This is a photograph of the Original Capitol Theatre, on "The Main", Antigonish's own "Movie Palace". The Capitol was opened in 1939. Hopie Landry, Bill Landry's Wife, told me two major events happened in 1939. Hopie's visit to the "Worlds Fair in New York" and the Empire State Building, & the Capitol Grand Opening on "The Main".

Bill Landry designed and built the Capitol Theatre and leased the Projection Equipment from B&L Theatres. B&L Theatres at a later time leased The Old Capitol from Bill Landry and B&L Theatres eventually bought The Old Capitol at the time of Bill Landry's death in 1943. B&L Theatres was owned by Mitchell Bernstein and Joshua Lieberman with Head Offices in Saint John, New Brunswick. At one point, B&L Theatres was the largest Independently owned movie theatre chain in the Maritime Provinces. B&L Theatres in 1953, had 15 Theatres in the chain scattered throughout Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Mitchell Bernstein lived long enough to see the New Capitol open in 1967. After he died, his son Mortimer bought out Joe Lieberman shares and later changed the name of the entire chain from B&L Theatres to Stanmore Enterprises Ltd. In 1953 only the Vogue Theatre in McAdam, New Brunswick was operated by Stanmore Enterprises Ltd., though still part of B&L Theatres. When I worked at the New Capitol, some old B&L stationary was still in use. By the time I worked for the chain there were only 3 theatres left in the chain. The Vogue Theatre in Chatham, New Brunswick, the Imperial Theatre in Windsor, Nova Scotia and the Capitol Theatre in Antigonish.

The Capitol Burned down 21 October, 1965. It started in the Dentist's Office on the second floor. Dr. Morrison went to get his mail at the old Post Office on the corner of College & Main Streets, just a stones throw from the Capitol. While he was gone, the sterilizer boiled dry causing the fire. Aunt Hopie said Dr. Morrison was never the same after the Capitol burned.

The last movie to play in the Capitol was Mary Poppins. Rumor has it "Fanny Hill, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" was to open the next day. Before the Capitol was built, a three floor rooming house stood on the location. Before the Capitol opened, folks went to "The Pictures" just across the main at the Old Celtic Hall. The Royal Canadian Legion is on the Celtic Hall site now.

The Box Office was in the center of the doorway. Looking at the Capitol, to the right of the Box Office was Lynne's Candy Shop. It served folks on the Main as well as the Movie Goer's when it was showtime. To the left of the Box Office was a Barber Shop owned by Jim Leadbeater. The finish in the Lobby area was in gold tin test trim. Something that helped fuel the fire in 1965. The gentlemen in the picture are Olaf Fraser, Projectionist at the Capitiol. And Reggie Leadbeater, son of Jim Leadbeater. The Projectionists Unionized in the late 1950's.

Movies playing at the Capitol the time this photo was taken:

Mon & Tues: Goodbye Mr Chips (1939)
Wed & Thurs: Each Dawn I Die (1939)
Fri & Sat: Title Unknown
Matinees each Wednesday & Saturday.
Capitol Closed every Sunday and on Good Friday