Capitol Theater

120 W. 6th Street,
Austin, TX 78701

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Interstate Theatres Inc. & Texas Consolidated Theaters Inc., Paramount Pictures Inc., Trans-Texas Theatres

Architects: Frederick Ernst Ruffini

Previous Names: Hancock Opera House, Hancock Theatre

Nearby Theaters

austin capitol theater 2

Opened on September 24, 1896 as the Hancock Opera House. The Opera House was designed by Frederick Ernst Ruffini. Later it became the Hancock Theatre.

The name was changed to the Capitol Theater on October 5, 1935. In the 1940’s it was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidairy Hoblitzelle & O'Donnell and the seating capacity was given as 1,092.

In 1953 it was taken over by Trans-Texas Theatres and was playing burlesque and screening adult movies. The Capitol Theater was closed December 31, 1963 with “Girls A-Poppin”. The theater building has been demolished and replaced by an office building.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

rdk
rdk on September 21, 2013 at 5:06 pm

Very old theater. Played 2nd run movies in Austin after the Paramount and State. Owner in the 30s, 40s,50s was Interstate Theaters. In the 1940s the city manager for Interstate was Louis Novy.

DavidDymond
DavidDymond on September 21, 2013 at 6:54 pm

Louis Novy was a partner of Interstate Theaters in the Paramount Theatre in Austin!

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on August 5, 2016 at 9:48 am

Prior to being revamped into the Capitol, this operated as a cinema under the name of Hancock (with original Opera House dropped). See ad in photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 9, 2018 at 6:23 pm

This opened on September 24th, 1896. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

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