The Capitol Theater was located at 542 State Street in Salem, Oregon, United States. Part of the Bligh Building, it was built in the 1920s for vaudeville. During its heyday, it housed a Wurlitzerpipe organ, which is now in private ownership in Washington.[2][3] The theater was demolished in 2000, but the retail portion of the building, now known as the Pacific Building, still stands.[4]
Terra cotta facade detail is all that remains of the theater portion of the building
The building, constructed in 1926 for owner Frank D. Bligh, covered a quarter of a block. At the time it was built, it had twelve storefronts and thirty-five rooms designed for offices, as well as what was known at the time as the New Bligh Capitol Theater, with 1,200 seats.[5] Bligh owned several theaters in Salem, including the original Bligh Theater built in 1912 and closed in 1927.[5] For a time Bligh owned the Klinger Grand Theater, which he also renamed Bligh Theater.[5] The Capitol Theater's brightly lit marquee was constructed of stained glass in the shape of the dome of the second Oregon State Capitol building, which was destroyed in a 1935 fire.[1]
Decline and demolitionEdit
The theater's stage house abutted the Elsinore Theatre's stage house and the bricked-in proscenium arch can still be seen
The theater converted from vaudeville to movies. By 1952 the glass dome marquee had been replaced.[6] By the 1980s, it was one of only two pre-World War II theaters left in downtown Salem, which had once hosted as many as eight. Like its neighbor, the Elsinore Theatre, the Capitol declined to a second-run movie house. It was closed in 1990.[7]
The theater's 3/8 (3-manual/8-rank) "Mighty Wurlitzer" theatre organ was installed in 1926.[2] In 1941, the organ was moved to Seattle's Civic Ice Arena.[2] In 1964–65, the organ was moved to the Seattle Center Food Circus. It was sold at auction in 1976, and is currently installed in a private home in Washington, combined with parts from Portland's Majestic/United Artists Theatre organ to make a 3/18 Wurlitzer.[2]
^ abcd"Capitol Theatre". Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
^ ab"Salem's Theatrical History". Salem Online History: Salem Public Library. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
^"Salem Downtown State Street-Commercial Street Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form". National Park Service. August 2, 2001. p. 94. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
^ abc Clark, Robert Carlton (1927). . Vol. 3. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company. p. 158. OCLC 4711206. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
^West, Robert D. . Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
^Green, Virginia (July 23, 2010). "Salem in 1990". Salem Heritage Network. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
^"508-524 State Street". Salem Online History: Salem Public Library. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
Historic images of Capitol Theater from Salem Public Library
Facade of theater in 1980
Image of Capitol Theater from 1999 from Salemoregon.com
Zimmerman, Andy (November 16, 2013). "SJ time capsule: Capitol Theatre, an entertainment destination until the '90s". Statesman Journal. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
August 28, 2023
pacific, building, salem, oregon, capitol, theater, located, state, street, salem, oregon, united, states, part, bligh, building, built, 1920s, vaudeville, during, heyday, housed, wurlitzer, pipe, organ, which, private, ownership, washington, theater, demolish. The Capitol Theater was located at 542 State Street in Salem Oregon United States Part of the Bligh Building it was built in the 1920s for vaudeville During its heyday it housed a Wurlitzer pipe organ which is now in private ownership in Washington 2 3 The theater was demolished in 2000 but the retail portion of the building now known as the Pacific Building still stands 4 Bligh Building Pacific BuildingU S Historic districtContributing propertyShow map of Salem ORShow map of OregonLocation508 524 State StreetSalem OregonCoordinates44 56 22 N 123 2 13 W 44 93944 N 123 03694 W 44 93944 123 03694Built1926ArchitectTourtellotte 1 amp HummelArchitectural styleCommercial stylePart ofSalem Downtown State Street Commercial Street Historic District ID01001067 Added to NRHPSeptember 28 2001 Contents 1 Bligh Building and Capitol Theater 2 Decline and demolition 3 Theater organ 4 References 5 External linksBligh Building and Capitol Theater Edit Terra cotta facade detail is all that remains of the theater portion of the buildingThe building constructed in 1926 for owner Frank D Bligh covered a quarter of a block At the time it was built it had twelve storefronts and thirty five rooms designed for offices as well as what was known at the time as the New Bligh Capitol Theater with 1 200 seats 5 Bligh owned several theaters in Salem including the original Bligh Theater built in 1912 and closed in 1927 5 For a time Bligh owned the Klinger Grand Theater which he also renamed Bligh Theater 5 The Capitol Theater s brightly lit marquee was constructed of stained glass in the shape of the dome of the second Oregon State Capitol building which was destroyed in a 1935 fire 1 Decline and demolition Edit The theater s stage house abutted the Elsinore Theatre s stage house and the bricked in proscenium arch can still be seenThe theater converted from vaudeville to movies By 1952 the glass dome marquee had been replaced 6 By the 1980s it was one of only two pre World War II theaters left in downtown Salem which had once hosted as many as eight Like its neighbor the Elsinore Theatre the Capitol declined to a second run movie house It was closed in 1990 7 The Capitol Theater was demolished in May June 2000 3 because of structural decay The location is now a parking lot however the adjoining office and retail space remains This retail building known as the Bligh Building and currently as the Pacific Building is a contributing property of the Salem Downtown State Street Commercial Street Historic District which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places 8 Theater organ EditThe theater s 3 8 3 manual 8 rank Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ was installed in 1926 2 In 1941 the organ was moved to Seattle s Civic Ice Arena 2 In 1964 65 the organ was moved to the Seattle Center Food Circus It was sold at auction in 1976 and is currently installed in a private home in Washington combined with parts from Portland s Majestic United Artists Theatre organ to make a 3 18 Wurlitzer 2 References Edit a b Capitol Theater The Oregon Encyclopedia a b c d Capitol Theatre Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society Retrieved February 20 2012 a b Salem s Theatrical History Salem Online History Salem Public Library Retrieved February 20 2012 Salem Downtown State Street Commercial Street Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form National Park Service August 2 2001 p 94 Retrieved February 20 2012 a b c Clark Robert Carlton 1927 History of the Willamette Valley Oregon Frank D Bligh Vol 3 Chicago Chapman Publishing Company p 158 OCLC 4711206 Archived from the original on December 23 2015 Retrieved April 5 2018 West Robert D Salem Oregon Places Historic Downtown Archived from the original on August 28 2008 Retrieved February 20 2012 Green Virginia July 23 2010 Salem in 1990 Salem Heritage Network Retrieved February 20 2012 508 524 State Street Salem Online History Salem Public Library Retrieved February 20 2012 External links Edit Capitol Theater The Oregon Encyclopedia Capitol Theater from Cinema Treasures Historic images of Capitol Theater from Salem Public Library Facade of theater in 1980 Image of Capitol Theater from 1999 from Salemoregon com Zimmerman Andy November 16 2013 SJ time capsule Capitol Theatre an entertainment destination until the 90s Statesman Journal Archived from the original on November 18 2013 Retrieved April 5 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pacific Building Salem Oregon amp oldid 1169264860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
