Any long-time resident of Vancouver will have memories of seeing a movie at the Capital 6 on Granville Street’s theatre row. It was an institution of sorts - one of the first Famous Players multiplex theatres in the region, built in the 1977 at a cost of $6 million. It replaced another entertainment venue, the Capitol Theatre. This live theatre and music house had its own orchestra and one of the largest Wurlitzer organs in Canada. The opulent theatre with 2,500 seats opened in 1921 and hosted vaudeville, theatre, dance and musical performances. The first “talkie” in Vancouver premiered at the Capitol - a harbinger of its replacement 55 years later.
The 6-screen Capitol 6 has been closed for some time now, replaced by the brand new Paramount Multiplex Theatre on Burrard and Smithe. Few will mourn the loss of the old theatre. It was a non-descript structure from an era where often very little thought was put into the aesthetics of buildings. The movie house had a combined capacity of 3,000 seats, and the interior design was very 1970s, with earthtones, browns, and mirrored ceilings.
What is going to replace the old theatre should come as no surprise-a 43-storey condominium. This will be the city’s tallest residential skyscraper, and will be an elliptical tower developed by Wall Financial and the Macdonald Realty Group. Named “Capitol Residences,” this tower will feature 372 apartments ranging from 550 to 1,000 square feet, along with luxury homes on the upper floors. There will be a music school on the ground level, and cultural-amenity density bonuses to the city include a major upgrade to the nearby Orpheum Theatre. (For a long time, the city has traded off zoning allowances for cultural amenity construction/improvements/restorations with developers. It has proved to be a very effective urban planning tool.)
The Capitol 6 is not the first theatre to fall from Granville Street’s theatre row. The Plaza, the Caprice and the Paradise have been converted to bars. Things were different for the Orpheum, also from the same era as the original Capitol Theatre and located just down the block. Famous Players also owned this theatre, and in the 1970s wanted to convert it to a multiplex as well, but a public outcry resulted in a well-financed effort to save this theatre. City council was convinced to purchase the Orpheum and refurbish it. Beginning in 1977, it became the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
The passing of the Capitol 6 is just another reminder of the state of change that has existed on Granville Street for decades. From a failed shopping mall to its current status as Vancouver’s entertainment district, this area and its venues will continue to evolve.
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