The Former Gem of Downtown Jackson: The Capitol Theatre, 1916-1973

Located at 128 West Michigan Avenue, Jackson’s Capitol Theatre – remember? - was where many of us got to see The Beatles 1964 movie A Hard Day’s Night. We had special tickets that came in various colors and couldn’t wait to get in line.

Even though I had seen many films at the Capitol, that afternoon watching A Hard Day’s Night is the most memorable; yeah, some girls were screaming making it difficult for us guys to hear and we couldn’t understand why they were screaming at a movie screen...it wasn’t as if The Beatles were there in person, ya know.

I miss the Capitol, as do so many others who were around back then. It was originally called The Orpheum when it opened on February 24, 1916.

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According to an MLive article, the Orpheum was known as "Jackson's temple of vaudeville." It had a 29-foot-by-30-foot asbestos stage curtain with a print of “Pharaoh's daughter finding the infant Moses in the bull rushes.” The entrance featured three kinds of marble, two-tone blue velvet carpeting, and a mural that covered the entire front ceiling.

What kind of an opening night could they have in 1916 when they weren’t even showing films yet? A vaudeville show, comedy circus and Russian vocalists (do you think you would enjoy something like that now?). Once movies started gaining more and more popularity, the Orpheum decided it was time for films, as other theaters around the country were axing the live shows in favor of movies. The Orpheum followed suit and was re-named The Capitol in 1922.

By the 1940s, oh my gosh! Downtown Jackson was a hotbed of fun and activity! Not only was there the Capitol Theatre for movies, but also the Bon Ton, Family, Majestic, Michigan, Regent, and Rex theaters. Cool little shops and eateries dotted Michigan Avenue, thus adding to a whole day of things to do on a Saturday or Sunday!

It all began to crash when television began invading America’s homes. People could now stay home and watch shows and even movies FOR FREE right from the comfort of their living rooms. So why bother spending money at a movie theater? Jackson’s downtown theaters began closing down, one-by-one: the Regent in the late 1940s, Bon Ton in the early 1950s, Majestic in 1954, the Rex in 1954, and the Family in 1962.

When did Jackson's Capitol Theatre finally close?

Another bomb was dropped when more modern theaters opened at Paka Plaza and the Westwood Mall. Even less people were heading downtown to see a movie. The Capitol hung on for another eleven years, finally closing in 1973. Now only the Michigan Theatre remains, much to our relief and pleasure.

In 1975 they ripped out the wall and area that held the stage and screen, leaving a hole for passersby to peer in and leaving the lobby and entry. Since then, several business attempts have come and gone.

I may be thinking foolishly, but I wish they'd bring at least one more movie theater back to downtown...

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