The Capitol Theater

The Capitol Theater was one of the most memorable landmarks in Milton's downtown. It opened June 30, 1934, showing "Baby Take a Bow" starring Shirley Temple and James Dunn. Also on the bill were a cartoon, "Beauty and the Beast," a travel film, "Paradise of the Pacific," and a musical, "Private Lessons," with Hal Leroy. At the time, afternoon shows cost 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults, while evening shows cost 15 cents for children and 35 cents for adults. Designed in Egyptian type architecture with stone and brick forming the front, the theater seated over 1,200 in its main auditorium and balcony areas. It featured the latest acoustical designs available, including silk tapestry cloth suspended on the sidewalls and a Mirrophonic sound system. Its projection booth was equipped with two Simplex E-5 model projectors. When built, it was one of the largest and most modern theaters in central Pennsylvania, and it offered the unusual luxury of central air-conditioning as well as an eight-bank console pipe organ at the center of its stage, complete with two banks for sound effects and 35-foot-high pipes for use during intermissions and special events.

Milton, Pennsylvania · United States