The Capitol Theatre was an entertainment venue located at the intersection of Monroe Street and Central Avenue in Passaic, New Jersey. Opened in 1921 as a vaudeville house, the Capitol later served as a movie theater, and then as a venue for rock concerts.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the 3,200-seat theatre was a popular stop on many major rock artist's tours. The venue was known for its in-house video system which resulted in a number of good quality, black and white video bootlegs. After it closed, the building fell into disrepair and it was demolished in April 1991. A shopping center known as Capitol Plaza occupies the site now.
The Capitol Theatre opened on October 7, 1921 with sold-out a concert by the U.S. Marine Band, which helped raise funds for a pipe organ in the city's high school.[1]
By the 1960s, it was known as the Capitol Cinema, and by 1970s the theater was showing adult films.
Rock venue
On June 27, 1971, the popular Fillmore East theater in Manhattan closed, ending owner and rock promoter Bill Graham's stipulation that acts who played at his venue were prohibited from performing at any theater within 75 miles for the following four months. John Scher, a young rock promoter from West Orange, New Jersey, seized on the closure of the Fillmore East by acquiring the Capitol Theatre and transforming it into a rock venue.[2]
The theater closed in 1989 for various reasons, including the changing music industry and the 1981 opening of Brendan Byrne Arena at the nearby Meadowlands Sports Complex. John Scher had also started to promote concerts at the arena, enabling much of the Capitol Theatre staff to obtain employment there when the theater closed.[2]
In popular culture
The Marshall Tucker Band concert from February 18, 1977 was released on December 4, 2007 as a 2 CD/DVD package called Carolina Dreams Tour '77, marking the 30th anniversary of the concert. This is the only known footage of a complete concert by the original members.
Pig Light Show appeared from the Opening Night in December 1971 till the end of June 1973, performing with all artists during those dates.
References
^"Capitol theatre opening". The Herald-News. October 8, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
^ abJersey, Tris McCall | For Inside (January 29, 2012). "John Scher: A life in rock music, in New Jersey and far beyond". nj. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
^"Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, USA Concert Setlists | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
^Matheson, Whitney. "My fave Music Vault finds: R.E.M., U2, Blondie and more". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
External links
Extensive collection of photos and programs from the music era of the Capitol
January 18, 2023
capitol, theatre, passaic, jersey, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, capitol, theatre, passaic, jersey. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Capitol Theatre Passaic New Jersey news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Capitol Theatre was an entertainment venue located at the intersection of Monroe Street and Central Avenue in Passaic New Jersey Opened in 1921 as a vaudeville house the Capitol later served as a movie theater and then as a venue for rock concerts Capitol TheatreAddress326 Monroe StreetLocationPassaic New JerseyCoordinates40 51 52 N 74 07 41 W 40 8645 N 74 1280 W 40 8645 74 1280 Coordinates 40 51 52 N 74 07 41 W 40 8645 N 74 1280 W 40 8645 74 1280OwnerJohn ScherGenre s RockCapacity3 200ConstructionBuilt1921Closed1989Demolished1991Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the 3 200 seat theatre was a popular stop on many major rock artist s tours The venue was known for its in house video system which resulted in a number of good quality black and white video bootlegs After it closed the building fell into disrepair and it was demolished in April 1991 A shopping center known as Capitol Plaza occupies the site now Contents 1 History 1 1 Vaudeville and films 1 2 Rock venue 2 In popular culture 3 Notable appearances 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditVaudeville and films Edit The Capitol Theatre opened on October 7 1921 with sold out a concert by the U S Marine Band which helped raise funds for a pipe organ in the city s high school 1 By the 1960s it was known as the Capitol Cinema and by 1970s the theater was showing adult films Rock venue Edit On June 27 1971 the popular Fillmore East theater in Manhattan closed ending owner and rock promoter Bill Graham s stipulation that acts who played at his venue were prohibited from performing at any theater within 75 miles for the following four months John Scher a young rock promoter from West Orange New Jersey seized on the closure of the Fillmore East by acquiring the Capitol Theatre and transforming it into a rock venue 2 The first concert at The Capitol Theatre was by The J Geils Band and Humble Pie on December 16 1971 3 The theater closed in 1989 for various reasons including the changing music industry and the 1981 opening of Brendan Byrne Arena at the nearby Meadowlands Sports Complex John Scher had also started to promote concerts at the arena enabling much of the Capitol Theatre staff to obtain employment there when the theater closed 2 In popular culture EditThe Marshall Tucker Band concert from February 18 1977 was released on December 4 2007 as a 2 CD DVD package called Carolina Dreams Tour 77 marking the 30th anniversary of the concert This is the only known footage of a complete concert by the