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THE CAPRI THEATRE - A BRIEF HISTORY |
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Above: Artist‘s sketch of opening night October 8, 1941 |
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STAR Theatre 1941 |
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CAPRI Theatre 2004 |
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1) Opened Wednesday 8th October 1941 as 2) Builder-R J Nurse. 3) Architect - Chris Smith. 4) Last theatre built for D. Clifford Theatres Ltd. 5) Architectural style - Art-Deco/Moderne, featuring streamlined curvaceous lines, circles and semi-circles. 6) Seating capacity licensed as 1,472 in 1941. 7) Manager on opening - Alec Harrison. 8) Opening programme - an MGM double - Robert Young and Helen Gilbert in “FIorian” plus Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore in “Dr Kildare Goes Home 9) Greater Union acquired the theatre in 1947 when they purchased the entire ‘Star’ Theatre circuit from Cliffords. 10) Renamed the New Cinema Curzon on Friday 21st February, 1964. 11) Renamed the Cinema Capri and opened after refurbishment on Wednesday 16th November 1967 with a reduced seating capacity of 85I. 12) Purchased by the Theatre Organ Society of Australia [SA Div] Inc in December 1978. 13) Re-opened as the Capri Theatre under TOSA on 26th December 1978. 14) Theatre organ progressively installed, with pipe work in glass-fronted chambers, making it unique in the world as a theatre organ installation. 15) Inaugural Concert of the Capri “Wurlitzer’ was Saturday 2nd April 1983 16) By May 1994 there were 25 ranks making it the largest theatre organ in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. 17) Theatre added to the Register of State Heritage Items in 1990 18) In 2002, with 29 ranks, the organ is the second largest theatre organ in Australia and is recognised as one of the finest theatre organs in the world.
19) Improvements made at the Capri by TOSA. t · Imported Silver Screen for 3-D presentations t · Dolby Digital Stereo Sound System t · Upgraded projection equipment & fitted a platter system t · Theatre re-carpeted with original 1941 design t · New stage with organ console lift constructed t · All seats re-upholstered. New deluxe lounge seats added in 2004, including some “Love Seats” or doubles t · New roof t · Exterior painted to original colour scheme t · Auditorium walls painted & restored to original Art Deco- Moderne design & colour scheme t Replica 1941 Art Deco fireplace, mirror & wooden Venetians added to upstairs foyer, Club Lounges and replica 1941 round column seating added to both foyers t · Plus a host of other improvements which have not only restored this theatre to its 1941 position as...
“Showplace of the Southern Suburbs”
but have made it a
“UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT SHOWPLACE IN THE WORLD” |
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Capri Facilities / Seating plan / Brief history / Movie Club / Brochure / Gallery |
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Capri Facilities / Seating plan / Brief history / Movie Club / Brochure / Gallery |
