60 Exchange Street,
Binghamton, NY 13901

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Comerford Theaters Inc.

Architects: Elfred Hull Bartoo, Edwin W. Dickerman

Firms: Bartoo & Dickerman

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Front view of the Capitol Theater

The Capitol Theater was opened in September 22, 1927 with Douglas MacLean in Soft Cushions" and 5 Keith-Albee vaudeville acts. It was equipped with a Link pipe organ, which was opened by organist Herbert Voges of Cleveland, OH. The Capitol Theater was closed by Comerford Theaters in 1963. It was reopened by an independent operator and finally closed in 1966. It was demolished in October 1966.

Contributed by Dave Bonan

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

deleted user
[Deleted] on December 31, 2005 at 10:27 pm

The Capitol was located where the parking lot of Partners Trust Bank is now. It was the biggest and most opulent of all the theaters in the Triple Cities. Sadly, like many of the old-time movie palaces, it was torn down in the 1960’s.

I am happy to say that at least the Link organ still survives. It had been removed prior to the Capitol’s demolition and was installed in the Roberson Museum on Front St. by Ed Link, Jr. himself.He expanded the organ to 18 ranks.

Recently, the Binghamton Chapter of the American Theater Organ society was formed. We are dedicated to the Link organ as well as the Morton organ in the Forum Theater (which originally came out of the America Theater in Denver.) As membership chairman of this group, I am pleased to report that we have currently 80+ members.

Thank you for the link to our website, Lost Memory.

BILLYBOYOK
BILLYBOYOK on April 11, 2010 at 8:49 pm

I know that many Vaudeville acts used to perform there.
Also, Liberace played that theatre on more than one occasion.

It was such a beautiful, old theatre. The bank that tore it down used to be called The Binghamton Savings Bank————-I used to have a bank savings account there back in the 50’s and 60’s

Now, it’s just a vacant, lost memory of a by-gone day!

adamghost
adamghost on February 9, 2016 at 4:38 am

The May 22, 1966 issue of the Press announces the sale of the theater, which is still open at that time. It was reopened by a former employer of the Comerford Chain, F. Fred DeRado, after the chain closed the theater in 1963. There is a good photo of the theater. Sale price was $200,000.

The August 24, 1966 issue of the Press carries an article about the end of the theater, with a couple of pictures of the interior being dismantled.

Finally demolished October, 1966. The October 13 issue has a picture of the demolition, but it shows only rubble.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 17, 2017 at 5:53 pm

This opened on September 22nd, 1927

Found on Newspapers.com powered by Newspapers.com

Grand opening ad in the photo section.

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