original members Notable appearances EditThe Three Stooges February 14 1959 The Four Seasons 1972 Frank Zappa October 31 1972 2 shows With the Petite Wazoo Orchestra The Beach Boys November 19 1972 Genesis March 1 1973 Bette Midler March 10 1973 Jerry Garcia Band June 6 1973 Jerry Garcia Band June 16 1973 Jerry Garcia Band September 6 1973 The Pointer Sisters December 1 1973 The Byrds 1973 Last concert before break up Mountain 1973 Stray Cats Stevie Ray Vaughan amp Double Trouble were added to the bill a half hour before showtime Hot Tuna October 4 1974 Lou Reed Hall amp Oates October 5 1974 Bruce Springsteen John Sebastian Dan Fogelberg October 18 1974 Kiss October 23 1974 Frank Zappa November 8 1974 Jerry Garcia Band November 9 1974 Gregg Allman 1974 Several recordings appear on The Gregg Allman Tour Procol Harum 1975 Several recordings appear on Procol s Ninth Deluxe Edition Queen Argent Kansas February 21 1975 Sheer Heart Attack Tour Jerry Garcia Band April 5 1975 Lou Reed May 3 1975 Kiss October 4 1975 2 shows Fleetwood Mac October 17 1975 on their promotional tour for Fleetwood Mac across the US and Canada Show was recorded for broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour Jerry Garcia Band November 11 1975 Linda Ronstadt December 6 1975 Peter Frampton February 14 1976 2 shows Dan Fogelberg March 20 1976 Jerry Garcia Band April 2 1976 Steve Goodman April 18 1976 Grateful Dead June 16 17 18 and 19 1976 released as Grateful Dead Download Series Volume 4 and as part of the 30 Trips Around the Sun and June 1976 box sets Billy Joel October 2 1976 Rush December 10 1976 Peter Gabriel March 5 1977 his first concert as a solo artist Grateful Dead April 25 26 and 27 1977 released as Capitol Theatre Passaic NJ 4 25 77 and as part of the 30 Trips Around the Sun box set Al Stewart April 30 1977 Jerry Garcia Band November 26 1977 Rick Danko December 17 1977 Randy Newman February 11 1978 Jerry Garcia Band March 17 1978 Ramones The Runaways Tuff Darts March 25 1978 Journey June 10 1978 first tour with Steve Perry Elvis Costello and the Attractions Mink DeVille Nick Lowe amp Rockpile May 5 1978 Meat Loaf May 26 1978 The Rolling Stones June 14 1978 Bruce Springsteen amp The E Street Band September 19 21 1978 The show of Sep 19 was broadcast throughout the tri state area Frank Zappa October 13 1978 two shows on one day The Roches October 21 1978 Harry Chapin October 21 1978 Parliament Funkadelic November 6 1978 Outlaws and Molly Hatchet November 10 1978 Grateful Dead November 24 1978 Cheap Trick December 8 1978 Robert Gordon and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes December 30 31 1978 Heart January 26 1979 Willie Nelson and Leon Russell March 1 1979 Judy Collins March 10 1979 Hard Times for Lovers tour Irakere March 23 1979 Toto with Sad Cafe April 21 1979 The Who September 10 11 1979 Van Morrison October 6 1979 Talking Heads November 17 1979 Rainbow December 1 1979 Jerry Garcia Band March 1 1980 released as Garcia Live Volume One The Clash March 8 1980 Willie Colon amp his Orchestra featuring Ruben Blades and Celia Cruz March 22 1980 Cheap Trick March 29 1980 Grateful Dead March 30 31 and April 1 1980 The Brothers Johnson April 25 1980 Genesis May 28 1980 Jerry Garcia Band July 26 1980 The English Beat September 26 1980 Gary Numan October 18 1980 Talking Heads November 4 1980 The B 52 s November 7 1980 The Police November 29 1980 The Allman Brothers Band January 3 and 4 1981 Jerry Garcia Band February 13 1981 Ozzy Osbourne w Randy Rhoads on Guitar April 24 1981 with Tommy Aldridge and Rudy Sarzo Alice Cooper October 10 1981 Jerry Garcia Band November 6 1981 Blue Oyster Cult December 26 1981 Prince January 30 1982 with Bobby Z Brown Mark Dez Dickerson Doctor Fink and Lisa Coleman Jerry Garcia April 10 1982 John Mayall amp the Bluesbreakers June 18 1982 Jerry Garcia Band June 24 1982 Warren Zevon October 1 1982 Randy Newman March 26 1983 U2 May 12 1983 Jerry Garcia Band June 3 1983 R E M June 9 1984 4 Culture Club September 3 1983 Jerry Garcia Band December 10 1983 George Thorogood and The Destroyers July 5 1984 Lou Reed September 25 1984 Jethro Tull October 28 1984 Dave Edmunds Ten Great Guitars with Link Wray Dickey Betts Johnny Winter Brian Setzer Steve Cropper David Gilmour Neal Schon Lita Ford and Tony Iommi November 3 1984 Jerry Garcia Band November 24 1984 Dave Edmunds February 28 1985 Southside Johnny amp the Asbury Jukes with guest appearance by Little Steven September 20 1985 Stevie Ray Vaughan amp Double Trouble September 21 1985 Jerry Garcia Band January 31 1986 Beastie Boys April 1 1987 Murphy s Law and Public Enemy open The first show in which Flavor Flav wears his signature clock necklace on stage Duran Duran March 11 1989Pig Light Show appeared from the Opening Night in December 1971 till the end of June 1973 performing with all artists during those dates References Edit Capitol theatre opening The Herald News October 8 1921 p 1 Retrieved April 11 2020 a b Jersey Tris McCall For Inside January 29 2012 John Scher A life in rock music in New Jersey and far beyond nj Retrieved April 11 2020 Capitol Theatre Passaic NJ USA Concert Setlists setlist fm www setlist fm Retrieved April 11 2020 Matheson Whitney My fave Music Vault finds R E M U2 Blondie and more USA TODAY Retrieved March 30 2020 External links EditThe Capitol Theatre Passaic Website Extensive collection of photos and programs from the music era of the Capitol Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Capitol Theatre Passaic New Jersey amp oldid 1134066761, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
