Century Capitol 16
3690 Hillcap Avenue,
San Jose,
CA
95136
3690 Hillcap Avenue,
San Jose,
CA
95136
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Century Theatres, Cinemark
Architects: Vincent G. Raney
Nearby Theaters
The Century Capitol 16 was opened by Century Theatres on March 11, 1994. Later operated by Cinemark, it was closed on October 5, 2010. It was demolished in February 2013.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Was built in 1994 to stave off AMC opening a theatre in the Edenvale area of San Jose. Century made efforts to build, but kept getting put off by members of the San Jose City Council, who wouldn’t change the zoning in the area to allow for a theatre. AMC expressed interest in building in the area, in a location the city preferred. Finally, in a middle finger to the City Council, they built the Capitol 16 on the Capitol 6 Drive-in property—already zoned for a theater.
It was the last Century Theatres completely designed by architect Vince Rainey. Subsequent theatres had a significantly different—and much nicer—interior design. Shortly after, they stopped using Rainey completely favoring the standard theater design now used my most major chains: U-shaped box building, stadium seating, etc.
I don’t know that this was the last theatre Rainey designed, as Century Folsom, Roseville and Rancho Santa Fe opened after the Capitol 16 — all VERY similar in design.
Capitol 16 was demolished in February of 2013.
Is there anything on the old theatre site now?
The theatre was built on the west portion of the Capitol 6 Drive-In, which itself was reconfigured to continue operation of all six screens on the east portion of the property. Now that the theatre has been demolished, the west portion of the property, including the land the building was on, acts as parking for the Capitol Flea Market/Swap Meet that operates at the Drive-In during the days Thu-Sun.
@Scott Neff: “completely designed…” meaning, inside and out. Folsom and Roseville were designed by Rainey, but the interior was done by another company. Vastly different from any Rainey designs (i.e. they looked much better than Rainey’s dull interiors).
Unfortunately Cinemark has chosen to close Roseville (Eureka Rd/Lead Hill) across from Kaiser to open the newer Galleria Mall futher west with the same amount of screens and more control (it’s in the middle of the mall) SOOOOO no more domes for Sacramento! All that’s left is Century Mountain View (relic) and Cinedome Henderson Nevada (fossil). Too bad! I pass by thd Winchester domes and thd church (Century 24) all the time. What a waste!🥺🥺
Century Folsom and Laguna still have their domed multiplex theaters.